In my family, everyone has a nickname. My nickname is Sugie. It's an endearment and a form of the word sugar, because I was such a sweet baby. I was born in New Orleans in 1964. I lived on Rampart Street with my father, Honest Joe, and my mother, Beanie. I must have been a beautiful baby because my Godmother, that I called Nanny, said I looked just like a Chatty Cathy doll. As the oldest, I had an entire 16 months of total adoration from my parents until my brother showed up and ruined my one baby show. My parents called my brother little man. I couldn't say little man, so I changed his name to Manny, and five decades later, the name still sticks. Manny and I overcame our differences and happily basked in the glow of our parent's love until 16 months later when my little sister Tweety showed up. Tweety became the baby, and I was suddenly the Big Sister who had to help take care of the baby. I wanted to be the baby, not take care of the baby. My life was ruined. --- Sug...
Bienvenue! I was born in New Orleans with a family tree that dates back to the original settlers of the Louisiana Territory. My cultural heritage is primarily Louisiana Cajun French and Sicilian Italian. I was raised in a family of would-be wise guys and zany women with backbones made of iron. Please enjoy the stories and recipes from the generations of my family and my musings on life in this nonsensical world.