Shortly after my marriage to her son, Richard, my mother-in-law, concerned over my culinary abilities having sampled my mother’s cooking, passed on to me the generations-old family recipe for meat sauce. This flavor-filled sauce has since become a favorite of our children and now our son-in-law and granddaughters. Its preparation is time-consuming, but generally well worth the effort–until yesterday!

The last time I made “Dorothea’s Meat Sauce” was over four years ago, long before we sold our house with its roomy kitchen on Cape Cod. So, when my daughter, Nancy, called to request that I make “my sauce” (note, it has since become “mine”) when we visit her this weekend, there was a moment of hesitation on my part, knowing how time-consuming it would be. I guess Nancy sensed my hesitation because she then went on to add, “Jeremy and May, have also requested it.” Well… Now that May, wants it! I can’t disappoint May! My role as her grandmother is to spread her in a blanket of joy whenever possible.

Yesterday morning I woke up with a mission, it was sauce day! I had all the ingredients: canned tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, tomato paste, sausages, chopped meat, garlic, eggs, whole milk, seasoned bread crumbs, Romano cheese, parsley, and herbs (see recipe on the-literate-chef.com ). It was 9 AM. I had lots of time to prepare a family favorite. My husband has been the family chef for the past several years; time to show him that I still have it!

After the four cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce and garlic were added to a huge pot, it was time to cook and add the sausages, all four pounds of them. Did you ever notice how much fat is in a sausage? The bottom of my frying pan became a lake of fat, far too much to be added to the tomatoes. So, I decided to pour off some of the fat into one of the empty tomato cans. Let me tell you, never try to pick up and pour fat from a frying pan into a can with one hand, especially if you haven’t worked on building upper body strength. The fat missed the can and spilled over onto the floor and most of the burners on the stove.

I soaked up the fat on the burners with paper towels and then proceeded to clean the stove with soap and water. I used Q-Tips to get into the areas surrounding each burner. After a seemingly thorough cleaning, I went online to learn how to douse an oil fire should one occur when I ignited the stove. With huge pot lid in hand along with a container of salt close by, I nervously ignited the stove. Success! No blaze and it only cost me fifteen minutes of prep time!

A bit wary and weary after the last fiasco, it was now time to prepare the meatballs. May loves my meatballs! These had to be perfect. I added all the ingredients to the chopped meat and kneaded the mixture with my hands, just like Dorothea taught me. As the meat oozed through my fingers (rings removed), I felt that the mixture was a bit off. Another egg, some more milk, and a bit more cheese would be perfect. I cracked the egg on the rim of the bowl, but somehow the egg had a mind of its own and fell to the floor. Paper towels, a sponge, soap and water, once again to the rescue. Mishaps happen. Don’t they? I just had to keep thinking how happy May will be. She was my driving force.

Frying the meatballs was the last step and then I’d be done. Piece of cake! So what if I had a few accidents! I was not about to sweat the small stuff; besides, May will be thrilled. I put the meatballs into the frying pan. The first batch was a breeze. My confidence was restored. However, the fat left in the pan from the first batch proved to be too hot for the second batch and the meatballs burned. At this point, tired and achy, all I could think about was quitting “Dorothea’s Meat Sauce” (note, it’s no longer “my” sauce).

Three and a half hours later, the sauce that normally takes about half that time, was finished. Will I ever make it again? Doubtful. Will May’s enjoyment be in proportion to the amount of time and effort that went into its preparation? Maybe. All I know is that I will be visiting my granddaughters this weekend with sauce in hand. Love can never be quantified by time and effort when it comes to people you love.

News flash! Just heard that Hurricane Lee is due to hit Massachusetts this weekend. Guess who lives in Massachusetts? Care to come to New York for dinner this weekend? I guess I will be making sauce again in the future. Just one more of the things we do for those we love!