I have been making Pastina for decades, since my children were babies. Back then, they called it “Stini”, and sometimes I still do. It was a quick, easy, comforting thing to eat and they loved it.
Making Pastina was also a tradition, because my mother and my grandmother made it for me when I was a baby and for all the years after that.
Over the past several months, I have been having trouble finding Pastina at the grocery store. I had quite a stash so I didn’t worry too much about this at first. I preferred Prince Pastina but decided that Barilla or Ronzoni would also be fine.
I looked every time I went food shopping and so did my husband. We kept striking out.
And then! And then! Last week, I realized I had opened my last box.
Now this is officially a crisis! Or as my friend Sheila says, “This is an Italian Emergency!”
So I am officially on a quest. A few of my dear friends and family are assisting me on this. Wish us luck!
In case you are not familiar with Pastina, watch an Italian grandmother (who I am sure is weeping right now over my lack of Pastina!) show you one way to make it:
Karen Creamer
