Monday, August 30, 2010

Nana Mary's Sausage & Peppers



Being of Italian descent, I remember as a child going to my great grandmother's house in Staten Island, NY and just remember the smells of her tiny kitchen.   Nana Mary was a short 4'11" Italian cook, remembering she had to stand on a stool in front of the stove, stirring tall pots of homemade tomato sauce or as Nana said "gravy".  Sunday's were a day for family to get together and my mom would drive me and my brother from Long Island to Staten Island every Sunday for dinner with our relatives.    We have a large Italian family and Nana would cook large amounts of gravy loaded with homemade meatballs, sausage and pork chops with homemade pasta.  Starting her cooking early in the morning for a 2:00 afternoon meal. 

It gave her great joy when everyone was at the table eating her meal.  Which started with a homemade plate of Antipasto, fruit, different cheeses, deli meats, and that was before the meal.   My uncle made homemade red wine in his basement and I can remember the grown ups drinking wine from small jelly glasses. 

Food traditions are a very important part of our family and I have carried those traditions down to my children.  Although, it might be hard to have a sit down 2:00 Sunday dinner, I often make recipes I remember from Nana Mary. 

Sausage and peppers from Nana Mary is a simple uncomplicated dish that originally Nana would serve over fresh pasta, but I love the recipe as a sandwich and so does my family.   Made from homemade marinara sauce, onions, peppers, garlic and special seasonings I serve the sausage and peppers on hero rolls, and watch as my husband and son devour several sandwiches each.   As I watch them eat, I feel like Nana Mary did and it makes me smile!

10 comments:

  1. This looks so good, I think I would of loved your Nana Mary. Thanks for sharing, this put a smile on my face too!
    -Gina-

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  2. I love it!! This is a great post, and one I can totally relate to!! I had a Nunnie (my grandpa's mom), She was my "Nana Mary".

    Was your family from northern or southern Italy?? The whole Gravy/Sauce debate cracks me up, We were from Southern and always called it Sauce.

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  3. This is the one thing my parents make over and over again. I have to share this recipe with them.

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  4. sausage and peppers are a classic! I remember as a teenager going to the Mt Caramel festival where the stands all sold sausage sandwiches loaded with peppers...what a great sandwich!

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  5. Traditional dishes handed down thru the years are the best! I love sausage and peppers and make them frequently -its one of my quick comfort dishes when cooler weather arrives :) My niece works at Carraba's in Houston (referring to a past post of yours) and my brother has just relocated to Dallas from Houston.

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  6. It sounds as though you had amazing Sundays growing up! I love that your grandma had to stand on a stool to cook :)

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  7. I agree that food traditions are so important. I loved hearing about a recipe that filled your own house and family with joy. Thank you for sharing with me!

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  8. I love food traditions, and yours are so warm...Thank you for sharing with us :)

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