Jacqueline Miconi
The kitchen has always occupied an important position in Italian culture. It is not only the place where cooking is done, but it's usually the center of most household activity; a place to gather and socialize, a place to bond and reminisce, and of course a place where many great chefs are born.
Celebrate....Italian Style, is a collection of recipes and stories about Italian life. With amusing selections, such as "An Italian Wedding", "Neighborhood Watchdogs", "Gramma's Other Half" and "An Italian Christmas and the Tale of the Fishes", this cookbook brings us back to simpler times of tradition and heritage and how friends and family unite through food.
This "Coffee Table" cookbook includes 100+ traditional recipes, using readily available ingredients for dishes that are not only easy to create, but even more enjoyable to indulge in. This unique cookbook is divided into 10 different chapters, discussing the celebrations that make up our lives. Through chapters like "Sunday Dinner", "An Italian Christmas", "Old Country Cooking" and "A Feast with your Paisani", this cookbook offers up some excellent recipe selections, while sharing stories from the author's rich heritage.
Included in the book are favorites which include: Antipasti Squares, Sunday Gravy, Lasagna, Chicken Saltimboca, Italian Meatloaf, Zuppa di Pesce, Sole Florentine, Braised Artichokes, Zucchini Parmesan, Cannolis, Ricotta Pie and many more....
It is these celebrations that unite us, and it is the food at these occasions that tie us together, creating memories that can last a lifetime.
Jacqueline Miconi is the author of 2 Italian cookbooks, "Recipes from the Italian Village...with wine guide" and "Celebrate ...Italian Style". She is also a proud 3rd generation Italian American. Her great grandparents came to America from small Southern Italian towns, through Ellis Island in the early 1900's and settled along the Eastern seaboard. Raised in a typical Italian family, in East Haven, Connecticut (which was reported in 2002 to be the town with the second largest population of Italians per capita in the country) in an atmosphere made up predominately of individuals with Italian roots, things such as family, friends and of course cooking were deemed extremely important.
It was at an early age that she realized her love for the creative arts. She contributed various articles to school newspapers, and in college excelled in her Creative Writing course. And it was when she began teaching English to 11th and 12th graders, that her interest in writing truly began to flourish. So once her son was born and she was a stay at home mom for some time, it was the perfect opportunity for her to focus on her writing.
Her interest and knowledge of Italian culture, traditions and cooking offered her many opportunities. She has held discussions and signings for Barnes & Noble, Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodges, libraries and a number of Italian festivals. She also had an appearance on a regional television program.
Aside from loving to cook and write, she has been an educator for close to 10 years. She enjoys entertaining and hosting any type of gathering. She also enjoys drawing, painting, traveling and mostly spending time with family and friends.
She currently resides in North Branford, Connecticut with her husband Pat and her 2 children, Patrick, age 6 and Jada, age 4.
Espresso Brownies
Espresso, a strong black coffee is one of the signature drinks among Italians. The addition of this finely ground coffee to a delicious brownie mix makes this dessert unable to resist!
1 package fudge brownie mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1/2 tablespoon instant espresso
Cool Whip
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 40 foil cupcake liners on a cookie sheet. Combine brownie mix, eggs, water, oil, coffees and cinnamon. Stir until well blended. Fill each cupcake liner with about 2 tablespoons batter. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Insert a toothpick, until it comes out clean. Cool completely. Garnish with whipped topping and a dash of cinnamon. Refrigerate until serving.
Excerpt from "The September Fields"
"....In Italian culture, wine is welcome at most, to all occasions. When my uncle Joe came home from his stint as a marine in World War II, his father immediately brought him to the dirst floored cellar and showed him where to dig to find the special vintage that was awaiting his homecoming. For my husband's grandfather, he used his wine to weed out who would and who would not be part of their inner circle. He would lure many of his son's friends down to the cellar where the wine was stored, with the promise that they would be tasting the best wine they've ever had. He would then present them with a few glasses of his potent brew. And for those of us who have tasted homemade wine, you're aware of the quickly numbing effects. So pretty much, if you were able to drink all of the wine he presented you with, you passed the first part of the test. And if you were able to make your way back up the stairs on your own accord, you passed test number two, and you were 'in', and accepted by Grandpa Luigi. His wine certainly brought him much joy. Not only did he share it with other people, he many times shared it with the animals that would visit his yard. Specifically, the blackbirds. Now, back in the 40's and 50's, times were still hard for many. But Luigi did his part in getting food for his family. So when money was low, with 9 children to feed, Luigi would soak some Italian bread in his wine and throw it out to the blackbirds. They would come and eat the bread and eventually topple over drunk. He would then go out, collect the birds, and well, let's just say they've made their way into many a stew or in the middle of a board of polenta. But as Luigi would say, "At least they diea happy". "
Excerpt from "The Italian Clubs"
"....More often than not, immigrant men set sail from Italy, arriving at the Eastern ports of America with a dream in mind. These 'birds of passage' as they were called, traveled alone, or with brothers, cousins or friends. All, with the hope to make some money, then finally send for their loved ones to come and join them...with the ultimate goal being to one day return to their beloved Italia. But once here, they found their homes in the slums of the cities of their new country. They lived in cramped quarters; many together, getting menial pay, but never asking for, nor wanting a hand out. They wanted to make it one their own.....So here, their solace came from the bons and ties they created with their fellow countrymen...."
Excerpt from "Growing Up in my Own Little Italy"
"Growing up an Italian kid in an Italian world, was definitely an experience. For those of us who grew up Italian American, it was almost as if we were part of a secret society of sorts, that outsiders just didn't or couldn't understand. But we, we understood just fine. We understood the unique hand gestures of our fellow paisani; for us, we were never offended, nor did we consider it rude for 5 people to be talking at one time at the dinner table. The loud pounding voices of fellow Italians, many times left a ringing in the ear, but what did we care...they knew what we all knew; the louder you are, the chances are better that you will be heard. We knew to stand back when Aunt Angie was excited about something, because we might get nailed (by accident, of course), by a flailing hand...we just can't help but talk with our hands moving. We also had tons of aunts and uncles. But for us, most of them weren't really related...we had many 'family members' who weren't really family. The loyalty among friends and family in this culture is like few others. For us, it was a privledge to be a member of this association and brotherhood. Out lives truly revolved around our family, friends, food, tradition and the neighborhood...."
