Introduction
Being the one responsible for putting food on my family’s table gives me a sense of pride, and it is how I express my love for those who gather at my table.
Because it is a matter of love and affection when I prepare meals, I tend to add ingredients on whim and whimsy rather than according to instruction. That is to say, I do not typically follow formulas, but rather instinct and experience.
I do not record my recipes (actually, I have never in my life written one down until now), nor do I ever really look at other recipes for inspiration. I suspect many home cooks operate the same way: add a little bit of this or that and adjust according to taste.
So, why am I now gathering a collection of recipes that have been in my family for generations? In part, it is because of the name of the coauthor on this book, my son Frank.
I have happily spent a lifetime preparing food and caring for my family, and so when he approached me with the idea of recording my recipes, I saw it as an opportunity to spend time with my son while enjoying a lifelong passion. It would be a blessing if anything, that what I have learned over the years could be useful to someone else.
There is perhaps a notion of legacy in these pages, as well. The recipes I present here have gathered in my memory for decades; each one has at one time or another been prepared for my family or loved ones. I am humbled to remember those moments of satisfaction my children or my husband (or whomever I was cooking for) felt when they ate my food. And so, I associate memories with the meals I have prepared, and this collection is a way to honor those memories.
The other aspect of legacy is that now that I have this collection, I have something tangible to pass forward to my children and to others who may be interested in reading about the art of Italian cooking. I was not fortunate enough to have such a guide when I learned to cook, and so if these recipes are at all a help to the at-home cook, I am more than happy to share a few of my secrets.
Italian Moms – Spreading Their Art To Every Table Description:
As a wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as housekeeper and cook for those with special needs, Elisa Costantini has spent her life serving up delicious Italian meals.
Leaving Italy at the age of twenty-three, she moved to Philadelphia with her husband and young daughter. Once there, she established herself in her neighborhood and community as a wonderful neighbor, parishioner, friend…and a terrific cook of homemade Italian specialties.
In her debut cookbook, Costantini collects her tried-and-true recipes for Italian favorites in one place, sharing them with anyone who has an interest in making phenomenal meals for the people they love.
She includes easy-to-follow recipes for all the Italian classics, including antipasto, pasta, breads, pizza, main dishes, and desserts.
And unlike many fussy, complicated recipes that rely on specialized ingredients and techniques, Costantini’s rustic, authentic recipes call for only fresh, simple ingredients available at local markets. Her clear writing allows even novice cooks to bring the old-world charm of the Italian countryside to their home dining room tables.
Available now on Italianmomscooking.com
