8/4/09

It's the Lady, not the Sauce!



Meet my Guest:
Paula from Hopes Fulfilled

When I saw this post on Paula's blog, I just knew it was a perfect fit for 4RE! It reminded me of theThursday Night Dinners our family was blessed with, although ours were a bit different.  I asked Paula if she'd share, and she said yes! 

Here's Paula's story ...

I love coming over to 4 Reluctant Entertainers. I have been inspired on many occasions by Sandy's humble spirit regarding entertaining as well as her focus on people. My little post today is about a special lady that reminded me of the importance of traditions, specifically meal traditions. We all have them. We grew up with them.. We pass them down. Well, for our family, this particular tradition will always remind us of a very special lady.
 
Thursday night at our house is Spaghetti Night. Because of this lady ...



I have worked with Doreen for over ten years. She started out as a part-time typist and is now the office manager. She is British and she is oh so funny! She is 73 years old and walks over five miles every morning! She loves the Lord and always makes my time in the office fun. I only see her a few times a month since I am not in the office very often, but when I am, she makes it a day I can look forward to..
 
Over the years, when I am at the office we ask each other "so, what are you making for dinner tonight?" If it is a Thursday - I already know. Its Spaghetti Night at her house and she will likely get company. Widowers in her neighborhood, her son, her sons friends from high school (now adult men who are hoping her spaghetti is still there) and people from church. 

She has a huge pot that has been cooking for days.
 
Of course I had to inquire about her famous spaghetti. At first she was very vague. I kept bugging her and she finally caved - sort of. I attempted to make it for a few months - and served it on Thursday, but I was never sure I was getting it right since I had not had hers.
 
Recently I got a call from her, inviting our entire family over to her house for Spaghetti dinner - even though it was a Sunday afternoon! She had never really met the kids and so it was an added bonus that she get to know my family. 
 
Here is Matt setting the table

 

Nate cutting the garlic bread

 

Here is the sauce



It was delicious! She packs in meatballs and Italian sausage. Other ingredients are standard - cans of tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, bay leaf, lots and lots of garlic, peppers, hot pepper flakes (not too much), basil, salt and pepper. I was expecting the sauce to be tasty and it really was. But, she also made homemade apple pie. It was the BEST apple pie any of us had ever had.
 
So, our family has Spaghetti Night on Thursday nights ( come over you want) and everyone is happy with making my sauce as close to Doreen's as I can - but we all love her and know that its the lady not the sauce that we will always remember! 

Well....and the apple pie.

Do you have one night a week where you serve the same dish to your family?

13 comments:

The Blushing Hostess said...

I wish! Now that I write this site we can never have a favorite! But growing uo, Wednesday, like all New Yorkers, was spagehetti night -just like the Prince commerical - I loved cold milk and hot spaegtti with meatballs... yummmm, I miss home!

Lynne said...

Hmmm...yummy! On Sundays we either have pasta (w/ sauce) or sometimes I make ziti. In the summer on Sundays we usually have steak. My husband usually watches football - in the fall- so we have dinner around 3 or 4 pm. I ALWAYS supermarket shop on Sundays too. It's good to have family traditions!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Sometimes I have to be careful and not serve the exact same thing every week!

Her sauce sounds wonderful..
sandy toe

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

What a wonderful story and memory.
We usually have homemade pizza on Fridays and watch a movie. It's fun and the family looks forward to my pizza!! LOL
Hugs.
kim

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandy -
On an unrelated subject... (hope you don't mind) Do you ever have any visitors who are ultra needy people who ask for food to take home and drop in asking for more... just wondering how to be wise but also to be generous and how to help them longer term?? Any insights here as I had such a visitor tonight - genuine need but also likes to smoke in vacinity of kids, etc... just not sure how to handle it all?? Insight?

Sharon

Suzann said...

Friday night is pizza night at my house. Not nearly as nice as spaghetti, but it makes hubby happy.

Fiona and Michael Brown said...

We have Mexican Monday. Every Monday I make something mexican-ish.....it is fun!

Chele said...

Ours is Breakfast for dinner. My kids love it! It used to be Wednesday nights. Now that I am involved in youth night with my two oldest, we have moved it to Monday nights!

Gina said...

Great story!

We don't really save dishes for certain nights, unless it's Friday night for pizza!

I do remember every Friday being fish stick and mac n'cheese night growing up, that was the only night we could eat in front of the tv! Those were special nights in thier own way.

Minister of Style said...

Yep, we are a Monday is Spaghetti Night family!. My husband loves Spaghetti and never tires of it.

Sandy said...

Thank you Paula. Just love this post. We don't have a night where we eat the same thing - but I love the idea. Thanks again for being my guest today!

CJ said...

What I love most about the same dinner every week thought is the drop ins! How would you know how much to cook? What do you do with the leftovers if there are any? I would love to have that sort of house...ONE night a week anyway. Not knowing who might come or would I have to invite some to get it started?

Unknown said...

I love the idea of spending time with this lady. I am working on a breakfast for dinner night and now I am thinking of adding some adorable older neighbors. Thanks for the inspiration.

Cynthia