FARGO — I had planned to share a new recipe with you this week, but my schedule was recently disrupted by the sudden death of a dear family friend. As a result, our son, Giovanni, flew home from college to attend funeral services with us over the weekend. Like many mothers, food is one of my love languages, so I asked Gio what dishes he would like me to make when he was home. Without missing a beat, he said, “Meatloaf, whipped potatoes, galettes and baked ziti.”
I wasn’t surprised by his list of comfort foods. Grief is a strange emotion. It can seem all-consuming or oddly compartmentalized, often within the same day or even hour to hour. It can be disorienting, and it is always exhausting. Never underestimate the power of good food to nourish a body and heal a spirit. Food can pull us back to what is familiar, safe and comforting, and I welcomed this opportunity to turn my focus away from grief and center it on my family.
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As I prepared each dish, I thought about where the recipes came from and the times I have made them for my family. I was suddenly flooded with memories and images from the past, some that I had nearly forgotten. The Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf was created by Chef Robert Colosimo, who was the corporate executive chef at Clipper Cruise Line when Tony and I worked aboard their vessels during the 1990s. This meatloaf was always like a taste of home for me, especially in far-off locales like Antarctica and the Amazon.
The Whipped Potatoes were a customer favorite at our former restaurant, Sarello’s. They are so perfect that a well-known local potato farmer used to jokingly insist that they must be made with instant potatoes. The Mixed Berry Galettes were my first introduction to the world of flaky pie crust many moons ago, and they remain among my family’s all-time favorite baked goods.
The Baked Ziti Casserole is my go-to whenever I need a dish to bring to someone. It is easy to make, freezes well, and is just so darn delicious.
From 2010 to 2012, Tony and I hosted a local weekend radio show called “Live with the Lost Italian.” One of our most popular features was a segment called the “Hotdish Hot Seat,” when we would invite a local guest each week to share their favorite hotdish recipe with us. This Baked Ziti Casserole was brought to us by two of our 10th Street neighbors, and it is the ultimate Italian comfort dish for us.
This trip down Memory Lane reminded me of all the marvelous jobs I have had throughout my life. I have been a Zodiac-driving cruise director, restaurateur, radio show host, and newspaper columnist. Each of these jobs has added a layer of richness and experience to my life and helped prepare me for my favorite job of all: being my son’s mom.
I will be bringing Giovanni home from college this weekend just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day together on Sunday, and I have already started to fill our freezer with his favorites. Best wishes to mothers everywhere for a happy and delicious Mother’s Day!
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All the recipes mentioned here have been featured in previous columns. If you would like a printable copy, please send me a request via email to sarahnasello@gmail.com .
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