Thinking about my grandmother... gone in '57. September was the time of year for canning tomatoes.

[3Hotdogs]

Last edited Sun Jul 9, 2023, 11:04 PM - Edit history (1)

She was of Irish and Italian ancestry (Guess, me too.)


She had a couple of acres in her back yard..... tomatoes, corn, some beans. September would see her tomatoes and bushels of tomatoes she bought and they would be lined up in the kitchen. They would be washed, heated and put through a calendar and then boiled with added oregano and basil.

The finished product would be put into Ball jar and stored for winter.

Then there was my grandfather. Born in Italy. He had a spaghetti machine. They are common now.

Sunday mornings, he would take out a large board. He would start with flour and water and then add eggs. After mixing with his hands, the dough would go through the machine and then placed on a rack to dry for a couple of hours.

The closest to the spaghetti he made is Mullers egg noodles.

Then, out would come a jar of tomato sauce to be heated up. Meatballs to follow.

After making the spaghetti, he would drive to Natale's bakery to pick up fresh Italian style bread.



Sundays ---- spaghetti heaven.

[FirstLight]

1. sounds amazing...

I miss my grandparents' wisdom of canning and making jellies etc.

I've tried to do it a few times, but I think I need to make accomodations for the high altitude cuz my jelly would never set up!

It's a lost skill... for sure

[Diamond_Dog]

2. What you described

Is my husband’s favorite meal! We used to can tomatoes and make our own sauce, but no more. And I’m not Italian and neither is he. But he grew up in an Italian neighborhood and as a child always showed up at his friend’s houses at dinner time!

Never made homemade pasta, but I understand that true Italians absolutely would refuse store-bought pasta. And that fresh bread … mmm …nothing better!

Thank you for sharing your memories with us.

[Texaswitchy]

3. My Grandparents we're farmers.

A big garden in the back.

Canned my share of stuff.

I wish I had some if their canned corn.

Fresh from the garden.

[marble falls]

4. Mine were the Czech version of years, there was a season for something all through ...

... the year. My grandmother made wine from everything: currants, concord grapes, elderberries, dandelions. We picked berries through the summer and a man with a station wagon and a scale came down the road about once a week, buying blackberrues, elderberries, grapes, blueberries.

She's pack loads for us to take home after the fall hog butcher came through. Jars of food and cuts of pork, carrots and cabbages.

Winter was baking season. Pirogi, pogach (made one three days ago), bread, cookies, pies.

Life was delicious in those days.

[womanofthehills]

5. I see this is an old post but it brought back memories

Of me as a teenager helping my German grandmother canning tons of tomatoes in her cellar.

[3Hotdogs]

6. Wonderful times and wonderful memories.