Thanksgiving. A time to spend with family, friends and food. Visions of roasted turkeys, stuffing and mashed potatoes dance in our heads as we prepare for the carb overload of a dinner served at 3 p.m. I’ve eaten many of what people consider a traditional Thanksgiving meal as described above, but that isn’t the only tradition I grew up with.

What I considered as a normal holiday offering turned out to be rather strange to some, but is beloved to me. I’ve written of the cooking prowess of my maternal Italian grandmother in the past, reflecting on her near magical ability to conjure up enough food to feed 15 people on regular Sunday supper. And, like most grandmothers, her holiday cooking ability remains unmatched.