I’m sure almost every Italian does it. They gather up in a house that’s almost too small for the loud obnoxious noises and laughter of their one big happy family. Almost everyone in the immediate family shows up: cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, grandmother, grandfather, grandma’s best friend, grandchildren, etc. However, even with all of these close knit family members, there’s one dominant thing that brings us all together, food.
A traditional Italian meal would not be tradition at all if it weren’t held on Sundays. This is the one day in which the whole family gets to relax together and eat their hearts out. As you may know, we do not eat in small portion sizes. In fact, we do not eat just one main course either. There are always complimentary foods on the side. However, the most important dish is a classic pasta bowl filled with red sauce and meatballs.
It starts with a pot of boiling water and a couple of pounds of ziti. Then once the water is boiled, the pasta goes in and after a while it reaches a tender yet firm state which means it is ready to be topped with its best friend, sauce. Sometimes, my grandmother makes homemade sauce but when were all hungry and in a rush to eat, she uses regular store bought sauce. However, her special ingredients remain a mystery to me as of now. But all I know is it tastes yummy in my tummy!
Then, we all gather around the table and reach over each other’s arms, grab each other certain foods, and converse loudly with one another. Without my Sunday dinners with my Italian family, my tummy and my heart would be a lot less warm. There’s nothing like sharing a nice meal with the people that matter most to you in the entire world; your family.
Julia L.