Gram's Orange Spaghetti
Gram’s orange spaghetti
My mom’s orange spaghetti has become such a tradition that it has taken on a personality of its own.
The spaghetti dish started during the depression in the 30's. Times were tough. Jobs were scarce. My dad worked for the WPA, a government work program.
You couldn’t really ruin the meal. Before payday, there was more pasta and tomatoes than cheese and hamburger. On payday, there was plenty of meat, mushrooms, and enough cheese to make it orange.
.
Fast forward to the late 40's. My folks had a tavern in Pecatonica. (Illinois, that is) My bigger than life dad decided to have a picnic at the Winnebago County fairgrounds and invite the whole town. He had posters made and hired a little carnival. My mom made orange spaghetti.
I don’t know how much she made, but I remember her cooking the spaghetti in big copper tubs at the fairgrounds kitchen. She mixed the sauce in white enanmal baby bathtubs. To go with it she made the best cole slaw you ever had. She had scraped knuckles from grating head after head of cabbage.
To this day, I don’t know how she did it. All I know it was a hit. Of course my dad took most of the credit for his "Family Picnic" being such a success. But behind every successful man and his picnic is a great woman who is willing to make tubs of orange spaghetti. And cole slaw.
I am not my mother. I wold never attempt to feed a whole village. But I have made my share.
Last week-end we had my grandson Teddy’s belated 21st birthday. I made the traditional OS, cabbage salad, (not like my mom’s), and Texas Sheet Cake.
Granddaughter Paige reminded me I had made a roaster full for her high school graduation. "How much have you made at a time," she asked. I told her I suppose it was for her graduation or for Christmas in July with my sister’s family.
"I was just wondering," she said. Someday when I get married, would you make it for my reception? I want a small wedding. About one hundred people.
ONE HUNDRED? My first thought was what a compliment to me and Gram for her to ask. My second thought was, "Does anyone know where I can get copper tubs and baby bathtubs?"
If anyone wants my mom’s foolproof recipe for her orange spaghetti, please call me or drop me a line at sherwinshirley@yahoomail.com. I have used it several times and don’t want to wear out its welcome.
The cole slaw cannot be given in a recipe. With Gram gone, the only one that can make it is Deb. She says Gram is looking over her shoulder when she makes it, telling her to add a pinch more of this or that.
My faux cole slaw is the old stand-by:
Oriental Slaw
you will need:
one 16 oz package slaw mix
2 oz slivered almonds, toasted
2 green onions, sliced with greens
one package Oriental Ramen Noodles, broken up
Dressing:
oriental packet from the noodles
1/4 cup vinegar
4 T water
½ cup olive oil
salt, pepper and sugar to taste.
Mix all ingredient for slaw except almonds
Mix dressing and toss into slaw
Before serving, toss in almonds
Refrigerate for several hours before serving
Enjoy.
My mom’s orange spaghetti has become such a tradition that it has taken on a personality of its own.
The spaghetti dish started during the depression in the 30's. Times were tough. Jobs were scarce. My dad worked for the WPA, a government work program.
You couldn’t really ruin the meal. Before payday, there was more pasta and tomatoes than cheese and hamburger. On payday, there was plenty of meat, mushrooms, and enough cheese to make it orange.
.
Fast forward to the late 40's. My folks had a tavern in Pecatonica. (Illinois, that is) My bigger than life dad decided to have a picnic at the Winnebago County fairgrounds and invite the whole town. He had posters made and hired a little carnival. My mom made orange spaghetti.
I don’t know how much she made, but I remember her cooking the spaghetti in big copper tubs at the fairgrounds kitchen. She mixed the sauce in white enanmal baby bathtubs. To go with it she made the best cole slaw you ever had. She had scraped knuckles from grating head after head of cabbage.
To this day, I don’t know how she did it. All I know it was a hit. Of course my dad took most of the credit for his "Family Picnic" being such a success. But behind every successful man and his picnic is a great woman who is willing to make tubs of orange spaghetti. And cole slaw.
I am not my mother. I wold never attempt to feed a whole village. But I have made my share.
Last week-end we had my grandson Teddy’s belated 21st birthday. I made the traditional OS, cabbage salad, (not like my mom’s), and Texas Sheet Cake.
Granddaughter Paige reminded me I had made a roaster full for her high school graduation. "How much have you made at a time," she asked. I told her I suppose it was for her graduation or for Christmas in July with my sister’s family.
"I was just wondering," she said. Someday when I get married, would you make it for my reception? I want a small wedding. About one hundred people.
ONE HUNDRED? My first thought was what a compliment to me and Gram for her to ask. My second thought was, "Does anyone know where I can get copper tubs and baby bathtubs?"
If anyone wants my mom’s foolproof recipe for her orange spaghetti, please call me or drop me a line at sherwinshirley@yahoomail.com. I have used it several times and don’t want to wear out its welcome.
The cole slaw cannot be given in a recipe. With Gram gone, the only one that can make it is Deb. She says Gram is looking over her shoulder when she makes it, telling her to add a pinch more of this or that.
My faux cole slaw is the old stand-by:
Oriental Slaw
you will need:
one 16 oz package slaw mix
2 oz slivered almonds, toasted
2 green onions, sliced with greens
one package Oriental Ramen Noodles, broken up
Dressing:
oriental packet from the noodles
1/4 cup vinegar
4 T water
½ cup olive oil
salt, pepper and sugar to taste.
Mix all ingredient for slaw except almonds
Mix dressing and toss into slaw
Before serving, toss in almonds
Refrigerate for several hours before serving
Enjoy.
posted by Shirley | 6:22 PM
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