Neapolitan Meat Sauce

Meat sauce is the base for many dishes from pasta with sauce to lasagna. This sauce is very rich in consistency and very flavorful thanks to the beef and vegetables. Give it a try!


 For 6 people

Ingredients:
1 Can Tomato Sauce
1 Can Tomato Paste
3 Fresh Basil Leaves
1/2 LB Ground Beef
1 Carrot (finely diced)
1 Celery Stalk (finely diced)
1/2 cup Onion (diced)
2 Garlic cloves (chopped)
2 TBLS Olive Oil
1 TBLS Italian Seasoning
Dash of Salt

Place oil, garlic and onion in a large pot. Caramelize. Add celery and carrot, cook for about 3-5 minutes. Add beef, break up into smaller pieces while mixing with vegetables. Brown meat. Add sauce and paste, cook for about 30 minutes on low-med setting.

This recipe also works well in slow-cookers or cast iron stoves. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

When using to top pasta, always add plenty of Parmesan or Romano cheese.

Mediterranean Potato Salad

This salad is a great dish for summer lunches or as a side to your barbecue. It is best served at room temperature or chilled.

For 4-6 People (depending on whether or not the salad is a main dish or side dish)

1/2 Cup Chopped Onion
6 Medium Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 Cup Greek Olives in brine
1 Can of Tuna in oil
1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes
5 Basil Leaves ripped into 1 inch pieces
Salt to taste
1 TBLS Olive Oil
1 TBLS Brine from olives

Peel and chop the potatoes into 2 inch pieces. Place in a saucepan, cover with water and cook until potatoes can be pierced easily with a fork. Strain and add to a large bowl.

Add remaining ingredients. Tomatoes and Olives can either be left whole or chopped into halves. Mix well. Refrigerate for about half an hour. Serve with Italian or French bread.

Buon Appetito!

Buon Giorno/ Buonasera

Language in Naples

The official language of Italy and consequentially Naples, is Italian. The region of Campania, which Naples is the capital of, has a secondary language or dialect called Neapolitan. It is normal for people to switch back and forth between languages depending on who they are speaking to. Italian is used during business transactions, when meeting new people, in school and when speaking with someone distinguished. In a way it shows respect for the other person. 

Neapolitan is used amongst people who know each other well. In some instances, especially in smaller towns or amongst older people, Neapolitan is the only language spoken because it is also the only language known. What makes it even more interesting is that every small town has a different version of Neapolitan where the vocabulary and pronunciation is slightly different. Some versions of Neapolitan, such as Puzzulano (Neapolitan spoken in the town of Pozzuoli) or Cappellese (Neapolitan spoken in the small town of Cappella) are so different, they are hard to understand from one town to the next.

Common Phrases

Good Morning: Buon Giorno (before 1PM)

Good Evening: Buonasera (after 1PM)

Good Night: Buona Notte

Come Stai? :How are you?

Bene :Good

Come Ti Chiami? :What's your name

Mi Chiamo... :My name is...

Customs and Courtesies

When speaking to people they don't know well, Italians use the Second Person Plural title and verbs, called 'dare il lei' . This form of speaking is also used when speaking to older or distinguished people. For Example instead of asking "Come stai?" you would use the Second person  plural "Come state?". The opposite is 'dare il tu', using the second person singular for people you are familiar with or peers. In this case you would ask "Come ti chiami?" instead of "Come vi chiamate?"

Singular

1st Person Io (I)

2nd Person Tu (You)

3rd Person Egli (Him)

Plural

1st Person Noi (Us)

2nd Person Voi (You) 

3rd Person Loro (Them)