Cooking for Someone is a Sign of Love

Cooking my grandmothers Italian Gravy, Meatballs and Stuffed Shells

Buying: I have been thinking about fall pictures with my family as I just booked my photographer. I ordered this dress for my daughter (age 8), I am thinking this dress for myself, a navy plaid shirt for my son with a pair for chinos (age 7) and a white linen shirt with jeans for my husband. I always try to look cohesive but not too busy.

Reading: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Oh wow the emotional roller coaster of this book has given me all the feels. After being in a fantasy world the past few months, I read this book as it was highly recommended by a good friend. The love I felt for these characters was unlike anyother book I have read. If you are looking for a book with all the feels and some of the best writing out there this is your book.

Planning: My husband and I are planning trip to NYC. It seems like years since just the two of us have been a vacation, so we decided this year for our anniversary that is what we are doing. I have a deep love for New York and he has never been. We are planning all our restaurant stops, hotel and to do list. On our list of things to do is see Sterophonic!! As a lover of Fleetwood Mac and all things 70’s inspired this show is something I can’t wait to see.

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I truly believe that cooking for someone is a sign of love—at least, it is how I show my love.

Over the weekend, I cooked my grandmother's Italian gravy. My Grandma Theresa was the best cook; she made our family Sunday dinner every week. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would all come over, and we would eat together. These are some of my favorite childhood memories. When my grandma passed away while I was in college, I began to develop an interest in cooking. After graduating, I enrolled in a 1.5-year program at Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago. I realized that whenever I was in the kitchen, I felt a part of my Grandma with me.

Unfortunately, I was never able to cook with her, but my Mom had. She meticulously followed her around with a pen and paper because, like all good cooks, my Grandma never wrote anything down. When I was in culinary school, I asked my Mom to show me how to make the gravy, and she did. Since then, I have made this gravy and meatballs countless times for the people I love. This past Sunday, I made it yet again with my Mom and now my daughter. For the first recipe I want to share, this one should be it. It holds so much of my heart and soul.

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These recipes can be made 2-3 days ahead of time making them the perfect addition to any family dinner or party. If you are entertaining a lot of guests putting the stuffed shells and meatballs into a chaffing dish is a great option for buffet style serving.

Cheers!

Italian Gravy, Stuffed Shells and Burrata recipe is available behind a paywall. Thank you for supporting my work!