I remember back in college, I went to my roommate's house for dinner. Their nonna was over helping mom cook dinner. My roommate just wanted to play video games, so I wandered into the kitchen and asked Nonna if I could help. She looked at me like "You want to do WHAT?" then came over and gave me a big hug. She and roommate's mom started teaching me how to cook - which also made roommate very happy of course 😝 Good mentors, no matter what their craft, are truly worth their weight in gold.
I'm a Jamaican lady who's married to an Italian man. I just came across this channel, and im learning more about how to make Italian food. My mother-in-law is a pretty good cook, too. She and my mother dont measure anything either, lol. This is golden. Thank you for sharing these videos. ❤❤❤❤
Before my Italian mother died 2.5 years ago she taught me her recipe for meatballs and sauce. Your grandma and my mom are the only ones that I know of that use veal in their meatballs. All the restaurants never use it. However, what my mom did with her meatballs was to brown them in a frying pan first and THEN put them in the sauce. That sauce would simmer for AT LEAST SIX HOURS before removing the meatballs and then about another hour before jarring the sauce. Back in the 80s my mom would make this sauce EVERY Sunday. It became such a ritual that I nicknamed it Sunday Sauce. Everyone who has ever tasted mom's meatball and sauce recipe LOVED THEM. I remember one time in the late 80s a friend came over one night and I heated up some meatballs and a little sauce in a bowl and told him to try the best meatballs and sauce he ever tasted. After the first bite he literally never took his eyes off the bowl and held it near his face to inhale the aroma. Whenever I jokingly tried to take the bowl he turned to prevent it. Another time I remember was when was in college and my graphic design class was having a Christmas potluck that the students brought in. Well the night before mom and I made 65 meatballs and sauce, to large pot fulls. Then next morning I brought in container full of meatballs and sauce and a crockpot for them to simmer in throughout the day. OMG!!!! You want to talk about the most popular dish in the room. Once that crockpot was going ALL the students were "drooling" to get some meatballs. The aroma wafted out of the classroom into the hall and anyone passing by would stop at the door and inhale. In a very short time ALL the meatballs were gone. Mom's recipe was handed down from her mom and from her mom going back to the homeland. That's when you know you have a good recipe.
Yes, I sautée my meatballs too before I add them to my sauce. And yes, I use ground beef, pork and veal too along with egg, parsley, onion, garlic, 1 slice of white bread soaked in milk, salt & pepper. Delicious!
Maybe the use of veal is regionally based. My grandmother from the Naples region used this mix. My grandmother from Sambuca Sicily did not. Also as someone said already there was white bread and milk in my Napolitano grandmother's mix. Napolitano Grandmother put the meatballs to cook in the gravy raw; Sicilian grandmother panfried them then put them in the gravy. Also the Sicilian gravy was thicker and browner and stuck to the pasta more since she used crushed and paste instead of pureed tomatoes. She added sugar as well, probably to offset acidity from the amount of paste used 🤣
I'm so glad you're doing this. I recently lost my Dad, and we used to cook together... but same thing.. we don't measure anything, nothing is written down, and now I only know half of every recipe! We are an Italian family too, so I am hoping that by watching these videos it will help me figure out our own family recipes
Love Your Family, but especially NONNO, A VERY WISE, SMART, AND SWEET GENTLEMAN! Reminds Me Of My Italian Father! God Ever Bless You All! Saw a picture of NONNO playing the accordion, which I Love, because I played the accordion too! Ciao!
We were 3 little girls all with different tastes, my nonna used to cook our favorite dish for each, we had a feast every Sunday. Bring back so many memories, thank you! Hugs to nonna and nonna, God bless.
I love your Grandparents, they remind me of my parents who also came from Europe with pennies in their pocket. Good food, hard work and love of family are all hallmarks of any old school European family. Of course, I had to like and subscribe and I look forward future vlogs.
The generosity makes me smile. He's so proud of his figs, and even though animals get lots of them, he gives half to each grandchild. What a lovely family!
When I was a little girl and was at my grandparents my grandmother would give me canned peaches or pears and add red wine to them as a treat ….ohh that made me smile 😊😊😊😊😊😊. We would also get wine cut with 7-up as kids on holidays .
