Reviews
From a reluctant immigrant in 1961 to a completely integrated Italian American citizen today, Constantini continues to bring new life and trends to longtime family favorites in her second cookbook . . . Her collection of 150 dishes, from antipasti to dessert, is intensely personal; not only does Constantini preface each meal course with an essay about, say, her first U.S. trip via the SS Independence but she also introduces notes from her family, as well as her own, for almost every dish. Helpful tips are found throughout: she'll advise on substitutes, feature a sidebar on truffles, or highlight the celebration of San Giuseppe and its menu. Color photographs accompany most recipes, and, helping time-starved cooks, most preparations are contained in one page or less. Some newly minted 'old' ideas: beef and polenta, fried milk bars, fried celery, nettle soup (which can be made with spinach or escarole). The best reason of all to say 'Mamma mia!' --Booklist Online (starred review)|9781454927983|, "From a reluctant immigrant in 1961 to a completely integrated Italian American citizen today, Constantini continues to bring new life and trends to longtime family favorites in her second cookbook . . . Her collection of 150 dishes, from antipasti to dessert, is intensely personal; not only does Constantini preface each meal course with an essay about, say, her first U.S. trip via the SS Independence but she also introduces notes from her family, as well as her own, for almost every dish. Helpful tips are found throughout: she'll advise on substitutes, feature a sidebar on truffles, or highlight the celebration of San Giuseppe and its menu. Color photographs accompany most recipes, and, helping time-starved cooks, most preparations are contained in one page or less. Some newly minted 'old' ideas: beef and polenta, fried milk bars, fried celery, nettle soup (which can be made with spinach or escarole). The best reason of all to say 'Mamma mia!' --Booklist (starred review) "Only a stone could resist Costantini's heartfelt sophomore effort (after Italian Moms: Spreading Their Art to Every Table ). In 1961 at age 23, Costantini left the Abruzzo for the U.S., where she would be joined by her husband, Francesco, and daughter, Nadia, 'to start a new life.' Local Italian specialties, like Abruzzo's famous 'seven virtues' soup with nearly 50 ingredients, and puff pastry fiadoni with cheese filling, are well represented, and essays about festivals and Costantini's annual tradition of making sausages with her brother couldn't be sweeter. Writing with her son Frank, she offers recipes for a sausage paella (which she argues is similar to risotto as it is prepared in Venice); spaghetti with lamb and saffron; and a shrimp and scallop casserole. . . . Costantini presents these hearty, approachable recipes with sincerity and grace." -- Publishers Weekly "Costantini's second 'Italian Moms' book, another collaboration with her son Frank, is a treasury of soulful Italian home cooking. Anyone with a grasp of basic techniques can enjoy her recipes (e.g., pancetta corn cakes, spaghetti with lamb and saffron, seafood paella), which include antipasti, pastas, soups, sides, desserts, and more. It helps to have a pasta roller for the sweet and savory pastries, some of which require dough-handling finesse. A food mill and electric stand mixer will also be useful. VERDICT Costantini blends recipes and memoir to brilliant effect. Highly recommended for readers with a taste for classic and heirloom Italian recipes." -- Library Journal, "From a reluctant immigrant in 1961 to a completely integrated Italian American citizen today, Constantini continues to bring new life and trends to longtime family favorites in her second cookbook . . . Her collection of 150 dishes, from antipasti to dessert, is intensely personal; not only does Constantini preface each meal course with an essay about, say, her first U.S. trip via the SS Independence but she also introduces notes from her family, as well as her own, for almost every dish. Helpful tips are found throughout: she'll advise on substitutes, feature a sidebar on truffles, or highlight the celebration of San Giuseppe and its menu. Color photographs accompany most recipes, and, helping time-starved cooks, most preparations are contained in one page or less. Some newly minted 'old' ideas: beef and polenta, fried milk bars, fried celery, nettle soup (which can be made with spinach or escarole). The best reason of all to say 'Mamma mia!' --Booklist Online (starred review) "Only a stone could resist Costantini's heartfelt sophomore effort (after Italian Moms: Spreading Their Art to Every Table ). In 1961 at age 23, Costantini left the Abruzzo for the U.S., where she would be joined by her husband, Francesco, and daughter, Nadia, 'to start a new life.' Local Italian specialties, like Abruzzo's famous 'seven virtues' soup with nearly 50 ingredients, and puff pastry fiadoni with cheese filling, are well represented, and essays about festivals and Costantini's annual tradition of making sausages with her brother couldn't be sweeter. Writing with her son Frank, she offers recipes for a sausage paella (which she argues is similar to risotto as it is prepared in Venice); spaghetti with lamb and saffron; and a shrimp and scallop casserole. . . . Costantini presents these hearty, approachable recipes with sincerity and grace." -- Publishers Weekly
