My Beautiful Mamma

My Role Model, My Mamma

Hello everybody and thanks for dropping by. Welcome! I am super excited about resurrecting this blog into a spot where I can share some recipes and some stories about growing up Italian as well. It is a crazy time out there and my cooking is getting me through. But not without the support of my friends, my family and this lovely woman. My mamma.  

My mamma is a rock. She is a success story and a wonder. She was born in the Lazio region of Italy and shared a small house with 12 other people- 10 siblings and 3 adults. Daily life was a hardship. As it was for most during WW11 and afterwards. She was just a newborn when the war began. They lived and ate off the land. She learned at a very young age how to cook with very few ingredients (this is where "la cucina povera" was born-out of necessity). She tells me the story of how at the age of 7 her mom gave her a few eggs and some flour and told her to not come out of the kitchen until she had made enough pasta for dinner. She completed Grade 3 education because she was needed at home. It was very much survival mode. At 18 years old she was introduced to my dad through his brother in law and was swept off her feet. After 2 short weeks, they were married. It was not uncommon and I am sure if you are first generation Italian with older parents,  this is probably their story as well. Within 3 short months she was married, living in a strange country without speaking the language. Her determination, her strong will and her love of family is what makes her amazing and I am so incredibly honoured to be her daughter.

I am her only daughter. I was raised in a house with 5 males. I shared that home with 3 brothers, my parents and my mom's brother who my dad had sponsored at 18. That's a lot of Italian men!!!! Growing up, I didn't appreciate my heritage or the traditions and culture. Most kids don't. I was resentful as it was always me helping my mom in the kitchen and with the chores while my brothers played Scopa after dinner or watched tv. It was no surprise that I rebelled and rebel did I ever (but that's for another time- maybe😇) It truly wasn't until I began to raise my own family that I began to understand the deep, rich heritage that I was born into and nurtured by my parents.

Flash forward to the past several months and I love my mom more and more each day. We live far from each other, to drive there is a full day event.  With the current condition we have not been able to see each other but we talk everyday. Once in the morning and once at night and sometimes even more if I am baking or cooking a dish that needs some help. This time has allowed me the opportunity to develop an even closer relationship with her and also to make  traditional dishes and truly appreciate how much love and food are so strongly connected! It has been very rewarding and very therapeutic. 

I will be posting some dishes that I have been making and will include recipes. Stay tuned! I would love to hear from you as well and get to know your story. Have a great day!