LOVE nonno and nonna, they remind me of my Italian grandparents. My nonna cooked just like this, no measurements, she just knew and it was always delicious food, no matter what she made. Your nonno is an excellent artist, I'm surprised he isn't known for his art, he has many artistic talents. Thank you for sharing your family with us, this is very special. God bless this beautiful family. Baci e auguri from Florida
I love this channel. I have italian-american grandmother. Nonna making way too much food and your grandfather Nonno giving fantastic advice and pushing delicious fruit your way, makes me feel at home ❤️
As little girl I once told my Nana I love Aunt Theresa meatballs more than yours. I don’t think she ever forgave me. I’m a good cook I learned from my Nana, Mom and Aunt Theresa. You are blessed with loving grandparents, cherish every moment.
❤You had me at “Nonna”!! I love to learn family cooking recipes. My “Nanna” (b.1897)was from Germany, so my mother’s idea of spaghetti & meatballs was meatballs more resembling meatloaf. With breadcrumbs, an egg and grated carrot and bell pepper, etc. And then, she took a can of tomato juice, not sauce, a big can of tomato juice and poured it over the browned meatballs. That was it. She might have sprinkled a little oregano in there. And did I mention that she rinsed the pasta. Back then in Texas that was “I”talian!! (But she made a great stuffed cabbage roll❤️.)
You and Julian are lucky to have such giving grandparents. In my family my mom always treats her parents which are my grandparents to great big meals but it seems your grandparents do all that for their grandkids and the rest of their family. Wow!!! Is that why she made so many meat balls?
This made me smile today. When your nonna said "I don't measure anything", I remembered my greek grandmother telling me "Just enough of each ingredient" when I would ask her how much of each spice to use. I lost her last year but this brought back alot of happy memories of going to Greece and eating my grandmothers cooking.
Oh my, I had no idea Nonna and Nonno were on UA-cam also. I've been watching on fb. I just love these two, Nonna is such a good cook, and her spicy attitude and words bring many smiles to my face. Nonno is so talented, he can do so many things. I hope his grandchildren are learning from them both. They have so many things worth learning that just aren't taught any more. Many blessings and much love form Livonia Michigan ❤
I come from McLaughlins and Derisos. I am blessed to have two cultures that have great food. Holidays were a circus! I will cherish them forever. I have tried to pass this on to my children.
The love in your family is beautiful. You are very blessed. I am going to love this channel. I came from your sister's channel. Thank you for sharing, your family made my heart smile. ❤️
I like watching her cook she like my mother never measured like my father never measure when cooking and her her husband my goodness it’s a regular family. I love watching you guys do real good very good food delicious❤
My Nonna is called Stefania, the resemblance shocked me! She always makes us spaghetti and meatballs 4 times a week and it's incredibly good. She immigrated to Venezuela when she was 9 and came here about 20 years after my mother immigrated to the U.S. with my dad.
My Pop's was the king of meatballs and sauce! He tried the meatballs before they went into the sauce and the sauce...took all day to make. We'd start I'm the morning and by that night it would be ready. It only got tastier as the days went by! I miss my Pop's and cooking with him.
I make my sauce exactly the same way, and I always cook my meatballs in the sauce. Way better than fried. I never thought to use pork ribs. I had planned on making a pot of sauce this week anyway, going to use ribs this time! It looks amazing!
My grandparents lived next door to an Italian family in England in the 1970s and when my family went to visit my granny and grandad, my sister and I would invariably end up next door eating the most delicious spaghetti and meatballs, much to the disgust of our granny because we wouldn't eat our tea 😂
Nonna, I finally got to make your meatballs and sauce today and it was so delicious! So rich! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. It will forever be added to our menu for Sunday suppers.
I just discovered your channel and you just happened to be cooking my favorite food in the world meatballs and pasta and meat sauce, it looks absolutely delicious. Aside from the cooking the family getting together and sharing a meal together is awesome!
Sub'd! I love this! My Grandparents have move on to their next adventure in the Universe and I miss them. This brought up great memories of them so keep it up and I thank you!
