God Bless Italian Grandmothers
In the spring of 2017, I had the distinct pleasure to be able to visit one of my former exchange students at her home in Italy. While Giulia stayed with us in the U.S., she enthralled us with tales of her "Nonna's" (grandmother) cooking (and wisdom), and made us many delicious dishes that Nonna had taught her. It was wonderful, but meeting Nonna was even better! My goodness, for someone in her nineties, that lady could cook! Meal after meal, course after course, for Giulia, her family, her aunts and uncles and their families, and us! I have never had so many great meals!
So, when NetGalley offered me a chance to read and review this book, I jumped at the opportunity. The author had her own Nonna. In fact, she jokes that she attended "Nonna's Brooklyn Basement Culinary Academy". That developed into her idea to start a cooking show, "Cooking With Nonna". She based the show on her grandmother's recipes. And that led to this book, a collection of 110 recipes from many Italian "Nonna's".
And what a collection! There are a lifetime of great recipes to try.
Rago breaks the book down into sections. Appetizers, Soups and Salads, Vegetables and Sides, Pasta (OF COURSE) and First Courses, Second Courses, Pizzas Breads and Savory Bakes, Desserts, and Cookies.
So many delicious ideas! My wife and I have tried several already, and quite successfully. It gives us great pleasure to cook together. Hopefully, this book will tide us over for the next couple of years, to a time when my wife retires also, and we make the move to Italy. I can only hope that we will find our own "Nonna" there!
A great book. Kudo's to the author for preserving these recipes, before they are lost to time!
So, when NetGalley offered me a chance to read and review this book, I jumped at the opportunity. The author had her own Nonna. In fact, she jokes that she attended "Nonna's Brooklyn Basement Culinary Academy". That developed into her idea to start a cooking show, "Cooking With Nonna". She based the show on her grandmother's recipes. And that led to this book, a collection of 110 recipes from many Italian "Nonna's".
And what a collection! There are a lifetime of great recipes to try.
Rago breaks the book down into sections. Appetizers, Soups and Salads, Vegetables and Sides, Pasta (OF COURSE) and First Courses, Second Courses, Pizzas Breads and Savory Bakes, Desserts, and Cookies.
So many delicious ideas! My wife and I have tried several already, and quite successfully. It gives us great pleasure to cook together. Hopefully, this book will tide us over for the next couple of years, to a time when my wife retires also, and we make the move to Italy. I can only hope that we will find our own "Nonna" there!
A great book. Kudo's to the author for preserving these recipes, before they are lost to time!
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