Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Sunday Gravy

This past Sunday, like just about every other Sunday, I got up early to start making dinner. For as long as I can remember Sunday dinner with my family has always been an all day affair. My mother before me and my grandmother before her would always start the meal in the early morning; most often before the rest of the family was even awake.

I always do the meatballs first; mixing, shaping and frying. Then I move on to browning the rest of the meat. The chicken legs and thighs; then the pork ribs and sausage; last the beef ribs.

After all the meat is browned they are added to a large pot of tomato puree along with most of the browning oil (it's flavor), some cheese rinds (either Parmesan, pecorino or locatelli whatever is available) and some salt, pepper and garlic powder. I let this cook for hours and then right before it's time to eat I add some fresh basil.




In our house we call this "Sunday gravy". I'm not going to get into the whole gravy vs sauce debate. It is what it is and in our house it's gravy.



A funny thing happened this past Sunday as I was making the "gravy". My husband was in his office with the windows open (yes, it's hot enough here in Phoenix to have the windows open). He heard a car pull up in front of the "for sale" house across the street. He heard the Realtor asking his clients if they smelled something good? "Yes," they replied "it smells like Sunday gravy"

My husband called me over to the window but by the time I got there they were gone. Who were these people in the middle of Phoenix that knew about Sunday Gravy...and please let them move in.

15 comments:

  1. Can't figure out whether you're Italian or Southern or maybe Southern Italian! At any rate it looks and sounds good!

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  2. I am sure the new neighbors are from New Jersey!
    We always call it gravy!

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  3. This looks so delicious! Now I'm craving meat :)

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  4. Oh GAWD.... look at that sauce, delicious. I'll eat this with rice...
    cheers,
    elra

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  5. Can I come over for Sunday gravy..? I'm probably only minutes away, I'll just follow my nose, lol... It looks so homey and delicious!

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  6. That is so cool! I hope they buy the house. That is a wonderful pot of gravy! I love that you are keeping up your family traditions. It looks 'off the charts' delicious!

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  7. This looks better than any kind of gravy I've had...but I might be thinking of the gravy you put on turkey ;o)

    Love your Sunday tradition!

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  8. Hehe...hope you get the good neighbors! Wish it was me, so you could share your Sunday gravy :)

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  9. Meatballs, chicken, ribs and sausage?? Oh, my, this looks absolutely delicious.

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  10. That chicken is looking good all smothered in that sauce!

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  11. I'll take some of that "Sunday Gravy"

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  12. Anyone who moves next to you will be one lucky neighbor!!

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  13. That does look and sound very good!

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  14. thats not the real sunday gravy you don't use chicken

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  15. Yeah I've never heard of chicken in the gravy. Usually instead of chicken my nonna would put braciole. Never the less, it is good to see a fellow Italian keeping up with tradition! I myself have a pot of gravy on the stove right now soaking up all the flavor, will be delicious by sunday!

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