Benvenuti!

I was born on a warm summer night of 1986 in a small town in Northern Italy. Throughout my childhood, I spent a great deal of time with my grandmother, “Nonna Sandra”. Like the vast majority of Italian grandmothers, she happened to be an excellent cook...

It was a rainy day in the Fall of 1991 and I refused to help Nonna Sandra in the kitchen. I remember that day well, because it was my first and last attempt. She stood directly in front of me, wiped her flour-covered hands onto her apron and placed them high on her hips. She stared straight into my eyes, and yelled,

“VUOI SPOSARTI UN GIORNO? PERCHÉ NESSUNO TI SPOSERÀ MAI SE NON SAI CUCINARE! FILA IN CUCINA! SUBITO!”

Translation: “Do you want to get married someday? Because no one will ever marry you if you cannot cook! Get in the kitchen! Now!” (It sounds even scarier in Italian, I promise you!)

This was enough to make me shake in fear. Contradicting Nonna Sandra was always a very bad idea. And, after all, I was five years old and wanted to be a Princess (or an Olympic gymnast, depending on the day) which I assumed would require a husband. No cooking, no Prince Charming? That day, at five years old, I took my Nonna’s words to heart. I wanted to become marriage material. I was on a mission – I had to learn how to cook.

I soon became Nonna Sandra’s shadow in the kitchen, collecting little cuts on my small fingers and light burns on my thin arms - battlescars I proudly showed off at every occasion. Eventually, when at eighteen years old I left Italy to go to college in the United States, all those hours spent sautéing onions and peeling potatoes began to pay off.

During my freshman year, I amazed my friends by making delicious Italian entrees in my room, armed solely with the typical dorm amenities: a microwave and a toaster oven. To my surprise, my college friends still rave about the food I would cook amongst our books and laptops, as if the meals I made had been delivered straight from a five-star restaurant. Italian food is very simple and genuine; while pleasing college kids’ palates may not be a very difficult task, what one can put together with a handful of basic ingredients and a few appliances is certainly quite amazing.

To put it in Leonardo Da Vinci’s words,

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"

It turns out that Nonna Sandra was right – cooking is definitely an appealing skill to have when in search of a male companion. On June 26, 2010, under the proud look of my grandma, I became the spouse of Eddie McDonough, a very sweet, intelligent - and extremely good looking American young man who went even beyond my Prince Charming expectations. While I sincerely hope my husband’s decision to share his life with me was not based solely on my cooking skills, I am confident that my crespelle and homemade pizza impressed him more than any sexy lingerie.

So I have a thing or two to share about what my Nonna (and my mamma!) have taught me over the years. I promise to show you that making succulent dishes such as risotto can be as simple as following the directions on a box of macaroni and cheese: Except that risotto tastes so much better! Every recipe that follows has step-by-step instructions and includes a complete list of equipment needed to prepare the best Italian dishes. Most of the meals presented are very basic and require easy-to-find ingredients. The secret to Italian cooking is investing in a few quality ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs, and keeping the dishes simple. After a few hours spent in the kitchen, you will also become aware of the extraordinary importance of your own personal touch. Follow your gut (literally), and feel free to adapt every recipe to your own taste.

Above all, the most important lesson one can learn about food – Italian or not – is that it is a simple and wonderful way to share some precious time with those we love, and show how much we adore them. Between spoons of homemade minestrone soup, you will enjoy precious moments of joy and affection... and find the way to people’s hearts over and over again!

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