Spaghetti Dinners

I'm cooking a favorite meal of mine tonight, spaghetti with sausage and meatballs. Although it's not the traditional "gravy" that sits and simmers on the stove all day long (tonight it's from the jar), it's still one of my all time favorite meals. As I sit here and think about it, I'm not sure why...I don't think it's the food itself, I'd prefer ravioli over spaghetti. I don't think it's the garlic bread or the meatballs...I believe this favorite dates back to my childhood...weekends spent at my Nanny's house, just us girls (my Mom included), making the gravy from scratch and enjoying the time together. I think that's what this meal has become...a family tradition. It's the ONE meal that I know I can get all four of my family members together at the dinner table with no distractions to eat, talk, laugh and enjoy our time together. Sometimes the meal spills over to my Mother in Law's house and it turns in to an all day affair. More food. More family. More laughter. Games. Coffee and dessert. Even better for me. So as we all think about the beginning of 2010, I'm thinking of making this a year all about family...starting traditions, continuing traditions, one spaghetti dinner at a time. Ciao!