Just not the same as Nonna's

Ever had a favourite meal that a parent or grandparent used to make and when you've tried to make it, it just doesn't taste the same?

I've been surrounded by amazing cooks all my life; my mum, my aunties they all knew their way around a kitchen and produced the goods but no one compares to my Nonna. She made cooking look effortless, she would think nothing of cooking for 25 of us. I always knew a skive from school meant a day at Nonna's, and it was as if by magic I was fully recovered by 1pm just in time to sit and have dinner with my grandparents. Nonna Maria was famous for many meals but one me and my sister used to love and always request was 'Pasta e Broc' (Nonna Maria translation to English = Pasta & Broccoli). Kids asking for broccoli can you believe it? Vegetables were never boring for me growing up? Don't get me wrong I loved pizza and chips as much as the next person but to be honest I don't think we even realised what we were eating sometimes because it had flavour it was exciting and appealing. We weren't brought up on boring boiled veg and my advice to anyone with kids is make vegetables exciting, make it flavoursome it's so much more enjoyable for you & for them.

When we lost Nonna nearly a year ago we were left trying to recreate all these amazing dishes that we all knew and loved but somehow it's never the same. Tonight I did my own version of Nonna Maria's Pasta e Broc and whilst it doesn't taste exactly like hers I think this recipe does her proud.

Look out for this recipe on my Recipe Wall.