DeAngelis,Paolina

Love From the Kitchen

In 1958, at only nineteen, and married already two years to my father, my mother left her small village in Esperia, Italy, to start a new life the states in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Here she was the superintendent for a 25-family tenement. Her countryside was replaced by concrete. Life could not have been more different so food, of course, was sometimes the only tie from that world to this new one.

Our family did not have a lot at that time, but food was always the freshest, using superior ingredients. Never a can, never a box. I would classify my mom's cooking as rustic and simple but always superb. Homemade pasta and breads, homegrown vegetables, polenta, and jarred tomato sauce to name a few.

My memories are sentimental and sweet yet intertwined with humor. I remember the stares at the lunch table at school while eating broccoli rabe or frittata sandwiches, these not being the usual fare. Or being teased by the neighborhood kids as my mom washed snails in the courtyard with salt. (We won their favor back by begging my mom for a few and holding snail races.) Or the day I slipped on tomato skins during our most important day of the year: the jarring of tomato sauce.

My mom's house was the one with the revolving door. Feeding everyone with her food and her smile. No one called her Mrs. DeAngelis. Just 'Paula' would do.

Today, she is forever challenged by cooking for a changing, growing family: a vegan, a 'no-garlic, no-onion please' eater, a carnivore son-in-law, and a food allergic grandchild. Yet, somehow she pulls it all together with an amazing display of food.

Mom's generosity does not end with food. She has one of the most generous hearts and souls that I have encountered. Thanks, mom, for showing us love the best way you know how: from the kitchen.

About Diana: Diana was born in New York City, and now resides in Long Island. She is a stay-at-home mom with two children. She is an active volunteer in Girl Scouts, CCD, PTA and community projects.

read Diana's story: cooking from scratch

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		Love From the Kitchen In 1958, at only nineteen, and married already two years to my father, my mother left her small village in Esperia, Italy, to start a new life the states in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Here she was the superintendent for a 25-family tenement. Her countryside was replaced by concrete. Life could not have been more different so food, of course, was sometimes the only tie from that world to this new one. Our family did not have a lot at that time, but food was always the freshest, using superior ingredients. Never a can, never a box. I would classify my mom's cooking as rustic and simple but always superb. Homemade pasta and breads, homegrown vegetables, polenta, and jarred tomato sauce to name a few. My memories are sentimental and sweet yet intertwined with humor. I remember the stares at the lunch table at school while eating broccoli rabe or frittata sandwiches, these not being the usual fare. Or being teased by the neighborhood kids as my mom washed snails in the courtyard with salt. (We won their favor back by begging my mom for a few and holding snail races.) Or the day I slipped on tomato skins during our most important day of the year: the jarring of tomato sauce. My mom's house was the one with the revolving door. Feeding everyone with her food and her smile. No one called her Mrs. DeAngelis. Just 'Paula' would do. Today, she is forever challenged by cooking for a changing, growing family: a vegan, a 'no-garlic, no-onion please' eater, a carnivore son-in-law, and a food allergic grandchild. Yet, somehow she pulls it all together with an amazing display of food. Mom's generosity does not end with food. She has one of the most generous hearts and souls that I have encountered. Thanks, mom, for showing us love the best way you know how: from the kitchen. About Diana: Diana was born in New York City, and now resides in Long Island. She is a stay-at-home mom with two children. She is an active volunteer in Girl Scouts, CCD, PTA and community projects. read Diana's story: cooking from scratch previous mother next mother contact us membership agreement


homemade pasta cenci frittata sauteed rabbit pizza rustica