Though rare, on occasion I take a week or two off from cooking. I always know how it’s going to go.
Day 1: Ok. I’m not going to cook today. Orders Chinese.
Day 2: Still not cooking. Martinis have olives. They constitute as dinner, yes?
Day 3: Time to pull out the extra lasagna I stored in the freezer.
Day 4: Freezer dumplings from that time last month when I made double.
Day 5: Let’s go out.
Day 6: Must cut something.
Day 7: Must sautée.
Day 8: Massive meal that makes up for the 7 days of not cooking. Hence, Mambo Italiano.
My girls always know what cuisine we’ll be enjoying by the music I play in the kitchen. I have playlists for every occasion, culture, and mood. My dad instilled such a deep love of music in me, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than putting Louis Prima on the Victrola, popping a cork, and getting a start on the red sauce. I was only in prep mode when Sadie bopped in the kitchen, heard Eh Cumpari, and exclaimed, “We’re having PASTA!”.
Oh my dear, we’re having so much more than pasta.
Dinner Party Menu: Mambo Italiano
- Fried Eggplant and Artichokes
- Levain and Ligurian Olive Oil
- Clams in White Wine
- Snapper Crudo with Blood Orange and Grapefruit
- Spaghetti and Veal/Pork Meatballs
- Pork Milanese
- Panna Cotta
