Ah yes, end of summer ceremonies include the tomato sauce making. This year my husband and I were on our own–the first I can remember not working with my in-laws (Sicilian immigrants and the originators of this family tradition)… and all the kids were conveniently out of town.
Without Nonna & Nonno to watch over us, we IMMEDIATELY cheated by not hand picking them… we have so few weekends available and it rained all week and the usual farm (Filasky’s in Maryland) was not allowing us out on the field. We purchased them at a store outlet for a farmer’s market and I’m REALLY okay with not picking in a muddy field.
We ended up with about 80 quarts all hot packed and slowly cooling in chests covered in blankets. It will last us until next August (depending upon needy children and friends who will *now* come out of the 
woodwork…).
I was introduced to this tradition over 25 years ago while dating my husband. His parents dutifully worked very hard to make sauce for themselves and enough for each of their sons who were on their own. Some years we helped more than others.
As our family grew, we all (with more workers each few years) helped out–we needed a lot! This year mom and dad will experience it all being done for them… we will be giving them their share. I guess now in their upper 80′s they deserve the break!
I guess we have officially become Nonna & Nonno. Tony barking orders at me… but I’m not Nonna… so he needs to keep it zipped or wear boiling hot stewed tomatoes. Plus at some point, I’m going to start drinking… hey, I have to add some ‘German-Irish’ to this tradition… I’m not Sicilian if you could tell by my red hair…
UPDATE: I’ve gotten a lot of requests for the recipe but it’s not what you think–we don’t add all the seasonings before we hot pack them– just tomatoes, basil leaves and salt.
Here is the entire process… Read More→
My daughter Katherine who was ’tiling’ the roof with non-pareils, the walls were molded by my daughter Sarah & her friend Brittany. And you can see below also the ‘before & after’ shots of the houses in construction. 
<– more hotel photos!
ah, the joy of a big family)… you get the idea. It can get ugly, so I just make more than I need!
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