Rock & Ravioli Roller

Every family has its holiday food traditions. Some people have ham on Christmas. Some people have turkey. My family has...ravioli. (And a small turkey breast for post-holiday gobblers.)

My grandparents used to make our Christmas ravs by hand, and my grandmother would make her special loaded-with-meat sauce from scratch. No, this wasn't her everyday sauce. This was authentic grandma sauce made specifically for Christmas.

My dad used to cook the ravs in the "padella," a pot the size of a cauldron. The padella was so big that he had to take it outside, set it on a specially made steel stand, and then use a propane tank with a heater/torch attachment for the flame. "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble," indeed.

This year, Mumma made some killer homemade meatballs, but we used store-bought frozen ravs and jarred sauce. Sure, the sauce was Rao's, but madone! Tony Soprano would call us something that started with Wonder Bread and ended with a word that rhymed with mops. Though grandma, grandpa, and dad aren't with us anymore, we kept up the family tradition, and we still have the heirloom ravioli roller. Maybe next year I'll put that old thing to use again.

Comments

[Mumma]

That old ravioli cutter has a lot of miles on it! It belonged to your Great-Grandmother and she used it all the time. I'm sure she (and grandma and dad) would not approve of the store-bought pasta and sauce, but dinner was very good anyway. I did make the meatballs from scratch....glad you liked them!

[Lorraine]

Sounds like a good time was had by all on Christmas! Any chance of getting Mumma's meatball recipe?

[Auntie Anne]

Wow, Looking at that ravioli cutter brought back many happy memories. How I miss “the good old days” with everyone around the table. Grandma would not mind that you used “store bought” raviolis, she would just be happy that you continued the tradition….. I have some pictures of the "padella" out on the deck remind me to show them to you next time you are over.

[aunt jenny]

wow. i thought i was the only one whose family made ravioli's for christmas! this year my sister made them and thank goodness she didn't ask me to help! we close ours with a fork and mine never stay closed! thanks for sharing your memory!

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Hi, Mumma. The meatballs were yummy. :-)

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Hi, Lorraine. I think the secret to Mumma's meatballs is Progresso Italian-flavored breadcrumbs. I eat the stuff straight from the canister.

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Hi, Auntie. I'd love to see the pics. :-)

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Hi, Jennifer. Thanks for writing in! Ah, yes. There are always a few stubborn ravs that refuse to stay closed in the boiling water. I always end up with a few loose tops and bottoms and "liberated" ricotta filling in the sauce. Using a fork to seal the edges is a good idea. I'll have to try that!