momma's kitchen
graduation party
by Camille Di Loreto
(return to food)

In my effort to celebrate my last child's graduation from high school I decided to throw a graduation party. It was a combination graduation party and celebration of our soon to be empty nest. I sent out cute little invites to our neighbors and friends asking them to come celebrate this dual event. James-the soon to be graduate was very reluctant about the whole idea.

" Nice gesture mom but I really do not want a party with adults for graduation."

What a typical teenager response! I sensed his doubts about the adults versus just "friends" party and being the caring sensitive mother that I am I immediately reassured him we were having the party of adults and friends of James. He needed to consider the mingling of adults and kids a simple rite of passage into adulthood. He, on the other hand, wanted little to do with any adult passages of empty nest and just wanted to go to college and fly the coup. The fact that I was willing to throw a party for him did not impress him in the least. I assured him the party would be a success even though there would be numerous adults in attendance. It would be a success even though his friends would be forced to mingle with the older folks. We, his parents, would try not to embarrass him. I explained to him even if all else fails he would love the food and the attention.

At that very moment I realized I was having an Italian flash back or perhaps payback. At that very instant I sounded exactly like my Mother. Oh, is that ever scary! Back in the day, (my senior year in high school) I was extremely reluctant to have a graduation party with the adults and kids as well. It just was not cool. It was that dreaded peer pressure thing. When I was faced with the same offer from my mother for a graduation party I felt the same way. I did not want the entire family in attendance. I just wanted my friends, hot dogs, burgers, potato salad and slaw and rock and roll music. His was not to be the case.

"Are kids today that different? I started to have my doubts. My mother never doubted!"

My Italian mother would not hear of it. When we celebrated, all the friends and relatives were invited. Everyone mingled. The grandmothers pinched the cheeks of the young ones and kisses and hugs were pretty typical. Mom did not serve hot dogs. The only dog seen at the party was on four legs. The strange thing is somehow someone always broke out in a song. In fact this was my greatest fear. You see a close friend of the family was an opera singer. Is the picture getting clearer? As you may have guessed our family friend, the opera singer would always be asked to sing at any/all of the family gatherings. She obliged at the drop of a hat. When I was 18 opera was not at the top of my music list- in fact, it still is not. Although she was quite talented I did not want her to share her talents around my teenage friends. She also possessed a rather operatic physic if you know what I mean. Her posture was just perfect -so straight and so composed. She was also rather well endowed. So just moments after being asked to sing, she would rise ever so elegantly from her chair and approach the front of a room or yard. She would take a moment to compose herself. As she stood there those first few seconds the audience was aware of her process to find just the right aria. At the moment just prior to the start of the song, she would do a little vocal exercise. This was done for our benefit. It always worked because her audience clapped for the exercise as well as the performance. She then opened her mouth and out poured the loudest melodic sounds know to the history of man. Her voice was so strong and resounding I just wanted to find a place to hide. I am certain she could be heard for miles. The adults just loved it.

We are certainly Italian. What more can be said! While the opera singer has long since passed away and we do not have a single relative nearby to pinch the cheeks of the little ones and my husband is half-Irish and Italian, it seems I am still drawn to all things Italian. So with this in mind the party would occur. It would be a huge success. Are kids today that different? I started to have my doubts. My mother never doubted!

As I began the three-week preparation for James' party, the flashbacks of own my graduation party continued. It was very strange. I recall having a house full of aunts, uncles and cousins and all the relatives and my classmates. Mom did not serve hot dogs, burgers potato salad and slaw. Mom had antipasto, sausage and peppers, baked macaroni, barbequed chicken, salad and lots of Italian bread. Mom catered the party. We all had a wonderful time. Everyone mingled, ate great food, talked listened to music and danced. Once more Mom was right.

With this in mind, I started to feel justified in continuing the tradition and submit my own child to the same torture. The only difference was there would be no opera singer to hide from. We would have few if any relatives in attendance. All the adults consisted of friends and neighbors.

Interestingly enough all three of my children enjoyed mingling with the various ages at the party. In fact my daughter Christina was quick to remind me how we always forced the three of them to interact with adults. She actually thanked us for it since it allowed her the experience of being with all ages and gave her the opportunity to learn social interaction. It really is so nice when your adult children thank you for things you did as a parent.

You might be asking at this point, " Camille, what did you serve the graduating class of 2001?" Italian was most definitely the dominating cuisine. Besides everyone likes Italian food?!

We had appetizers of vegetable and dip, cold shrimp with cocktail sauce, tortilla chips and salsa, and a Mexican vegetable chip and dip tray-so far, pretty typical. For the Main event we enjoyed Italian sausage consisting of several flavor- chicken, parsley and provolone, chicken, roast red pepper and cheese and a good-old Italian favorite- hot Italian sausage. We enjoyed chicken breasts marinated in garlic and balsamic vinegar. All the meats were roasted on the grill while the guests enjoyed their libations. We enjoyed a cold basil tomato pasta- salad; fresh roasted peppers in oil, garden fresh tomatoes with fresh mozzarella drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a cold broccoli salad and baked beans. Baked beans and Oriental pasta salad are two of my son 's favorites dishes so I could not help but indulge him these requests. For a finale, we enjoyed Sicilian Pudding, Italian cheesecake and a graduation cake decorated with the typical diploma and plastic graduation cap on top saying " Congratulation Jamesî" All in all I would say the flavor of the meal was absolutely Italian. The party was a great success and everyone had a great time even James.

James gave me a big hug and lots of thanks. I asked him if he had any doubts about the evening. He said he did at first but figured if I were doing the planning, cooking etc. it would work out in the long run. Kids - some things never change.

Since most of the recipes used for the graduation party are pretty straightforward I thought I would share one of our desserts with you, the Sicilian Pudding.

If you have any kitchen memories to share, please contact me at camille@virtualitalia.zzn.com.

Sicilian Pudding

1 large package of Jell-O Vanilla Pudding (Cook and /serve style)
1 large package of Jell-O Chocolate Pudding (Cook and Serve style)
1 brick of sponge cake
Anise flavoring, Anisette or Sambuca liquor watered down to taste
1 pint of whipping cream

Vanilla:
1 packet of sugar substitute
1 cup of toasted coconut
1 large Hersheyís Chocolate bar with almonds- shredded
3 fresh large strawberries sliced

Prepare ahead for at least 8 hours for best results Prepare each pudding package according to package directions separately. Set aside to cool. Prepare the whipped cream.

Whipped Cream Recipe:
In large cold bowl, pour heavy cream. Start whipping cream. As cream begins to thicken add packet of sugar substitute. Add 1 Tablespoon of vanilla. Beat until cream is very thick. Be careful not to over whip since then you will have sweet butter. Place in refrigerator.

In a medium bowl, break up sponge cake to bite size pieces. Add just enough anise flavoring to soak each piece of sponge cake. Do not drench cake in liquor. Set aside.

In a large clear glass bowl, place a layer of chocolate pudding, sprinkle with toasted coconut and shredded Hershey chocolate bar with almonds, then a layer of whipped cream then a layer of vanilla pudding. Continue this till bowl is full. Top layer should be whipped cream. Sprinkle top layer with toasted coconut and chocolate bar. Add the strawberries to top for decoration.
Suggestion - a trifle bowl displays this dessert very well. If using one you need to increase the pudding package by one additional chocolate or vanilla flavor. Also use a quart of heavy cream for whipping. Refrigerate.