Hey! Love your Sis, and am happy to follow this channel, and see your family and the great food! This video brings back so many memories! My Grandma was Italian, and made her own meatballs and sauce! And usually made immense amounts! This is great! 💖
Awww so sweet, reminds me of my sicilian family. There was no measuring! As the oldest granchild I called him NuNu Guy instead of NaNu & then there was my NaNa Rose who was known as the strongest woman in town to pull up a sturgeon more than 6ft. We loved fishing together on the Delta in Pittsburg, CA (Contra Costa County). Wish I had videos to save as you do of your grandparents. Thank you for sharing! Ciao!
I remember back in college, I went to my roommate's house for dinner. Their nonna was over helping mom cook dinner. My roommate just wanted to play video games, so I wandered into the kitchen and asked Nonna if I could help.
She looked at me like "You want to do WHAT?" then came over and gave me a big hug. She and roommate's mom started teaching me how to cook - which also made roommate very happy of course 😝
Good mentors, no matter what their craft, are truly worth their weight in gold.
Mama does NOT play.🤭
Really appreciate the advice and words of wisdom from nonno. He is so sincere and I felt like I was sitting at the table and he was talking to me 💜
Not even a minute in and I’m in love with your family. I’m a NY Italian and this is a BIG memory of my family for me! 💕
The algorithms are not doing these videos any justice. These videos are great!
These videos are a UA-cam gem. This is feel good stuff.
I'm a Jamaican lady who's married to an Italian man. I just came across this channel, and im learning more about how to make Italian food. My mother-in-law is a pretty good cook, too. She and my mother dont measure anything either, lol. This is golden. Thank you for sharing these videos. ❤❤❤❤
Thank you Vanessa and Julian for introducing us to your gorgeous grandparents… Pomeranians, Video’s and meatballs made with love xx
My mom used an ice cream scoop too! 😢 Brings tears to my eyes with loving memories. She passed away at the age of 96.
Holy cow Vanessa! Is she making meatballs for the whole village?
This is the Italian way! Learn it. Know it. Live it.
I love it 😀
Thats a legit amount for 4 people
She is the best, also never occurred to you they share these lovely food with friends or save as leftovers
@@thereturningshadow and Love it!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy these videos! Thank you, and keep them coming! 🥰
Absolutely! Thanks for watching!
Before my Italian mother died 2.5 years ago she taught me her recipe for meatballs and sauce. Your grandma and my mom are the only ones that I know of that use veal in their meatballs. All the restaurants never use it. However, what my mom did with her meatballs was to brown them in a frying pan first and THEN put them in the sauce. That sauce would simmer for AT LEAST SIX HOURS before removing the meatballs and then about another hour before jarring the sauce.
Back in the 80s my mom would make this sauce EVERY Sunday. It became such a ritual that I nicknamed it Sunday Sauce. Everyone who has ever tasted mom's meatball and sauce recipe LOVED THEM.
I remember one time in the late 80s a friend came over one night and I heated up some meatballs and a little sauce in a bowl and told him to try the best meatballs and sauce he ever tasted. After the first bite he literally never took his eyes off the bowl and held it near his face to inhale the aroma. Whenever I jokingly tried to take the bowl he turned to prevent it.
Another time I remember was when was in college and my graphic design class was having a Christmas potluck that the students brought in. Well the night before mom and I made 65 meatballs and sauce, to large pot fulls. Then next morning I brought in container full of meatballs and sauce and a crockpot for them to simmer in throughout the day. OMG!!!! You want to talk about the most popular dish in the room. Once that crockpot was going ALL the students were "drooling" to get some meatballs. The aroma wafted out of the classroom into the hall and anyone passing by would stop at the door and inhale. In a very short time ALL the meatballs were gone.
Mom's recipe was handed down from her mom and from her mom going back to the homeland. That's when you know you have a good recipe.
What lovely memories to have of your mom 💛
Yes, I sautée my meatballs too before I add them to my sauce. And yes, I use ground beef, pork and veal too along with egg, parsley, onion, garlic, 1 slice of white bread soaked in milk, salt & pepper. Delicious!
