My grandmother is from Italy and when I was 15 and first dating I would often bring my first boyfriend Steve to my grandmother’s house for Sunday dinner. The first time I brought Steve to my grandmother’s house she chose this particular day to make polenta. Most people have somewhat heard of polenta but in my grandmother’s native town in Italy they prepare a softer version of polenta (the consistency of oatmeal or grits) and it was and is tradition to serve polenta straight off of the dining room table. Meaning, she spreads her polenta in big circlular shapes on her Formica dining room table. She then spreads what most of us know to be spaghetti sauce on top of this and then there is a liberal sprinkling of romano cheese all over. This later step is done with a huge flourish of activity; the cheese is literally flying all over the room.
This is something I have seen and been party too since before I could walk or talk. She then hands around forks for all to begin eating after my grandfather says grace. Yes, there are no plates…and yes we eat the polenta off of the table until it’s gone. One of my fondest memories growing up is of when my brother, sister and I would try to make the shape of America out of our side. Her table was shaped like a big circle with a big split down the center. We always tried to shape America. I have no earthly idea why. We would argue over who ate Florida because once you eat away Florida the United States looks like a square.
So, one Sunday Steve and I walked in just as she was handing out the forks. He eyeballed 15 loud Italians eating and talking with their hands sitting squeezed in around my grandmother’s somewhat small table eating red mush off of the table like pigs eating from a trough and proclaimed, “I cannot eat like this”. My grandfather jumped up and said “Well then you do not pass and you cannot ever marry Kristy!” He was of course joking but I don’t think that boyfriend ever really recovered from that experience.
I wonder what Rick would have done if faced with that same dilemna. Every single time I personally make polenta he creeps over to where I’m eating it and says “What the hell is that?” Every single time.
I wonder if Keith remembers how he scarfed down Polenta when he was a toddler. He called it “o’la” I have no idea why.
How do you make Polenta the way my grandmother does? You can eat it off of plates…but….its like licking a donut instead of eating it…just not as satisfying!!!
Polenta
Ingredients:
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tsp salt
3 cups of water in pot
1 cup of COLD water
Spaghetti sauce
Romano cheese
Procedure:
1. Boil 3 cups of water.
2. Mix cornmeal, salt and 1 cup of COLD water in a bowl.
3. When water in pot boils gradually add the cold water mixture into the boiling water stirring constantly.
4. Reduce heat.
5. Continue cooking over low heat 5-10 minutes.
6. Spread mixture on your dining room table.
7. Cover with sauce and sprinkle generously with romano cheese.
8. Eat this meal directly off of the table with family surrounding the table. If you put it on a plate you’ll not get good luck like you will if you eat it off of the table.
Serving Size: 2-3 servings
Grandma Rena’s homemade Spaghetti Sauce
(the easy way)
Ingredients:
2 cans Contadina tomato paste
4 cans water
1 stick margarine (do not use butter…it doesn’t work!)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rounded Italian Seasoning
1 tsp onion powder
Procedure:
Simmer over low heat 30 minutes
Serving Size: perfet for 1 pound of spaghetti, and also perfect on Polenta
