The Layout
This is my grandmother’s house in Corona, Queens that she shared with my Uncle Frank and Aunt Dolly. The two windows on the lower right were the kitchen and every summer grams would have one tanned arm as she would sit with her left arm leaning on the sill. As I remember, the kitchen was about ten feet by 12 feet with the stove, sink and refrigerator along one wall. There was room for a nice sized table and you could fit about six comfortably. Grams was stationed at the back wall. During parties, seating was usually reserved for her and my oldest uncles. I remember fondly removing the eights, nines and tens from the deck of cards and playing Scopone and Briscola with her for hours.
Now in the very back was a small toilet and sink with a sliding door without a lock. As a boy it used to freak me out because I always thought someone was going to walk in, so I would usually sneak upstairs to use that bathroom.
The Food
I am still amazed by the food that would come out of that kitchen. My grandmother was beyond her cooking years, so most of the food was produced by Aunt Dolly and Aunt Mary. Naturally, there was always a pot of sauce “aka” gravy bubbling on one burner. One of my aunts would be frying meatballs, eggplant or chicken, for one of my favorites, “Lemon Chicken”. Click here to try it yourself.
Every Easter Uncle Frank would take out the big pasta board and dowel to make ravioli. He could roll out a sheet of pasta in minutes. I would get to cut the ravioli’s out with a glass and move them to the sheet draped sofa to dry. One Easter, my cousin Frank sat on the Ravioli, about ten years ago I wrote the Ravioli song below to commemorate the event.
For many years, during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s I would spend every Thursday in that kitchen as it was my mom’s turn to care for my grandmother. Pasta and meatballs, with a dollop of ricotta cheese.
The photo below is my mom’s brother Frank and sister Mary in the kitchen, with the dreaded bathroom in the back.
For more recipes from the kitchen click here.
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Growing Up Italian — Sensory Overload
Eggplant Parm The Smells and Tastes Without question I think we Italians were blessed with some of the best smells and tastes in the world. Whether it be the Italian bakery, Salumeria or the Italian restaurant. All contributing to the sensory overload in a very special way. Who can forget walking into the Italian bakery and the aroma of fresh baked cookies, bread and pastries. What do you select? My favorites were pinogli cookies,
Grandma’s Backyard
Corona, Queens Summers in Grandma’s Backyard Some of my fondest memories are the parties in my grandmother’s front yard in Corona, Queens. Ever since I can remember, from about the mid 1950’s until 1971, every Nicoletti summer party was held in that yard. Rain or shine, it did not matter, the 9 sons and daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren would gather. My dad would work on Sunday’s, so if mom was taking too long, I would
Authentic Italian Recipes and Researching Sicily and Campania
Cousins Linda, Gene and Bob discuss how they found each other after 60 years and how closely their families were connected from the 1920’s through 1970’s. They also talk about the Petix and Speziale family cookbook with over 100 recipes. Podcast Buy the book on Shutterfly Video Visit our recipe page here Click here Click here to join our group on Facebook