Ina Garten/Barefoot Contessa uses the 3 meats in her meatballs. This is the ONLY way meatballs should be
made!!!
@@mere0224 thanks
Maybe the use of veal is regionally based. My grandmother from the Naples region used this mix. My grandmother from Sambuca Sicily did not. Also as someone said already there was white bread and milk in my Napolitano grandmother's mix.
Napolitano Grandmother put the meatballs to cook in the gravy raw; Sicilian grandmother panfried them then put them in the gravy.
Also the Sicilian gravy was thicker and browner and stuck to the pasta more since she used crushed and paste instead of pureed tomatoes. She added sugar as well, probably to offset acidity from the amount of paste used 🤣
I'm so glad you're doing this. I recently lost my Dad, and we used to cook together... but same thing.. we don't measure anything, nothing is written down, and now I only know half of every recipe! We are an Italian family too, so I am hoping that by watching these videos it will help me figure out our own family recipes
Love Your Family, but especially NONNO, A VERY WISE, SMART, AND SWEET GENTLEMAN! Reminds Me Of My Italian Father! God Ever Bless You All! Saw a picture of NONNO playing the accordion, which I Love, because I played the accordion too! Ciao!
"A plate of this." My Irish grandmother used that same recipe. 😆
I think Spicy Nonna and Nonna Pia should get together. They’re two gems that their families share with the world!
omg I love how grandparents all over the world have similar mannerisms like nonno being 'you never tasted a fig like this before' *finger*
This is my official request to be their unofficial granddaughter
What an amazing family ♥ It's a pleasure to watch you all!
We were 3 little girls all with different tastes, my nonna used to cook our favorite dish for each, we had a feast every Sunday. Bring back so many memories, thank you! Hugs to nonna and nonna, God bless.
The love this family shares is so strong it comes right through this video. What a blessing!
It does! I thought the same thing and truly a blessing.
I loved this video! It’s great that you spend this time with your grandparents.
Girl with the dogs I love her she’s one of my favorite channels I had no idea
Videos of your family is like sharing gold with the entire world ❤ Thank you all so much!
"You'll never taste a fresh fig like that" HAHA I love that energy
Here from Vanessa’s channel…loving it!
I love your Grandparents, they remind me of my parents who also came from Europe with pennies in their pocket. Good food, hard work and love of family are all hallmarks of any old school European family. Of course, I had to like and subscribe and I look forward future vlogs.
4:07 Here in Italy there are also those who fry the meatballs a little and then put them in the sauce.
The generosity makes me smile. He's so proud of his figs, and even though animals get lots of them, he gives half to each grandchild. What a lovely family!
Fresh figs are the best . ❤
When I was a little girl and was at my grandparents my grandmother would give me canned peaches or pears and add red wine to them as a treat ….ohh that made me smile 😊😊😊😊😊😊. We would also get wine cut with 7-up as kids on holidays .
ooh very handsome grandson! Hi Julian. Looking forward to more videos. Wish you had started them a few years ago. Happy Birthday Nonna x
OMG I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH
LOVE nonno and nonna, they remind me of my Italian grandparents. My nonna cooked just like this, no measurements, she just knew and it was always delicious food, no matter what she made. Your nonno is an excellent artist, I'm surprised he isn't known for his art, he has many artistic talents. Thank you for sharing your family with us, this is very special. God bless this beautiful family. Baci e auguri from Florida
I love this channel. I have italian-american grandmother. Nonna making way too much food and your grandfather Nonno giving fantastic advice and pushing delicious fruit your way, makes me feel at home ❤️
As little girl I once told my Nana I love Aunt Theresa meatballs more than yours. I don’t think she ever forgave me. I’m a good cook I learned from my Nana, Mom and Aunt Theresa. You are blessed with loving grandparents, cherish every moment.
Ohhhhh😮 😂
Grandpa, IS my favorite ! Such an Angel . 😇😇😇😇🙏🏻⭐🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
❤You had me at “Nonna”!! I love to learn family cooking recipes. My “Nanna” (b.1897)was from Germany, so my mother’s idea of spaghetti & meatballs was meatballs more resembling meatloaf. With breadcrumbs, an egg and grated carrot and bell pepper, etc.
