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Debbie Roppolo's works have appeared in ezines, newsletters, newspapers and magazines: including Sasee, Story Station, Adoption Today, Holiday Crafts 4 Kids, and JustForMom.com
She is also a contributor to anthology collections such as Laughing and Learning: Adventures in Parenting, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, and Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lover's Soul.
She currently resides with her husband in the Texas Hill Country, and is the mother to two beautiful children.
Debbie Roppolo
I'm a TV food show junkie. I find the female cooks interesting, but let's face it, if I wanted a quick and nutritious meal in less than thirty minutes, I'd chip a Lean Cuisine out of the freezer and toss it in the microwave. No. It's the male chefs who grab my attention.
My fascination didn't begin recently.
It started when I was four and a half. I remember watching
"Isn't that cute," my mother whispered to Daddy. "Our daughter really wants to learn her letters."
Learn letters my Aunt Fanny. Even at that age I was probably envisioning mine and Cookie Monster's wedding. Our registry would have been listed at Nabisco, our house made of snicker doodles, and he would've never taken off that darn hat or apron.
My senior year in high school, I dated a young man (Alec Rolatini) who had a lot going for him: looks, a nice house, and (joy of my heart) a father who was a master chef at a popular restaurant in our town and sometimes appeared on a local morning news show.
Imagine my excitement when after only three months of dating, I was asked to join Alec and his family for supper one night. I breezed through the door, head held high, acting slightly disinterested when Alec introduced me to his father, but inwardly I was a bowl of melting gelatin.
Chef Rolatini calmly gave out instructions while he cooked. Alec and his mother sliced and diced while I was as nervous rabbit on a caffeine high and tried not to spill anything or fall on my face. Thankfully, I was assigned to salad detail. That seemed safe enough. I never dreamed that when I yawned, my breath mint would fall out of my mouth and play hide-n-seek among the lettuce leaves.