Come over for some love and meatballs, I wrote without really even thinking. There had been a sudden death in my friend’s family and in situations like this, it’s hard to think of anything else to offer. At least we can feed him when he’s back in town. It didn’t feel like a lot, but it was something. And something is definitely something.
He was grateful. As his wife told me later, “re-entry” to normal life is hard, to put it mildly, and a meatball dinner with friends was a good on-ramp back to reality and reengagement. (A little wine helps, too.) I was glad to hear it. After writing about dinner for six and a half years, I don’t know why it comes as a surprise to me that a pot of turkey meatballs can be about so much more than a pot of turkey meatballs. If you think about it, a bowl of them with pasta and good Parm…it’s kind of the answer to everything.
The truth is, the meal was good for me, too. In the middle of one of the most divisive elections of my lifetime, it felt good to connect with people on a meaningful level, to put our radioactive phones down for a bit, to be reminded of the importance of community and togetherness. As you can probably tell, I try to keep politics out of this space, because I know a lot of you come here for an escape or, more likely, for easy chicken recipes, but like the rest of the world, I’ve been pretty worried – okay, wracked with anxiety — about what’s going to happen on November 8. I realize I’m not alone in this, but this election has dominated our dinner table conversation for the past six months. At our table, a space where we’ve done our best to preach kindness, inclusiveness, and compassion, we’ve found ourselves talking about the polarized state of this country, about racism and sexism and the unwanted grabbing of body parts, about what a leap forward it would be to have a woman in the White House for once, and about the toxicity of divisiveness — notably after my 14 year-old daughter’s “I’m with her” button was stolen off of her backpack, and another time after our then-12 year-old commented on an HRC Instagram post only to be faced with a barrage of decidedly grown-up hate, including “Hillary doesn’t give a sh*t about you!” (Teachable moment! Don’t Engage Ever!)
Everyone in my house and my friend circle seems to have spent the better part of the past year obsessing over polls and studying color-coded electoral maps, and, in the face of everything we know about the internet, following the threads of insanely vitriolic twitter and Facebook wars. No matter what side you’re on, I imagine you can relate. I, for one, am exhausted.
In light of this, today’s Friday Reading Round-up is focusing on the opposite of divisiveness: Dinner, community, and, for good measure, meatballs. Don’t forget to vote.
Oldie but goodie: Friday Night Meatballs: How to Change Your Life with Pasta
We get together to have dinner. And I don’t mean ‘go out’ for dinner. I mean ‘get together.’
Pasta Night with the Neighbors (Page 226, Dinner: A Love Story)
Five Rules for Hosting a Crappy Dinner Party
Great Grandma Turano’s Meatballs
Cider-braised Meatballs (also in How to Celebrate Everything for book owners)
#hillz
Jenny
Thanks Jenny! Love this blog and love those t shirts.!! #imwithher
As a Canadian observer in Alberta – it’s been terrifying to watch this election. I can’t imagine living it. I’m currently a high school Foods Studies/Home Ec teacher (yes, we still exist) who is slowly working on her masters – my argument is the impact of the power of a shared meal on student success. To some extent a great indicator of success than anything else – more than homework, more than early reading, more than music lessons. Thanks for some great links. Hang in there through Nov. 8
Brave post. Thank you for taking the risk to address the elephant in the blogging room -and kudos for doing it well.
I’m Australian, living in Australia and I have anxiety about this election – can’t imagine how you guys are feeling! I’m a big fan of the dinner table and an at home dinner is no contest the winner. Fingers crossed for Tuesday – I’m not across all of Hillary’s apparent misdeeds but I’d certainly take her over Trump. If Australia can have a female leader, so can America! Great links this week too.
I love Grandma Turano’s meatballs! I recently made a double batch for a family gathering when one of the Trump-supporting guests (no politics discussed, however) exclaimed, “These are delicious! How does a Jew know anything about meatballs?” And so it goes….Hang in there! We got this! #imwithher
Love this post!
Love that you shared your opinions about the election. It is too important NOT to speak out. Let’s go Hilary!
I’m almost embarrassed to admit (but not really embarrassed because it was necessary for my mental health) that I have opted out of news since the primaries were over. Even actively trying not to hear about the presidential campaign, I’ve still heard way more than I want to. I aspire to not worry over things that I can’t change, but I think your commenter Kate had a good point that you can always volunteer . . . .
Thanks for your brave post.
I love this post! Thanks for being brave and talking about this.
Also, I totally agree that sitting around the table and enjoying an excellent dinner is cathartic and very needed, especially with November 8 one day away.
Thanks for this post. It takes courage to post something like this these days. Bravo to your girls for their courage to wear their convictions on their “sleeves.” Love all your recipes, too–especially your forays into vegetarian eating. Meatballs and a bottle of red wine, shared with neighbors, sounds like just the thing for tomorrow! Fingers, toes, eyes all crossed….
As one of your Canadian readers, I can tell you everyone north of the 49th parallel is anxious for this night to be over so we can start dealing with whomever you end up sticking in the White House. Great post. It so true that even a simple meal around the table can help smooth out a lot of issues. During the last Canadian elections my family was very divided. My Sister and BIL were completely against Trudeau for no other reason that they were military and they were positive he was bad for them. They still think this. The rest of us love the breath of fresh air he brought to the country.
But whatever the conversation around the table, a good meal can mellow out tempers and let REAL conversations happen.
Good luck with your new President ^_^
I’ll be glad when this is over too.
But I read this today:
http://theslot.jezebel.com/older-women-share-what-voting-for-a-woman-president-in-1788497812
and cried, like I did when Obama was elected, thinking about all the people, living and gone, who fought to get us this far. Assuming a big enough majority is “with her,” we’ll always remember today.
Will be making a pot of your mourning meatballs, once I can stand up from the gut-punch. Dinner conversation will call up lessons from Nelson Mandela’s life . Stay strong friend!
This post-“stronger together” continues to be an amazing message during this time……let’s gather around a healing pot of meatballs as we adjust and regroup following the election.
Reading this post after the fact has been a little hard. Oh the anxiety! And now, the grief. (So sorry Michigan played a part!) I appreciate your sharing your views. This time around it was too important not to. But now what? Trying to cook my way through the aftermath as well. And back to reading food blogs instead of 538.