Gina Alfani

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Excuse me while I pat myself on the back

Happy weekend everybody! We are having a rainy weekend in Florida, but we need the rain. I'm sorry for you guys experiencing all that snow.

That is Kiki's photo posted . . . I just wanted to see her precious little face. I miss her so much! The photo is blurry, but I took it with my phone in a dark room. It turned out to be one of my favorites.

As promised, I have gone wild with posting Christmas sweet treats that are great any time of the year. Many of these items are perfect for gift giving. Make up tins of cookies for situations like giving to a host of a party you are going to, for example. It was something I always did and I have posted the fudge recipe I used year after year. People started asking for it. Homemade treats are awesome!

It has been easier to manage the grief and I am feeling so much better emotionally and physically too since I have made several lifestyle changes.

The biggest thing is that I have continued to be a non-smoker, it has been over 2 years. Giving up sugar has proved to be equally as difficult, but my discipline is holding up great. Of course I will treat myself for a job well done for Christmas as I did for Thanksgiving when I had one piece of pumpkin pie and that was it. Pepsi that I was addicted to . . . no more! It has been weeks since I had one. My discipline has been strong and I'm proud of myself.

Have a great week everybody. Below are new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Cherry Cordials

Brownie Bonbons

Almost Famous Molten Chocolate Cake

Amaretto Almond Bundt Cake

Gina's Chocolate Fudge

Peppermint Fudge

Chocolate Cream Pie

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Holiday Cookie Recipes from the Food Network

The Best Christmas Recipe Guide

Christmas Cannoli Cake

No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel

Copycat Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake

Coconut Macaroon Blossoms

How to Make the Best Sugar Cookies from Martha Stewart

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeye Cookies

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

The Ultimate Snickers Pie

Babyboomer Flashback

Marilyn Monroe . . . Suicide Blonde?

LaBelladiva

Should You Bring A Gift To A Family Member Who’s Hosting The Holiday Meal?

How To Make A Sunglasses Case

Friday, December 5, 2025

Life's bizarre times and desires

December has brought me the desire to create, so I've decided to start making jewelry again. For now, just for me, to fulfill that desire and see where it takes me. I'm happy to have even a little sense of direction.

The Christmas season is upon us and I will be posting seasonal stuff. Don't ask me what that means, but I also have the desire to look into everything Christmas and write about it. Of course I will continue with the food blog posts and find festive recipes. And I'm definitely getting back into graphics, but it has been like having to learn all over again since it has been several years and the software has gone through dramatic changes. At least it is keeping my mind occupied.

Maybe I should say that this month has brought me to a new beginning with definite desires after a couple of years with no desire to do anything at all. I know how it sounds but I like to be honest about how I feel. Life makes us go through bizarre times.

Hope everyone is having a good week and continue to an awesome weekend. Another online friend has passed away and it made me very sad. Anyway . . . below I have listed everything I've posted this week. The emphasis has still been on food.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Maple Bacon Cheddar Biscuits

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

The BEST Homemade Biscuit Recipe

Chef John's Prime Rib

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

Crack Chicken Penne Pasta

Sheet Pan Scalloped Potatoes

Lemon Chicken And Rice Casserole

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Copycat Almond Joy Candy Bars

Shrimp and Grits

LaBelladiva

How to Make Fast and Easy Pincushions

Unexpected Ways To Reuse Dryer Sheets Outside The Laundry Room

Fabulous Frugalista

Ways To Use Christmas Decor Basics Year After Year

Peace Love Happiness

Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart

Monday, December 1, 2025

Holiday joy and blahs

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving I enjoy a delicious feast that Door Dash brings to me from Bob Evans. It is the next best thing to having to cook for a family. I'm thankful for a tradition I enjoy.

Since the holidays are not a pleasant time for me, my mind is lured to the thought of food and cooking. The things you are supposed to do for the holidays. Something I loved so much, but will never have again. So, writing in my food blog is the next best thing I guess. It is a release for all those food and cooking related desires. One day I will enjoy actually cooking again.

