In my great nonna’s day, when the 90-year-old widow was seen on the arm of a younger man, the padre warned that she could be denied a church burial. Our older relatives were outraged since priests in Italy were long rumored to have their own young companions. (Recently, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that…
Category: Italian Kisses
Grandpa's Garden from "Gram's Wisdom" Projo
Grandpa was a man of many loves — his family, his garden and his fig tree. The house on Beach Street had a large front porch overlooking the water with a backyard extending to the next street. A garden bloomed in the middle of the land. On the first Saturday in May the pastry shop…
Gram's kitchen: She was the "Pizzagaine Queen"
Rita Watson: At Easter, Grandma always held the culinary throne Published on 06 April 2014 Grandma’s kitchen was a sacred place where she tightly held her culinary secrets. Essentially she was “a little of this and a pinch of that” type of cook. While she often let us roll out the dough for her homemade…
Of falling December stars and ever lasting love, Projo
Rita Watson: Of falling December stars and everlasting love/ Italian kisses We grew up believing that meteorite showers were gifts from the heavens. For each star that fell into the arms of Mother Earth, we wished for love and kisses from our Prince Charming. The December Geminids would have glistened from the wrap-around porch…
The Zeppole, a San Giuseppe Day treat, Projo
Rita Watson: Sweet memories of St. Josepth’s Day Published on 09 March 2014 The Zeppole, a San Giuseppe and Italian Father’s Day treat Because Saint Joseph’s Day is Father’s Day in Italy, when growing up I spent the night before the feast at our grandparents’ house to celebrate. The next day, March 19, I helped at the…
Italian love towards a harmonious marriage, Projo
Rita Watson: Some old-fashioned advice for a harmonious marriage Published on 23 February 201 We grew up with music. On Saturday afternoons, Grandpa would sit in his rocker with his glass of wine after lunch, turn on the radio, and become lost in the opera. During particularly dramatic scenes he would call Gram from the…
How lasagna could keep the peace
Rita Watson: A tale of diamonds, love and lasagna Published on 13 January 2014 Grandma and Grandpa kept the Christmas decorations up until well past the time when the three wise men were expected to arrive. And it was always during the first week of the New Year that Zia Agatha and Uncle Guiseppe would…
Italian kisses: Gram's table
Grandma’s dining room had a mahogany racetrack table covered with a crocheted cloth and a bowl of wax fruit. During the day we ate in the large kitchen where she rolled out her pasta. But on nights and holidays, the dining room doors opened for anyone who happened to stop by. Our grandparents believed in…