One of my favorite local websites, NorthforkParents.com, is hosting a contest. In exchange for a "food memory", you get a chance to win 4 tickets to Baystreet Theater Kidstreet Production. A food memory simply retells some of your best and worst food experiences.I thought I might share mine here. And if my story conjures up memories of your own, and you're a North Fork local, please hop over to NorthForkParents, and join the fun!
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My grandmother, "Nana Fanelli," was a wonderful cook. As a kid, my hands down favorite was her pizza. Nana's crust was home made and fresh and thick and bready. She used to slice the mozzarella, not grate it. And her sauce was made from the tomatoes she grew in her College Point, Queens garden. Add to that fresh basil, oregano, grated Parmesan and the best olive oil she could afford.
The pizza would be made well ahead of time, and would be sitting, still in the pizza pan, when we arrived at her house for a visit. She would always be waiting to feed us, and we were always too late for her liking. The moment we all piled into the tiny kitchen, Nana would slice the pizza up, with a pair of scissors, so she didn't "make marks in the pan." Even as a child I found this ironic, since her pans were as scratched and cut and worn-out as her own hands! But the picture of her thick, rough hands, using the scissor to snip a piece of the pizza for me to sample, is etched in my memory.
My mother cajoled the "recipe" from her while Nana was in her eighties and mom made it for us after Nana became to tired to do it herself. (Mom uses scissors too!) In recent years, I have memorized the recipe myself and I make it regularly for my kids. My youngest tells me, "The only pizza I like, mommy, is yours!"
I can feel Nana Fanelli smiling from above.
3 comments:
Love the new colors on the blog!
I have a lot of memories too of my grandmother and my mother cooking. My great aunt, who was like a grandma to me, passed away last year and I got the family recipes. These recipes have been in the family for decades and they are like gold to me, written in my aunt's hand and grandma's hand, and every other relative.
I miss going to my grandma's house on Sunday for early afternoon dinner. What a great memory and it is one that I may post about, thanks for the idea!
what a bitter sweet memory for me. My grandma has alzheimers and doesnt remember ANYTHING about how to cook. One of my favorites was when we made bread together. I believe i blogged about way back when... and then recently when I baked with her in my kitchen. I have some wonderful photos of us making bread and cupcakes and she's feverishly licking the frosting from her fingers.
Wonderful memories... love it!
Thanks for the plug, MamaCole. So far, you've got a really good chance of winning those tickets.
Really good.
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