And then, she took a can of tomato juice, not sauce, a big can of tomato juice and poured it over the browned meatballs. That was it. She might have sprinkled a little oregano in there. And did I mention that she rinsed the pasta.
Back then in Texas that was “I”talian!! (But she made a great stuffed cabbage roll❤️.)
Same but my mom was part French Canadian so not bad and she added lots of love prob like yours.😉✌️
Fabulous~! :) My Grandmother never measured anything either, & her food was the best too! :) I'm coming over for dinner! :)
ok, but is everyone in GirlWithTheDogs' family gorgeous?!? Cuties, Nonna & Nonno! MUAH🧿🧿
So heartwarming. Loving the food . This channel might become one of my comfort channels soon , love the calming vibe overall
And Nonno, you have such a talent in all you do.
With so much crap on these days.. it’s so HEART WARMING to see something HONEST AND REAL!
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US OVER😊
Amen to what grandpa said...
sent this to a friend whose parents are from Italy. I also suddenly have a craving for meatballs
They are just to cute. Y'all blessed to have them with y'all
They are precious! And meatballs for the whole neighborhood! ❤😂
I was in Rome this summer! Italy and Italian people are so chilled, loved the week, definitely go back, and I will try Nonna's meatball!
It makes me smile every time I watch this video.
You and Julian are lucky to have such giving grandparents. In my family my mom always treats her parents which are my grandparents to great big meals but it seems your grandparents do all that for their grandkids and the rest of their family. Wow!!! Is that why she made so many meat balls?
Please keep these videos low key and informal. These videos are so fun to watch because of all the 'in betrweens'.
This made me smile today. When your nonna said "I don't measure anything", I remembered my greek grandmother telling me "Just enough of each ingredient" when I would ask her how much of each spice to use. I lost her last year but this brought back alot of happy memories of going to Greece and eating my grandmothers cooking.
Oh my, I had no idea Nonna and Nonno were on UA-cam also. I've been watching on fb. I just love these two, Nonna is such a good cook, and her spicy attitude and words bring many smiles to my face. Nonno is so talented, he can do so many things. I hope his grandchildren are learning from them both. They have so many things worth learning that just aren't taught any more. Many blessings and much love form Livonia Michigan ❤
Grandparents are a treasure. You must soak up as much as you can from them before they are gone.
NONNA DON'T NEED TO MEASURE, AFTER YEARS OF COOKING IT COMES NATURALLY❤❤ THOSE MEATBALLS LOOK DEVINE😊
This is so sweet. So much of quality time in one video. M loving it. I love your grandparents and all❤
Please tell me you have asked your grandpa to say "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."
I'm here because Girl With The Dogs sent me! I love the channel and you've inspired me to make meatballs and sauce, but not so many!
These are treasures with your grandparents. Good for you, getting them videoed.😊
My husband’s grandmother invited the 2 of us to dinner. She made 75 meatballs and 100 ravioli (homemade) for just the 4 of us. LOL
Oh I'm so glad to find this from Vanessa channel !! Ok, now we just need tons more videos! Love ya Vanessa!
She sure doesn't look 80 and I wish I was there i love spaghetti and meatballs
That looks so delicious 😋😋
I taught high school for many years. This is a great video to be shared with aspiring young people!
👏 👏 👏
I come from McLaughlins and Derisos. I am blessed to have two cultures that have great food. Holidays were a circus! I will cherish them forever. I have tried to pass this on to my children.
Nonna is so beautiful. We would love to see pictures of your grandparents when they were first married.😊
How lovely!!!! Thank you so much for this recipe, and for allowing us to meet your family. I’ve subscribed and tapped the bell icon. 🥰🧡🥰🧡🥰🧡
The love in your family is beautiful. You are very blessed. I am going to love this channel. I came from your sister's channel. Thank you for sharing, your family made my heart smile. ❤️
I like watching her cook she like my mother never measured like my father never measure when cooking and her her husband my goodness it’s a regular family. I love watching you guys do real good very good food delicious❤
😊😊the eyes have it...❤
My Nonna is called Stefania, the resemblance shocked me! She always makes us spaghetti and meatballs 4 times a week and it's incredibly good. She immigrated to Venezuela when she was 9 and came here about 20 years after my mother immigrated to the U.S. with my dad.
