When Pasquale Mattei left his native Italy, he brought, amongst his few possessions, a small jar full of dried string beans. These beans were both a piece of his past as well as a part of his future. In Italy, his family had grown them, and in his new home, across the ocean in a small backyard in the city of Paterson, New Jersey, they would help sustain his wife and nine children.
Seed saving reinforces the core reasons to garden—self-reliance, connecting with the earth, and the deeply satisfying wonderment of watching nature at work. It can also create memories, family traditions, and some delicious recipes, like the two below which have been passed down from the Mattei family.
These easy and delicious family recipes use fresh string beans from your garden or farmers’ market. Give one or both a try!
Italian Potato and String Bean Salad
Italian Beef Stew
Italian Potato and String Bean Salad
Italian Beef Stew
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