Sunday, November 9, 2008

Things Your Italian Grandma Never Told You But Should Have


Things Your Italian Grandma Never Told You But Should Have
Part 1 of 2: Memories of Grandma
Italian Memories
by Cookie Curci

Today, young women are learning their homemaking skills from domestic guru Martha Stewart, and getting their sage advice from Oprah Winfrey. But things were different for my generation; we learned our homemaking skills and our life lessons at our grandma's knee.

Unfortunately, many of today's grandmas are too busy to pass on their life lessons and family traditions, as most are working at jobs outside the home. And, in many cases, grandma is known by her grandchildren as the lady who shows up on holidays and birthdays with a generous gift.

To me, and to a generation of post war baby boomers, the name "Grandma" meant much, much more. She was the foundation of home and family, the matriarch from whom knowledge, generosity and personal sacrifice flowed. The years I spent with her were among my most rewarding, cherished and domestically education. Grandma came to this country as young immigrant, skilled in the old-world ways; she was keenly adept in self-reliance and running a household. At age 10, she knew how to create tender pasta and ravioli from a little water, flour and egg; by the age of 12 she could plow a field, pick the harvest and pluck a chicken for dinner. Grandma had to know these things, her survival in the old country depended on it.

Grandma passed on these skills to her daughters and then to her grandchildren. Under her watchful eye we learned how to stretch the household budget by growing and preserving fruit and vegetables; we learned how to plant and sow our seedlings at exactly the right time of the month to get the best crops and how to use garden herbs for medicinal cures.

One of my favorite memories was watching grandma in her kitchen preparing the nightly meal. I watched as she mixed a little flour, water and eggs to create long strands of tender pasta. A few minutes later, bowls of steamy spaghetti, bathed in rich tomato sauce and covered with grated Parmesan cheese, was set upon the dinner table.

They say the two best things you can give your child are roots and wings. I guess my grandmother came under the category of "roots", but her wisdom also gave me "wing's". Through her gardening skills she taught me many things. She knew instinctively the bean sprouts that were destined to grow and those that wouldn't make it. She would say, "Observe the ones that do not change or grow, they will die- change and growth generates life" She encouraged me to apply this philosophy to my own life as well.

I liked this a lot and Found this online at http://www.italiansrus.com/articles/subs/grandma.htm

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

EPISODE 1 , what got it started








Today we will be showing how to cook Penne pasta, home made meatballs, home mixed gravy / sauce, and lamb

Sunday, October 19, 2008

GRANDMA ROSA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN HOW TO MAKE PASTA E FAGIOLI





The Cicali Brothers present:
EPISODE 6 : HOW TO MAKE PASTA E FAGIOLI
with grandma Rosa
includes
BArilla 1lb of Ditalini
Botticelli 100% olive oil- 3 tbl sp
1lb Jack Rabbit - Great Northern Beans
8 oz - Red Pack
Salt
Bay Leaves


music by: NICK LUCAS - PASTA CHEECH

Saturday, October 11, 2008

How To Make Raviolis





how to make home made raviolis, how to make semolina dough , Grandma rosa's italian kitchen , using polly-o ricotta , and an Atlas pasta maker.

Music:
Dean Martin- Volare
London Symphony Orchestra - Hallelujah

Friday, October 10, 2008

HOW TO MAKE PIZZA



THIS IS GRANDMA ROSA'S MOST FAMOUS YOUTUBE VIDEO

This is Episode 5 in the series

Today we will be making homemade pizza with Grandma Rosa. Grandma ROsa's italian Kitchen will include ingredients from Shoprite of Delran nj
Bridgford Ready-dough
FResh cut Mozerella
Olive oil
Red pack tomato gravy
Oregano
Basil

Music:

Gemini -- pizza

Dean Martin - Just in time

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

WELCOME

Ok well were finally up and running here, and I will be adding videos and blogs on this site as things come up.  I will have all videos up and running hopefully in the next few weeks.