Finding the perfect gifts for great grandma can be a heartwarming journey, especially when you consider the rich tapestry of family history and love that she represents. Just like the cherished recipes passed down through generations, the best Great Grandma Gifts are those filled with warmth, thoughtfulness, and a touch of nostalgia. Let’s take a moment to step back in time, to a place where family traditions were cooked up in the kitchen, much like the incredible meals prepared by a remarkable woman – my Great Grandma Turano.
In the unpretentious neighborhood of Borough Park, Brooklyn, during the late 1970s, my 95-year-old Sicilian great grandmother, Vitina Turano, reigned supreme in her basement kitchen. This wasn’t a trendy Brooklyn; it was a place of genuine, unvarnished family life. There, amidst the aroma of simmering tomatoes and herbs, this petite powerhouse, barely four and a half feet tall, would create culinary magic. Clad in her house dress and apron, Great Grandma Turano, with her bent spine and a few stray hairs on her chin, was the heart of our family gatherings, especially when she was making her legendary meatballs.
Our family, a boisterous Italian-American clan, would gather at her home once or twice a year. We’d crowd around a massive floral oilcloth-covered table, a simple wooden bench our seating, the old furnace humming in the background. My parents, brother, Aunt Patty, Uncle Julian, and a host of cousins – Johns, Sals, Pauls, Marys, Anthonys, and Tonys (even a Toni!) – would all be present. The men would share Gallo wine from a green jug, while Great Grandma Turano, our beloved matriarch, orchestrated the meal preparation with the help of the younger women. Then, as if by magic, steaming platters of food would appear, briefly grace the table, and then vanish as they were devoured by hungry family members.
My memories of Great Grandma Turano are fragmented yet vivid. She passed away when I was just seven, but the echoes of her heavily accented English, her basement kitchen, and her little folding lawn chair remain. I remember her beckoning me with a crooked finger, “cuh me-uh,” she’d say, wanting a hug and kiss. As a child, it felt a bit daunting, a gesture I resisted, much to my mother’s gentle encouragement. Now, I realize how precious those simple acts of affection were, true gifts from a great grandmother.
Great grandma preparing her famous meatballs, a labor of love for her family.
And then there were her meatballs. The meatballs! It’s hard to discern now if my memory is of her specific meatballs or the countless batches my mother made, faithfully following Great Grandma Turano’s recipe. This recipe, thankfully written down at the family’s insistence before she passed, became a bi-weekly staple in our home for my first eighteen years. Pasta and meatballs, served with a simple green salad and crusty bread – it was the taste of my childhood. I can still picture those comforting dinners, the extra pot of sauce simmering on the stove, ready for second helpings. This tradition has continued in my own home, these meatballs gracing our Sunday night table during fall and winter for nearly two decades. They are so central to our family that they even earned a spot on our “recipe door.” Now, my kids are involved, too. Phoebe, for instance, recently helped roll and brown the meatballs – five generations enjoying this family treasure.
The family’s cherished meatball recipe proudly displayed on their “recipe door”, a testament to its importance.
Grandma Turano’s Meatballs Recipe
For the Sauce:
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- Red pepper flakes
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 15-ounce cans tomato puree (or diced tomatoes, or fresh tomatoes)
- 2 tablespoons oregano
- Few pinches fennel seeds
- Small handful thyme or basil
In a Dutch oven, sauté onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes in olive oil over medium-low heat until onions soften and begin to turn golden. Add tomato paste and sugar, stirring and mashing together for 1-2 minutes. Fill the empty tomato paste can with water, add to the pot, and stir for another 1-2 minutes. Pour in tomatoes, oregano, fennel, and thyme or basil, and stir. Simmer uncovered over low heat, for as long as desired; longer is better. Add water if the sauce becomes too thick.
For the Meatballs:
- 2 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey as a healthier alternative)
- 1 cup Italian bread crumbs (Progresso recommended; or use regular bread crumbs with oregano and salt)
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Few pinches fennel seeds
- 2 teaspoons salt
- Freshly ground pepper
In a large bowl, combine meat, bread crumbs, eggs, Parmesan, parsley, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands. Roll into golf ball-sized meatballs and place on a plate. In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Brown meatballs in batches over medium-high heat, turning frequently, until browned on all sides. Add browned meatballs to the sauce and continue cooking over low heat for at least 30 minutes. Serve over pasta, generously topped with cheese.
When thinking about great grandma gifts, consider what truly embodies the spirit of a great grandmother like mine. It’s not just about material possessions, but about love, connection, and creating lasting memories. Thoughtful gifts for great grandma could be inspired by these very values. Perhaps a personalized photo album filled with family pictures, a cozy blanket for her comfort, or a collection of her favorite teas to enjoy. Experiences, like a family visit or a special outing, can often be more precious than any tangible item. Ultimately, the best gifts for great grandma are those that show you care, that you value her wisdom and her place in the family, and that you cherish the traditions she has helped to create. Just like Great Grandma Turano’s meatballs, the most meaningful gifts are made with love and meant to be shared.
