Carol and Morristown High School, not a good mix

Terry Maher, Ed Terreri, Dolores Nasilli, Annie Cifrese, Bunny Hyler

     Okay, I will admit that I was never a good student in grade school, but once I got into high school, it all went downhill from there. First of all I hated gym class. I had to pass this class to get promoted, so I had to get very creative of finding ways to get out of class without failing it. The surest way to fail gym was not to put on your gym clothes, and I hated putting them on, what to do? So one year I lucked out, and during Gym Class I broke my left hand. Since I am left handed I got out of many things thanks to the girl who ran into me and broke it. I can’t remember who she was or I would thank her. Not only could I not take my beloved gym class, but I could not write in my other classes or do chores at home. I was a happy camper for about 6 weeks. However I could still eat, and got good at using my right hand to do that. Of and of course my mouth was not affected.  I also had a friend, Bunny Hyler who could write just like a Doctor.  She wrote me a couple of passes to get out of Gym for 6 weeks two times.  The gym teacher asked me why the Dr. didn't put it one his RX pad and I can remember it just coming out of my mouth, "I don't know, why don't you call him and ask him".  I still can't believe I said that and that she never called him. Whew!!!

     In high school we all went to Soda Shops after school. The cool kids went to the Colonial right next door to Grey Mats record shop. The cool naughty kids went to the Bellaire. In the Bellaire I found out I really like French fries with gravy. My mother would have banned me from going there if she found that out. She just kept reminding me that I was gaining weight, and how because of that I would not become popular. Funny I didn’t care much about being popular and I had plenty of friends that I liked just fine. Most of them were Italian, but a few were Irish, and they were all nice kids. Most of them had attended catholic elementary schools. I am sure that if I had gone to catholic school the nuns would have expelled me, besides I didn’t get along with them in Sunday school classes, but more about the nuns later. Anyway I really didn’t get to know most of my friends until I went to high school. Let’s see if I can name them. There was Terri Maher, Delores Nasilli, Beth Mazzoni, Annie Cifrese, Ed Terreri, Mary Jane Antanio, Denise Dasey and that’s just to name a few.  

     Ed and I had been friends all through grammar school and even before that. Ed’s family lived in a 2 story house on Phoenix Avenue when we were small kids. My Uncle Ben’s sister and her family the Dandra’s lived upstairs from the Terreris’; that is how we met. I was wandering around the streets, as my Mama never seemed to watch me, and I was not even in Kindergarten yet. I would go visit my Zizi Mary, that’s what I called her. Her house was right around the corner from Washington Street where I lived. I loved to eat at her house; she made the best baked rice pudding ever. Eddie was my age and since he lived right downstairs and we played together all the time. I would get mad at him because he could cut out paper dolls better than I could. Although both families moved to lovely single story homes in other parts of Morristown, Eddie and I stayed close. He was one of my best friends all though grammar school and high school and we managed to get into lots of mischief together. In second grade we got in trouble for ringing doorbells and running away before the people answered. We did this during lunch break and got caught and were sent to the Principal’s office. His name was Mr. Humor but he didn’t’ think we were funny. When we were seniors we discovered that we rather go ‘Driving Around’ instead of going to school. Eddie had a green Ford Galaxy and we spent many a weekday in the car instead of school. We figured out that if we went to school late after the absentee list was issued, and then sent to our classrooms, we could sign in and be considered in attendance. That is how our parents did not get called and the teachers thought that we were legally absent. We would then turn right around and walk out of school and go for a drive. We would go to Sip and Sup the drive in restaurant in Morris Plains for lunch. After that who knew where we would end up. Sometimes we would drive around the Rutgers or Drew University Campuses and smoke our fool heads off. 

     When I would get babysitting jobs Ed would come and help me with the kids. One night I was upstairs giving one of them a bath and when I came back downstairs Ed had moved all the furniture and redecorated the Living Room. I had a fit, and I wanted him to put everything all back to the way it was. He had said, “No” and that the room looked much better the way he redecorated it. Right about then the people I was babysitting for came home. I was so upset and thought they would pitch a bitch, but, low and behold they liked it. He did this same thing in my Mothers living room, and she like it as well. Even today as a side job I think he buys homes remodels them and sells them. Sort of like ‘Flip this House’.

     If you are from the Morris County area you may remember the Menens Baby Oil, Powder, and Baby Majic Factory. It had a large Pool in the front of the building and rumor had it that if was filled with Baby Oil. One night Eddie just had to find out so we took a dip in it. No oil just water, but it was fun and something to tell our friends about. I still miss Eddie to this day. Oh and did I mention he was also very good looking. His mother and father moved to this country from Italy and boy could his mom cook, I loved her home made pizza.

