The first time I made pasta from scratch, I was eight years old. I grew up in rural Connecticut at the end of a cul-de-sac, with my maternal Italian grandparents living in the house across the street. To tell you it was heaven would be an understatement.

One rainy afternoon, my grandmother called me over to help her make something. I ran across the street, with my black Labrador retriever named Sam in tow, feeling important because my grandmother, who I thought was a lot like Superwoman, needed me to help her with something important.

After I took off my shoes, careful to avoid the “Blue Room” or the formal living room that was always covered in plastic and never seemed to ever actually be used, I found my grandmother standing in front of her stove wearing her familiar Nonna’s apron with the pink flowers nearly washed out, as she stirred a pot of tomato sauce with her favorite wooden spoon and sipped Southern Comfort with a single ice cube from a Dixie cup.

On that rainy afternoon, I remember my grandmother showed me how to make a hole in the flour on the board where she dropped in the eggs, and how the dough stuck to my fingers as I helped her knead it. We rolled out sheets of pasta until my arms ached that we cut in many shapes like fettuccine, pappardelle, radiatori, trofie, pacheri, and spaghetti. Batch after batch, one after the other, we hung pasta to dry on the clothes drying rack and even covered my grandparents’ king size bed with towels before covering the entire bed with more pasta.

While we made pasta, we also worked on the sauce. Some Italians call it gravy, but we always called it sauce, and Sunday sauce was loaded with braciole, or thinly sliced sirloin rolled into a thick cigar shape around garlic, parsley and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. We also made meatballs with a mix of ground pork, ground veal, ground beef, garlic, basil, mozzarella cheese and stale bread soaked in milk. All of it made the house smell heavenly as the rain fell in sheets outside the window, as my beloved dog Sam dozed in front of the television with my grandfather as he pretended to watch M.A.S.H.

I don’t remember what we talked about, but I remember feeling so happy to spend time with my grandmother, and I recall feeling utterly content in the kitchen making food that I knew our extended family would enjoy at one of our weekly Sunday dinners. In hindsight, I believe this was the moment I fell in love with food and with cooking. It was the first time I understood what it felt like to take time and care with fresh ingredients to make something special for loved ones. As we cooked, I imagined the now quiet dining room filled with laughter and clanking of dishes and silverware, as we all enjoyed Sunday dinner with cousins and family. I knew exactly which stories would be told because they were the same stories that had been told over and over again for years. My heart filled with joy as I thought about watching everyone I loved savor the food we had prepared.

Years later, I still make Sunday sauce and often invite dear friends and family to sit around our table to enjoy a leisurely dinner together devoid of cell phones or conversations about politics. We still tell funny stories and laugh at each other’s lame jokes, but the point is that we spend time together as the seasons, and the world around us, changes. The act of cooking something special soothes me, calms me in a way Yoga or meditation never will.

All of this experience and joy in cooking led me to writing my third novel, A Recipe for Love. This time around, I knew I wanted to write a traditional lesbian romance, but I wanted to write a story about my love of Italian food, so I decided that the two main characters would meet and fall in love in an Italian cooking class.

When I finished writing the story, I decided to include a pretty lengthy cookbook section where I could share some of my favorite recipes. A few of these recipes are family favorites that I learned from my mother and grandmother, while others are pulled from various sources that I’ve tried and adjusted over time. Because for me, writing a novel is a lot like cooking a meal. I take time to create a story that I hope will help readers relax and escape from the stresses of everyday life for a little while. Cooking a meal is much the same. Both make me happy to share part of myself.

Buon appetito!

About Lucy J. Madison
Lucy J. Madison is an author, screenwriter, and home-cook who may still attend culinary school so she can own a supper club in Provincetown one day. She’s at work on her fifth novel when she’s not in the kitchen. LucyJMadison.com
Facebook, Instagram & Twitter @lucyjmadison

About A Recipe for Love: A Lesbian Culinary Romance
Available for Pre-Order Now. Available 10/10/18.

Piermont, New York. Danika Russo is 55, newly retired from a 30-year career as a mail carrier, and stuck in a rut. After putting her own needs on hold to care for her terminally ill partner and her unloving father, Danika is holed up the childhood home she inherited, a claustrophobic time warp from the 1970s complete with brown Formica and linoleum, and not sure what to do next.

