Recipes and favorite dishes handed down from generation to generation hold special places in our hearts. Scents and sounds of certain dishes being prepared can transport us back in time instantaneously.

Just the other day, I was flipping through my great-grandmothers hand written recipe book. Each page is like a precious photograph dating back to a beautiful and simpler era. I especially enjoyed the paragraph below, which includes instructions on how to test your ovens temperature. At that time coal was used to keep the flame hot, and there were no fancy temperature gauges.

In my husband’s family, Grandma Jean is the go-to household for a fantastic home cooked meal. For as long as can be remembered Grandma has been the hostess for every special holiday. A signature dish is her Sunday Sauce with Meatballs.

Born into an Italian family in 1927, Jean truly enjoys to cook for her family. I really think the love she puts into her sauce is the reason it’s so hard to replicate. Jean has been making this sauce for seventy years, since the age of seventeen. Recently I spent the afternoon with her to learn the secret of her delicious Sunday Sauce.

I am so happy that I was able to spend this time with Grandma. Not only did I learn how to make a delicious sauce, but I was transported through the traditions of her family over the past Eighty Seven years.  Priceless!

I will share the recipe for Grandmas Sauce in my next post….well,  to the best of my ability, as she cooks without measurements and fancy gadgets……..

(You can find the complete recipe for Grandmas Sunday Sauce in the thoughts section below.)