     Then there was Terri Maher whom was my new best friend in High School, and we had many experiences together. Once I started to drive, which I didn’t do well for many years, she was there to help me out of a lot of situations that I got into with my dad’s car. Once I managed to get the car stuck in the split rail fence at a little store Terry and I liked to shop at. It was called Anson Newton’s and was on Morristown Road on the way to Bernardsville, sort of out in the country. It had a gravel parking lot on a slope and the split rail fence boarding woods. I backed up and got the tail fins caught right between the rails. Terry ran in and got the owner, who was not happy about our problem but she charmed him into trying to get the car unstuck which he did. I can still see him pushing down on the car looking very pissed off. Thank god he helped out, luckily for me there seemed to be no damage to the car or to the fence. If the fence was damaged he didn’t seem to care, he just wanted us to go away.  

     Terri and I loved to bake. She had a boyfriend named Ralph Babbit, who was a very nice guy. He was a lot of fun and loved cars. He drove a convertible and because he was a big guy his head stuck out of the car (he had a big head) so he got the nick name “The Head”. Ralph loved Chocolate Chip Cookies so Terri and I made them for him a lot. Not that we minded, we ate plenty ourselves. To this day whenever I make the Nestles Toll House cookies I think of Ralph and Terri. I think it is still the best recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies, and I have tried many different ones over the years. I would give it to you but it is still printed right on the Nestles Chocolate Chip package. My son Scott loves them and so does everyone else I give them to. When I worked I would make them and take them to the office. I was always popular that day. “You see Mama; you don’t have to be thin to be popular, just feed people Chocolate Chip Cookies”.  

     Terri was athletic and I was not. I don’t know how I let her do it but she talked me into playing girls basketball for extra credit after school. She was great at it, I on the other hand did not even understand the game and got in the way more than I helped out the team. I could not wait to get off of the court and never went back, I was not missed. As soon as I got out of there I headed for the Bellaire and some French Fries with gravy. Mama could not know this so when I went home I had to eat again, as if I minded. I don’t remember what she made for dinner that day, but I do remember what she did make on many nights so I think I will give you one of her week night dinner recipes. I loved her rice with brown gravy and stuffed meatballs with peas and mushrooms. Good food and inexpensive to make, which we need if this frigging economy, especially if you are feeding a family. I find myself going from store to store to get sales and cutting coupons. Of course I enjoy doing this because anything to do with food makes me happy. So here is the recipes I promised you from Mama’s week night dinner.

Pork Chops with Rice

Mama always used a cast iron skillet and I swear it makes the food taste better. I don’t use one because I think they are way too heavy but if you don’t mind that try using one.

2 tablespoons of olive oil

4 to 6 loin chops bone in

½ chicken broth or white wine

1 jar of pork gravy

3 cups cooked white rice, I use brown and it turns out fine, better for you as well

1 chopped onion

3 cloves garlic

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms, crimini or button

1 teaspoon onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Salt and pepper chops on both sides and Sautee until a nice golden brown, Mama would say. Remove chops from pan and set aside. In the same pan add onions, mushrooms and garlic, Sautee for a few minutes. Add wine or broth and deglaze the pan. Add in the cooked rice, chops and gravy. Cover and over low heat simmer for 20 minutes. You meal is done. Add a salad and you are good to go. I love this meal two of my favorite things rice and pork chops, how can you go wrong?

Stuffed Meatballs with Peas and Mushrooms

1 LB Ground Beef or Turkey if you are into low fat

1 scrambled egg

4 cloves of chopped garlic

½ fresh chopped parsley

½ lb mushrooms, button or crimini

½ cup Italian flavored bread crumbs

1/3 cup of parmesan cheese

1 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Two cans of peas or 1 med size bag frozen peas

1 chopped brown onion

The olive oil is to be mixed with the stuffing to make it moist.  Use more when sautéing the meat.

Mix meat with egg and salt and pepper add fresh chopped parsley and 2 cloves of chopped garlic.  Split the meat in half and put half to the side.  With remaining meat make flat hamburger size paddies.  Mix together all the other ingredients except peas and onions to make the stuffing.  With a tablespoon drop the stuffing in the center of each patty.  When that is done take the meat that was set aside and make patty’s to place on top of each of the patty’s that have the filling in them.  Shape into balls and sautee in Olive Oil until evenly browned.  Set aside.  I another pan sauté the onions, when limp add the peas and meatballs.  Simmer for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.  You can add a little Chicken stock to make it moist. And sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese if desired.