Her best friend Natalie suggests making a list of things she has always wanted to do. Stepping outside her comfort zone, self-deprecating Danika opts for taking an Italian cooking class, not knowing that she will both impress the appreciative chef with her tasting skills and meet a mysterious younger woman there, Finn Gerard, who will capture her heart and teach her the recipe for love. But Finn is withholding a grim secret and, despite her initial passion, appears unable to commit to Danika fully. Will Danika allow herself to let go and fall in love for the first time in her life, even if there are no guarantees? Even if she must learn to let go?

This complex lesbian romance touches on themes of rediscovery and transformation, showing that while love can be the answer, real healing always starts from within.

Lucy Madison’s latest will appeal to fans of fine, well-crafted lesbian fiction and authors like Caren Werlinger. Readers will enjoy a bonus cookbook section at the back, featuring all the recipes mentioned in the book!

YouTube Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/m4jzY_gRtxc

The post Cooking up a lesbian romance first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY FRANCESCA LEWIS

We’ve all been there – stranded in an unfamiliar city with no idea how to get the most out of it. We end up sticking to what’s familiar – Starbucks, McDonalds – when what we really want to be doing is exploring the community, experiencing local color, soaking up the culture. That’s if we can even find somewhere familiar – I hear there are entire stretches of this planet without a coffee shop or burger joint on every corner. Finding your way in an unfamiliar city can be daunting, even with Google Maps, and even with technological innovations the experience is impersonal and prone to hilarious mix-ups. If only there was a friendly human tour guide to show you where the action is. With new travel video platform, Vidpal, that guide may be only a click away.

Vidpal, which is still in beta, hosts video tour guides. You can find videos about all sorts of places – neighborhoods, districts, cities, events – all over the world. The scope of this is still becoming established but already this is being used not only for simple A-B directions but for cultural guides on local customs and tips on getting the most out of events such as NYC Pride. You can request videos, state what you’re willing to pay, and if someone can provide what you’re looking for, you’ll get the video you need. This is especially useful for gay travellers, who can enlist a local person to clue them in on the hot spots or help them find queer-friendly businesses. And, of course, if you’re a person who lives in an often visited place, you stand to make some easy money.

To encourage people to upload videos and infuse the fledgling site with content, Vidpal are running a contest this month, aimed squarely at the queer community. “We’re focusing on targeting the queer community” says their press release, “because inclusivity, diversity, community, and safety while traveling are important to the spirit of what Vidpal represents.” The contest, which began last week and ends June 30th, The Ultimate NYC Video Contest by Vidpal. The competition is open to anyone, but aimed at queer women, who are asked to “submit a video tour guide, giving a tour of their favorite thing to do or their favorite queer place to visit”. The prizes include two nights at the Adirondacks bed & breakfast, two USA Discovery Passes to Niagara Falls, or one ticket to a broadway show.

So if you’re dying to share your knowledge of the local lesbian scene, or you just really like the sound of those prizes, head on over to vidpalcontest.com/lgbt/

The full contest rules are here.

Francesca Lewis is a queer feminist writer from Yorkshire, UK. She writes for Curve Magazine and The Human Experience as well as writing short fiction and working on a novel. Her ardent love of American pop culture is matched only by her passion for analyzing it completely to death.

The post The Ultimate NYC Video Contest: Travel Video Platform Vidpal Wants Your Tour Guides first appeared on Lesbian.com.

If San Francisco is my girlfriend, New York is my boyfriend. I can’t get enough of the city of lights, fashion and action and neither can Super G.

We have an infatuation with the Big Apple that can only be cured by an annual fling to catch some shows on Broadway and discover changes in our favorite neighborhoods.

More >

The post New York is the life first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The post Proud proud pride first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Late last year, Buffalo-based comedian Kristen Becker penned a heartfelt open letter to Louisiana. The New York-born, Louisiana-raised lesbian described her affection for both of the states she proudly calls “home,” but explained why Louisiana’s anti-gay laws would forever stand in the way of her permanent return to the land of crawfish, creole and gumbo.

