For those of us not lucky enough to grow up in our Sicilian grandmother's kitchen in Little Italy, this lively book is the next best thing--a vibrant collection of authentic Italian family recipes and memories related with warmth and humor by Francesca Romina. Interspersed with more than 150 recipes are antique family photographs and charming tales about the adventures, trials, and exploits of Francesca's extended family and friends, as well as tales from the old country. Her grandmother's favorite pizza recipe recalls the origins of pizza parlors in Chicago, while her savory fava and pea soup takes us all the way back to her native village in Sicily. The dishes are often simple, but with the distinctive touches only generations of tradition can create. These are tried-and-true recipes for genuine comfort foods, accompanied by invaluable cooking advice passed down from one master cook to the next. Picturesque turn-of-the-century Little Italy comes boldly to life in this wonderful memoir-cookbook.