| Over the weekend I had a chance to catch some | | | | always accept immediately when I was invited |
| of the television cooking shows that seem to | | | | over for dinner. I may have spent more time at |
| proliferate on television today. I watched Chef | | | | their house than I did my own. Mama T. never |
| Bobby Flay, Chef Andres from Spain and | | | | used a cookbook or a recipe card that I know of. |
| Washington, DC., Chef Ming Tsai and of course | | | | Italian pasta, veal and sausage, soup, and bread all |
| the man himself, Chef Emeril Lagasse. They are all | | | | seemed to effortlessly appear at the table. I once |
| great and accomplished in their careers. I love to | | | | asked Mama T. what cookbook she used and she |
| watch them and marvel at what they seem to | | | | looked at me as if I were a ghost. No cookbook. |
| create out of thin air. The television cook genre | | | | Recipes were handed down from family to family |
| has exploded in recent years and I think that this | | | | over hundreds of generations. |
| is good for the food and cooking industry as a | | | | If Mama T. ever had the need to use a recipe or |
| whole. People who never had an interest in | | | | look at a cookbook, this wonderful old-world style |
| cooking at home can now watch an Emeril or | | | | Italian pasta dish would probably come close to |
| Bobby Flay and try to emulate what they do at | | | | what she use to make. It is simple, hearty, and |
| home. This is a good thing, really! | | | | light on the budget. |
| Television chefs are wonderful to watch and | | | | Pasta With Fresh Tomatoes |
| present wonderful entertainment. This article | | | | 2 tablespoons olive oil |
| spotlights an everyday home cook who never | | | | 3 tomatoes, chopped |
| saw the bright lights but sure could cook up a | | | | 2 cloves garlic, minced |
| storm in the kitchen. Mama Teresita was the | | | | 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil |
| grandmother of my childhood friend while I was | | | | 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese |
| growing up in Chicago, Illinois. Mama T. came from | | | | Pasta of choice |
| Sicily, Italy when she was a young girl way back | | | | 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. |
| in the day, probably in the 1920-1930's. All the | | | | 2. Meanwhile, in medium bowl combine olive oil, |
| neighborhood children loved to hang out on the | | | | tomatoes, garlic, basil, and cheese and mix well. |
| porch and play while she hung laundry or swept | | | | 3. Cook pasta until al dente, about 1-2 minutes. |
| the walk. There always seemed to be delightful, | | | | Immediately drain and toss with tomato mixture; |
| hearty smells coming from the kitchen. I would | | | | serve immediately. |