Becker went on, providing examples of The Pelican State’s celebration of diversity in other aspects and encouraging the state to revise its laws to reflect the views of individuals there, updating legislation to reflect tolerance rather than remaining mired in outdated bigotry and ignorance.

The letter, originally posted on her website, gained media attention and was published by The Advocate. Ultimately it was read by Kenny Tucker, Political Director for Forum for Equality, who reached out to Becker after reading the personal plea.

It seems Becker’s missive was serendipitous, as Forum for Equality in Louisiana was working hard in support of the House Bill, No. 199 (HB 199), the Louisiana Non-discrimination Act (LANA), which had just been introduced in the state legislature.

Tucker invited the comedian to get involved in helping to raise awareness of the legislation, which includes not only pro-LGBT language but also seeks to defeat other forms of discrimination, and Becker didn’t hesitate to put her talents to work.

“The culture in Louisiana doesn’t match the politics,” said Becker. “The individual people in the state are accepting (of LGBT people), but the power, the politics don’t reflect or support that.”

Becker decided that if she was going to get involved, she was going to throw herself into the effort completely.”I’m just that type of person,” said Becker, “If I say I’m going to help, I’m going to go all out.”

And so it is that Becker is now in Louisiana where she plans to remain until the end of May, organizing and performing in fundraising comedy shows for Forum for Equality. At press time, performances were scheduled in New Orleans (April 24) and Baton Rouge (April 26) with dates and times to be decided for appearances in Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport.

Becker’s motivation is simple. “The day that same-sex marriage legislation passed in New York I was ecstatic. I have many close friends in Louisiana and I want them to experience that feeling of elation.”

HB 199 will be voted on by the state House of Representatives at the end of April. If the bill passes the House, as it is expected to do, then a Senate vote is expected in May where proponents expect a tougher battle.

For more information on Becker’s “Becker on the Bayou” tour visit www.kristenbecker.com or follow Becker on Facebook. To donate to Forum for Equality or learn about other ways to get involved in the fight for equal rights in Louisiana visit www.forumforequality.org.

“We really need people to get involved,” said Becker. “Please come to the shows, donate, call your state representatives and senators and just talk to your friends about it and help raise awareness.”

The post Becker on the Bayou: Comedian joins Louisiana LGBT rights battle first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Carlyle at the Palace

BY SID MARCH
Lesbian.com

Long Island has spring fever! This Friday night May 3, Human Rights Campaign Long Island and Colette Lee Inc., bring you The Long Island Spring Affair, to be held at Carlyle at the Palace (1600 Round Swamp Road, Plainview, NY).

Featuring DJ Kimmie C, Hardbody Dance Crew, body-painted beauties and performances by legendary drag queens including Violet Storm and Miss Fire Island Ariel Sinclair, this spring fling will be a fabulous night full of surprises (and delicious passed hors d’oeuvre). Hosted by Frankie Fileti and Ms. Sinclair herself, the evening is a continuing celebration of marriage equality and more.

“It is time to raise a glass and celebrate all of our achievements while supporting the road ahead. And what better way to bring us all together than a Spring Fling at the very chic Carlyle at the Palace!” Said Bobbie Heichman, HRC Long Island Community Events Co-Chair.

You are probably familiar with the HRC, a major LGBT rights organization, but do you know Colette Lee? “Colette Lee Inc. produces top level events that benefit wide ranging organizations, from the Wounded Warriors to the Human Rights Campaign,” said Colette Morales, founder and President of Colette Lee Inc. “We’ve previously produced a fantastic fashion event with celebrities and designers with HRC Long Island, and we are thrilled to be back to co-host the hottest spring party on Long Island!”

So, we’re pretty into the body painting… (Photo: Lory Diaz)

So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now.

Ticket price (cash only): $25 includes an annual HRC membership and passed hors d’oeuvre.

$250 VIP Ticket includes 4 entries to the event, 4 annual HRC’s membership, complimentary food and a table with Stoli bottle service

Check out the event details on Facebook. Remember, RSVPing to the Facebook event does not guarantee you admission, but you can buy your tickets in advance.

The post Must-go event: Long Island Spring Affair first appeared on Lesbian.com.