My Pop's was the king of meatballs and sauce! He tried the meatballs before they went into the sauce and the sauce...took all day to make. We'd start I'm the morning and by that night it would be ready. It only got tastier as the days went by! I miss my Pop's and cooking with him.
Omg this channel is phenomenal. I love your nonna and nonno
I make my sauce exactly the same way, and I always cook my meatballs in the sauce. Way better than fried. I never thought to use pork ribs. I had planned on making a pot of sauce this week anyway, going to use ribs this time! It looks amazing!
My grandparents lived next door to an Italian family in England in the 1970s and when my family went to visit my granny and grandad, my sister and I would invariably end up next door eating the most delicious spaghetti and meatballs, much to the disgust of our granny because we wouldn't eat our tea 😂
Nonno and Nonna are adorable 🌷
Nonna, I finally got to make your meatballs and sauce today and it was so delicious! So rich! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. It will forever be added to our menu for Sunday suppers.
They are the best! I love watching the interaction between the grandparents and their grandchildren. Great cook!
Your Noona is like my Mom, who can't make the same dish twice because she doesn't measure anything and never writes anything down. What a great Lady!
Loved this, subscribed and looking forward for more.
Thank you nonno for the excellent advice. Tante grazie per i consigli. In bocca lupo.
I just discovered your channel and you just happened to be cooking my favorite food in the world meatballs and pasta and meat sauce, it looks absolutely delicious. Aside from the cooking the family getting together and sharing a meal together is awesome!
Loving these two, I have officially adopted them as my grandparents. And your brother is a gem. Love to all
Vanessa. I recognize your voice easy and I recognize your little crazy Melvin pomeranian. With alopecia. I enjoy your girl with dogs videos as well.
I felt like I was a kid again back at my parents' house. I loved this video!
Gently gently ♥ meatballs and sauce cooked with tender love and care 💕 💓 ❤ 💖 💗 😌 💕 lLOVEIT😊
Your grandpa is so cute!! 🥺
Real cooks dont measure. Leave Nonna alone
Thank you for sharing grandparents! I didn’t have mine growing up. But now you share! ❤
Spaghetti and meatballs are my favorite. Thanks for the recipe. I will try it!!!! 🍝
The Nonna is right, you don't measure stuff, it has to look and feel right, measuring is for people with out soul in the cooking and baking.
Or first just learning.
Wow, Angelo is extremely wise. Nice family.
My Irish grandmother made the best meatballs ever!!!!!
Lol, "I don't measure nothing"
My grandmother was the same. "Just a bit of this, a bit of that" ... yeah, right
1 minute in, i already adore your grandparents
Sub'd! I love this! My Grandparents have move on to their next adventure in the Universe and I miss them. This brought up great memories of them so keep it up and I thank you!
Your grandpa sounds like The Godfather, love it! Marlon Brando got nothing on your pop!
Hey! Love your Sis, and am happy to follow this channel, and see your family and the great food! This video brings back so many memories! My Grandma was Italian, and made her own meatballs and sauce! And usually made immense amounts! This is great! 💖
Nonna, you have a lovely family. Your meatballs and sauce look delicious, but how long do I cook the sauce?
Wise grandparents!
OMG! I love your grandparents!😊🤓😁💕
Ummm, can your grandparents adopt me please? They are amazing!!!
I agree with your Nonna, real cooks don't use measurements, you just know :)
Awww so sweet, reminds me of my sicilian family. There was no measuring! As the oldest granchild I called him NuNu Guy instead of NaNu & then there was my NaNa Rose who was known as the strongest woman in town to pull up a sturgeon more than 6ft. We loved fishing together on the Delta in Pittsburg, CA (Contra Costa County). Wish I had videos to save as you do of your grandparents. Thank you for sharing! Ciao!
Brava!! 👏🏽❤️