I grew up in a traditional Italian home where food was more than just something you ate. My mom and dad prioritized wholesome food because that’s how they grew up in Donnici, a picturesque and charming little gem in Calabria. With the freshest of ingredients and the simplest of techniques, they prepared meals that would rival the best restaurants. Mamma made it look so easy! One minute, the kitchen counter would be bare and the next minute, she’d have these amazing aromas filling the air and a rainbow of colours delighting the eye!  And presto, in a short time, she’d have a mouthwatering dinner on the table, a primo and secondo, to boot. While she often summoned me to help in the kitchen, I admit that I did the bare minimum. I’d strain the tomatoes to make passata, peel potatoes for the minestrone, pick the green beans from the garden, hold the beaters while she added the flour to the crostata. I am embarrassed to say that I usually obliged begrudgingly. Oh, if only I could do it all over again!