My Dad grew up with three good friends from grade school that remained in close contact as adults. My Dad became a doctor, another friend was a doctor also, another was a substitute teacher, and the fourth was a Professor of the Romance Languages (and head of his department), at a well-known university. He and his wife were Italian.
We spent a lot of time with the three friends and their families. One night, when I was about eight years old, we were invited over for an Italian dinner at the Professor's house. They had the traditional salad and hors d'oeuvres, lots of Italian bread you dipped in olive oil, and garlic bread.
And then main course was brought out to the table -- a large platter that contained big chunky squares of many layers of wide pasta noodles, filling, and tomato sauce. There must have been four layers of pasta! I was mystified how anyone could make such a dish and have it remain intact. It was so delicious I ate two big squares.
When we got home that night, I asked my Mom if she would make that for dinner some time. She laughed and said, "my experience making Italian food is limited to spaghetti sauce". She and my dad would spend one Sunday a month preparing spaghetti sauce. It took them all day long. She never asked anyone for a lasagna recipe, so we never had it at home for dinner.
We spent a lot of time with the three friends and their families. One night, when I was about eight years old, we were invited over for an Italian dinner at the Professor's house. They had the traditional salad and hors d'oeuvres, lots of Italian bread you dipped in olive oil, and garlic bread.
And then main course was brought out to the table -- a large platter that contained big chunky squares of many layers of wide pasta noodles, filling, and tomato sauce. There must have been four layers of pasta! I was mystified how anyone could make such a dish and have it remain intact. It was so delicious I ate two big squares.
When we got home that night, I asked my Mom if she would make that for dinner some time. She laughed and said, "my experience making Italian food is limited to spaghetti sauce". She and my dad would spend one Sunday a month preparing spaghetti sauce. It took them all day long. She never asked anyone for a lasagna recipe, so we never had it at home for dinner.
