Everyone should have an Italian mother-in-law. Seriously. Unless your own mom is Italian, of course. As a vegetarian, clearly Thanksgiving is not about turkey for me. Fortunately, my mother-in-law is a genius in the kitchen, and prepares everything from turkey (for other folks) to eggplant lasagna to homemade gnocchi to veggie balls and breaded tofu for Thanksgiving dinner. At other times of the year, she even prepares lasagna made with rice noodles and tofu to satisfy not only the vegetarians, but also those in the family who have sensitivities to wheat. She also dresses a salad like nobody else (lots of olive oil and salt) and makes tons of veggie side dishes (all of them tasty). My children have told me that I can’t cook like Nonna, and I tell them, “You know what, I’m okay with that. Not too many people can cook like Nonna.” I wish I had lots of photos to show you of Nonna’s food, but I was too busy eating it. I got one photo of her lovely fruit platter and one photo of leftovers we will be enjoying for lunch today. While I was writing just now, I heard my son exclaim, “Oh my gosh, the pasta, I can’t stand it. It’s too good.” I think I better go before it’s all gone!
 |
| Some of Nonna's biggest fans, above and below |
 |
| a special guest enjoying a plum from the fruit platter |
