Author: Libbie Agran

Sylvester Dusi owned a sausage company located on York Mountain in Templeton with a partner. Sylvester was in charge of marketing and sales and drove around the county in his Cadillac delivering sausages to customers.

Caterina was well known for her vegetable garden. Her great-granddaughter, winemaker Janell Dusi – founder of J Dusi wines, loved working in the garden as a child with Caterina.

The wives of the Italian immigrants who farmed grapes, stone fruits, and grains in the early 20th century were known for their hard work in the vineyards, from planting vines to harvesting grapes.

To serve Caterina’s Polenta you must have a china plate in your hand to serve yourself. Place one scoop of polenta in the middle of your plate. Select which type of stew you want and place a hefty scoop of stew on top of your scoop of polenta. Top the stew with a thick slice of Teleme or Telligio Cheese, and then put another scoop of polenta on top. Mangia! You can also substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Teleme Cheese.

Caterina Dusi had a beautiful wooden stove in her basement kitchen where she made this unusual popcorn snack for her grandchildren. I recommend using a wooden stove, which adds a bit of smokey flavor to the popcorn, but this recipe can be made in a modern kitchen with contemporary appliances. It is timeless!