The Italian-American Ritual of MEATBALL PARM MONDAYS
MEATBALL PARM MONDAYS
.... Excerpted from SUNDAY SAUCE by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
The Meatball Parm Sandwich, as stated earlier, the Meatball Parm is one of thee Italian-American males most treasured things in life. Things he needs to live a happy, normal, satisfying life, and an actual necessity for true Happiness. It’s right up there with Mom, Grandma, Sausages and Sunday Sauce. We ask not for much! No you do not have to be a Man or a Boy to eat one. Ladies and Girls eat them as well. It’s just that the male of the species happens to Eat 5 Times the amount that Italian-American Women do. Not only that, but the male of the species holds Meatballs and Meatball Parms in much Greater Reverence, than do the females. They “Exalt” it, as the Meatball Parm, it deserves such adulation. The men and boys adore it and get quite excited at the prospect and act of eating one, the “Meatball Parm.” And ladies who make them, know how much it is loved, cherished even. Yes Italian-American ladies and girls like this thing called the Meatball Parm too, but they don’t get quite as excited about this sandwich as the males do. Meatball Parms are held quite dear to Italian men. Yes, it’s a guy thing, and more specifically, an Italian Guy thing. Yes, Italian-American males have given the Meatball Parm Iconic Status within our lives and realm of food. Why? We’re Italian, that’s all. The Great Ritual of the Meatball Parm Monday and it ties to the Sunday Sauce. You make the Meatballs for the Sauce, The “Gravy.” On Saturday you will buy all the meat, the Sausages and the rest of the ingredients for your Sunday Sauce (Gravy) to be made on Sunday. However, on Saturday you are already thinking about those Meatball Parms for Monday’s lunch. Yes Meatball Parms on Monday, following the previous days Sunday Sauce. You see, you have to think ahead. Every good Italian knows that when you go through all the effort and time it will take to make a pot of Sunday Sauce, that you don’t just make it for Sunday’s consumption alone. No, that would be a waste of time to make just enough to eat on Sunday. It takes time, effort, energy, and work to make a Sunday Sauce, which of course is well worth it. You do not mind the work involved at all, for in the end, the “Rewards are Great.”A Sunday Sauce will yield, the beloved Sausages, Gravy, Braciole, succulent Ribs, and Meatballs for Monday’s Meatball Parms. It does not really take much more time to make a larger quantity in order to have leftovers for the next day or two, and this is just what one wants to do, is to keep the sauce going, and going for another day, even two. And in those leftovers are the much Prized at Monday’s Lunch for, of course “Meatball Parms.” Yes, the men love and need Meatball Parms on Monday, for the Ritual of the Meatball Parms of Monday is “Time-Honored” and enjoyed by many. As the saying goes, “The Simple Pleasure of Life,” here it is quite apropos. So, you see, on Saturday when one goes to buy the ingredients to make the Gravy, they automatically know to make sure they get enough ground meat to make plenty of Meatballs that will last the Sunday Supper as well as yielding numerous left-overs for Monday’s Meatball Parms for Monday. The men, methodically make sure that there are enough leftover Meatballs for Monday’s lunch. When all are finished eating the great “Sauce” on Sunday, they set some Meatballs aside for the next days Meatball Sandwiches. These sandwiches will make a dreaded Monday so much better. Think about? And if there are leftover Sausages? On Tuesday one can make Spaghetti with Sauce and Sausages, or even a Sausage Sandwich. Think ahead boys and girls, and Mangia Bene!”
Excerpted from SUNDAY SAUCE by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES
SEGRETO ITALIANO
SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES
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