Comfort food for Sicilians is pasta with tomato sauce. And in a time like this, when the things that have happened in the world, our country, our city, our block, become too much to handle, we Sicilians head for the kitchen. Because losing ourselves in the routine of chopping, measuring, simmering and eating is about the only thing we can do to comfort ourselves. For a while, at least, we can think of nothing but the knife, the cutting board, the pot.
Our world is lost, I fear. We say we’re the greatest nation in the world, but more people act out in horrific ways here than anywhere else, per capita. Go figure. Money is KING (think gun lobby) and so no American is safe from crazy, racist, terrorists who can get guns as easily as they can buy a pack of gum.
I have no solution except to make some tomato sauce, boil up some pasta, sprinkle it with fresh grated cheese and lose myself in thoughts of my childhood, where life wasn’t perfect, but at least it was innocent. It’s not so innocent now, is it?
Join me in the kitchen today:
Mama’s Tomato Sauce (serves 4)
1 large can tomato puree
2 small cans of tomato paste
small handful of dried basil
4 small cans of water
2 small cans of red wine
Half cup grated parmigiano cheese
Bring to a boil, then simmer for 6-8 hours, stirring every 20 minutes. Taste midway. If too acidic, add a bit of sugar. (If only we could do that for the world.)
cooking as meditation. just what we need in these sorrowful days–trying to keep the anger at bay with a chop, chop, chop of the basil. Thanks for the Sicilian comfort.
I’m with you, the kitchen is my refuge when times get tough. And I’m going to try that recipe–coming from someone who obviously knows pasta sauce! (I bet you are having even more fun these days in your new kitchen!)
Cooking is a great way to release your thoughts. The same thing with gardening–bending over the fragrant earth, you can get lost and your cares drift away.
Money is King. And that’s exactly how a great society starts to crumble. It’s sad to watch, yet there’s so much power behind ‘the dark side’ that effecting change is so challenging. Thanks for your post Carol and for joining us at #MidLifeLuv.
Kimberly http://FiftyJewels.com
Yes comfort foods are excellent and I love pasta and sauce – our world views are growing exponentially through media and growth – I fear not a whole lot has changed in man’s (of course not women’s – lol) thinking and ego –
Yes! My favorite comfort food all my life: elbow macaroni and tomato sauce. An essay I wrote on it was one of my very first published/paying articles, in fact, for Victoria Magazine in the late 80s/early 90s (can’t remember). Yum, yum. Wishing you comfort…
Ahhh….comfort food! Seriously, that is all the ingredients? My grandmother used to give people recipes and “accidentally” not include everything so it does not come out quite right :)!
Pasta dishes are such a great way of connecting memories and family together. Sauce was a weekly tradition growing up and still is in our home today. Sometimes, food is the only answer lol.
I was just in the shop yesterday buying up sauce ingredients and thinking I need to find some recipes today – yours found me! I’m making this tomorrow for the family – it’s wintery here in the south pacific and we’ve got a couple of rundown munchkins – hence our our need for comfort food.
I’m not crazy about cooking, although I do have my specialties. What I’ve found calms me is gardening. I’m not a great gardener, but I love getting my hands in the dirt. My m tgom has always said that gardening is therapy. I’m figuring that out. I also find writing to be therapeutic. I can get lost in thought for hours, and find myself in the process too. Thanks for another thoughtful post.
This is the perfect solution for almost anything. I’m not Sicilian, my husband’s family is from Naples and Rome…but I have grasped on to this solution. Nothing smells as good as garlic…and nothing spells comfort better.
As usual Aunt Carol comes to the rescue…
So yummy! Who can resist these healthy and delectable ingredients! I recently had fresh homemade tomato sauce with pasta at a small fmaily-owned Italian restaurant in my neighborhood and I fell in love with the bold flavor, so thank you so much for sharing your Tomato Sauce for Comfort recipe with us at the Plant-Based Potluck Party Link Up. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’m pinning and sharing.
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Cooking in your new kitchen? Sounds yummy! I don’t cook….but always love your warm and comforting writing, Carol!
Aww, Joan! Thank you!
cooking as meditation. just what we need in these sorrowful days–trying to keep the anger at bay with a chop, chop, chop of the basil. Thanks for the Sicilian comfort.
Oh yeah. I make chicken noodle soup from scratch, too, during these times. I swear I’ve made it more this year than any other time in my life.
I’m with you, the kitchen is my refuge when times get tough. And I’m going to try that recipe–coming from someone who obviously knows pasta sauce! (I bet you are having even more fun these days in your new kitchen!)
We love our new kitchen but are always paranoid about getting it stained LOL (it’s still new…)
I find cooking to be comforting as well – and thanks for the awesome recipe! I might be making it this week!
Cooking is a great way to release your thoughts. The same thing with gardening–bending over the fragrant earth, you can get lost and your cares drift away.
I’m not crazy about cooking but this is simple ill try it :}
Money is King. And that’s exactly how a great society starts to crumble. It’s sad to watch, yet there’s so much power behind ‘the dark side’ that effecting change is so challenging. Thanks for your post Carol and for joining us at #MidLifeLuv.
Kimberly
http://FiftyJewels.com
Yes comfort foods are excellent and I love pasta and sauce – our world views are growing exponentially through media and growth – I fear not a whole lot has changed in man’s (of course not women’s – lol) thinking and ego –
Yes! My favorite comfort food all my life: elbow macaroni and tomato sauce. An essay I wrote on it was one of my very first published/paying articles, in fact, for Victoria Magazine in the late 80s/early 90s (can’t remember). Yum, yum. Wishing you comfort…
i am always looking for great tomato sauce recipes, and this one is a must try! wonder why 6-8 hours of simmer? thank you carol! <3
Because that’s how you cook the flavors down into something rich!
Ahhh….comfort food! Seriously, that is all the ingredients? My grandmother used to give people recipes and “accidentally” not include everything so it does not come out quite right :)!
This sounds really delicious. I have to admit to finding cooking stressful, rather than relaxing. I wish here was a way that I could change that!
Nothing calms like pasta with tomato sauce unless it’s homemade lasagna!
Pasta dishes are such a great way of connecting memories and family together. Sauce was a weekly tradition growing up and still is in our home today. Sometimes, food is the only answer lol.
I was just in the shop yesterday buying up sauce ingredients and thinking I need to find some recipes today – yours found me! I’m making this tomorrow for the family – it’s wintery here in the south pacific and we’ve got a couple of rundown munchkins – hence our our need for comfort food.
I am going to try this recipe at home. I would love to make my own tomato sauce!
Mmm . . . comfort sounds so good!
This is why I spend so much of my time in the past. It’s peaceful there.
I’m not crazy about cooking, although I do have my specialties. What I’ve found calms me is gardening. I’m not a great gardener, but I love getting my hands in the dirt. My m tgom has always said that gardening is therapy. I’m figuring that out. I also find writing to be therapeutic. I can get lost in thought for hours, and find myself in the process too. Thanks for another thoughtful post.
This is the perfect solution for almost anything. I’m not Sicilian, my husband’s family is from Naples and Rome…but I have grasped on to this solution. Nothing smells as good as garlic…and nothing spells comfort better.
As usual Aunt Carol comes to the rescue…
So yummy! Who can resist these healthy and delectable ingredients! I recently had fresh homemade tomato sauce with pasta at a small fmaily-owned Italian restaurant in my neighborhood and I fell in love with the bold flavor, so thank you so much for sharing your Tomato Sauce for Comfort recipe with us at the Plant-Based Potluck Party Link Up. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’m pinning and sharing.