Yes I have gone crazy with the food blog. Now you know why. And it keeps my mind occupied. I'm thankful for having the desire for something, anything. Since The Captain died it was all nothingness. So I'm thrilled to have some desire for something coming back. I've delighted my mom with my renewed sense of humor and laughing again. Even telling her funny stories. That is what he left me with. He would have wanted me to laugh and find humor with life like he did. Trust me, this is progress!

The sadness I can't get rid of is missing my little doggie girl Kiki. That is killing me still. Oh the anxiety! I'd love a lot of little Kikis, but I can't.

My desire for this month is to find those things of holiday joy to share with everyone on all of my blogs. Get ready for the holiday-ish posts. Yes, and the desserts since I have cut sugar from my diet if I care to live a longer life.

Have a great week everybody! Listed below are my new blog posts.

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Butter Cream Chicken

Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Cheesy Taco Bake

4-Ingredient Sausage and Egg Casserole

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Rolls

Marry Me Chicken Pot Pie

Turkey Pot Pie Pockets

Is it safe to line the oven with foil

Turkey Leftovers

Grandma's Hash Brown Casserole

Hawaiian Sliders

Chicken Alfredo Rice Casserole

The Best Chicken Fried Steak

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Shepard's Pie

One Dish Chicken and Rice Bake

The Best Way to Make Lasagne

Cheesy Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Peace Love Happiness

Find the reason

LaBelladiva

DIY Small Pouch Sewing Pattern

Monday, November 24, 2025

Thankful They Were In My Life

What I am grateful for this year is that I was so blessed to have The Captain and Miss Kiki in my life. They were so precious to me and I miss them so much.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Give thanks for all those you love.

New blog posts follow . . .

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Magic Chicken Pie

Buffalo Chicken Potato Casserole

Thanksgiving Ideas and Tips

Crockpot Stuffing

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Bobby's Goulash

Creamy Chicken Tortellini

Peace Love Happiness

We all have choices

Babyboomer Flashback

Vintage Items Designers Say You Should Get Rid Of

LaBelladiva

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

My food blog had lots of new posts added and updates to older posts. I mentioned in my last post that I miss cooking and besides, this is Thanksgiving week and everyone is getting ready for the big dinner. Next week I hope to post recipes that will be great for leftovers.

We are back to our tropical weather with less humidity, but by Thanksgiving we should be getting a cold front. I hope it doesn't get too cold.

Hoping that everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving!

New blog posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

Black Beans Cuban Style (Frijoles Negros)

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes

Butter Pecan Cake

Rotel King Ranch Chicken

Frittata with Italian Sausage and Cheese

Updated - Ten smart kitchen storage ideas and DIY projects

One Pot Chili Mac

Toasted Coconut Pound Cake

Updated - Collection of Chicken Recipes

Babyboomer Flashback

A Babyboomer's Flashback

LaBelladiva

Update - Craft Room Organization

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Happy Autumn Update

Autumn hit Tampa three days last week. It was quite a surprise to get down to 38 degrees one night. I hate the cold and would like to enjoy a mild autumn that brings cooler temps and less humidity. Not an early winter!

Yes, I know I am spoiled with awesome Tampa weather and some of you guys are dealing with snow already. Some people like the snow, but I can't relate at all. I wouldn't know what to do living in a snowy climate.

I've been obsessed with posts to my food blog. Honestly, I miss cooking and am slowly getting back to preparing meals for one, but it is not fun. I'm working on it and hope to learn to love it.

My workaholic nature has brought me to being behind the computer way too many hours and loving it again. I'm grateful I have found something that makes me happy again and I'm like a kid with a new toy.

I'm extremely active on x/Twitter joining others in retweeting each others posts. If you are interested in joining me and bring more people to your website, blog, online store, events, promotions, etc., go to https://x.com/GinaAlfani and simply retreat one or more of my posts and I will retweet yours. You will automatically be picked up by other retweeters after I retweet yours.

New updates to my blogs follow . . .