Sticking with the Italian theme, I received a new collection of recipes compiled by the Italian-American Civic League called Dalla Cucina alla Cucina (“From kitchen to kitchen”). The league, dedicated to preserving and celebrating Italian culture in Utah, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, and Dalla Cucina alla Cucina contains many recipes which serve as a link to the past. Some are recipes passed down from generation to generation and here, for the first time, written down. According to League President Cheryl Slaugh, many Italian cooks never wrote down recipes. Her own mom would tell her to add an ingredient “until it looks right,” what she calls the “you’ll know” method of cooking. Dalla Cucina alla Cucina is mostly but not all Italian recipes. Each chapter begins with a page of truly “Helpful Hints” such as: “To keep hot oil from splattering, sprinkle a little salt or flour in the pan before frying.” Among my favorite recipes here are Bette Jo Kirk’s Rice Balls, Jinger LaGuardia’s Polenta with Gorgonzola, and Marianne Agudo’s Chicken Piccata. Buy your copy for $11.50 at ItalianAmericanCivicLeague.com or by calling 699-3655.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Cannella, one of Salt Lake City’s original small business owners. Our deep sympathy goes out to the Cannella family.
Quote of the week: One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.
—Luciano Pavarotti
Send Food Matters info to teds@xmission.com.
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