Anything Italian

Well

Specifically, I enjoy preparing chicken parmesan.  

My love for eating and cooking Italian food came from my first boyfriend, Sal.  His parents were  from Italy, spoke Italian, and had connections, if you know what I mean.  Sal and I dated for roughly three years. At his house, there was a weekly meal plan.  You knew what you were eating by the day of the week it was.  Thursday night was spaghetti night.  I Loved Thursdays!   Wednesdays were for chicken cutlets, which is also a favorite of mine.   Saturday was lasagna and so on.  Each day had a dish.  I ALWAYS went over on Thursdays. 

When I arrived one Thursday, I was told there would be a slight change to the meal for that night.  I of course hid my dissatisfaction upon hearing  this news.  Can’t complain when eating at someone else’s house.  Right?  Why didn’t Sal tell me earlier?  Geez.   We sat down and Sal’s mom brought out  the glass dish.  I could see through the side of the dish the red sauce,  so that was good. She placed the dish on the table and now I could see the whitish, yellowish, brownish cheese on top.  “Tonight is chicken parm night, I had extra chicken so I used it to make this.”  announced Sal’s mom.  Ok. I thought.  She brought out the spaghetti and we began to eat.  Now, I don’t recall if I had ever had chicken parmesan before this evening, but it does not matter because this was the best chicken parmesan I had ever eaten.  It is because of THAT dish, on THAT night, I now love to make chicken parm.  I only make it once in a while and it’s a family favorite.  So there is a bit of excitement in the air when my family  knows I am going to make it. 

“Hey guess what mom is making? Chick parm!”    “Don’t eat a big lunch, save space!”