When I was a kid growing up, Thanksgiving was a day to reflect on what we had to be thankful for and to see my family together.
After this peaceful moment, of no one screaming at each other, it was time to eat! ANDIAMO!
Now Italians do it all little bit different than the rest, but what else is new.
First we start with:
ANTIPASTO then LASAGNA or
MANICOTTI (depending on what you had last year) with
MEAT IN THE GRAVY, then SOUP
Now we get to the Meal:
TURKEY, STUFFING, ROASTED POTATOES
BROCCOLI RABE, and / or ESCAROLE
ROASTED RED PEPPERS, SAUTEED MUSHROOMS
SAUTEED STRINGBEANS (picked from the vine in the backyard garden)
THE BREAD (that Nona made)
and GOD FORBID YOU FORGET THE SALAD!!!
(picked from the backyard garden with homemade wine vinegar)
To wash it all down, we had:
HOMEMADE WINE, and 7 UP (IN THE GLASS BOTTLE)
Then after the men had a 2 hour nap and the woman cleaned all the dishes, we had:
CHESTNUTS, MIXED NUTS, FRESH FRUIT, DRIED FIGS and FINOCCHIO
Then we started the dessert:
ITALIAN COOKIES, SFOGLIATELLE, CANNOLIS’
and ITALIAN PASTRY (just in case we missed something)
During this feast we enjoyed a nice EXPRESSO with
MARIE BRIZARD ANISETTE or ROMANA SAMBUCA
Then after that we needed a little something for DIGESTIVO
We went straight for the BRIOSCHI!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY PAISANI
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Hi Glenn - Andiamo, indeed! We're starting with a carpaccio appetizer - one of my specialities - followed by lasagna - but not just any lasagna. First, I have to spend the 4 or so hours it takes to make the true Bolognese sauce, and then the lasagna will be assembled with fresh home-made pasta, a besciamella and parmegiano. This is the real northern Italian deal, not some junk with gobs of mozzarella, canned Ragu and that cheese from the green cardboard can. Gotta bake some nice crusty bread, too. And for dessert, a Sicilian ricotta cake (Cassata al forno) - another specialty. With a couple of bottles of very nice Italian red - maybe a nice old Brunello - and a very special grappa to finish it all off. And I'm not even Italian - but I probably was in a previous life. Have a great Thanksgiving and Buon Appetito!
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