MSI Press Blog

  June 11 marks National German Chocolate Cake Day, a day dedicated to the beloved dessert with its rich layers of chocolate cake, coconut-pecan frosting, and delicate balance of sweetness and texture. But despite its name, German Chocolate Cake isn’t actually German—at least, not in origin. A Misleading Name with an American Story The cake owes its name to Samuel German, an American baker who developed a dark baking chocolate for Baker’s Chocolate Company in 1852. The product, called "German’s Chocolate," gained popularity, and more than a century later, a Dallas newspaper published a recipe using the chocolate in a layered cake with coconut-pecan frosting. The recipe spread like wildfire, and thus, German Chocolate Cake was born—not from Germany, but from an inventive American kitchen. A Perfect Dessert for Any Occasion There’s something undeniably comforting about this cake. The rich but balanced sweetness, the chew of coconut, the crunch of pecans—every bite is a cele...

Here is another book review of From Tuscany with Love by Lauretta Avina, a newly released book that has been on the Amazon top 100 lists in several categories. "I never had a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye, but this one did. I have known Lauretta for over 40 years. I grew up in Gilroy, and we met in theater at our high school. I was also a shy kid trying to fit in. Her story brought back my own bittersweet memories of finding my way. I did not realize the depth of her experience until I read her book. That is how her story is simultaneously unique and universal. Different from yours or mine, but also the same. Reaching out through the delightful aroma of fresh baked biscotti, weaving in world history, sharing happiness and heartache, and tapping into the place that makes us human. Lauretta is proudly passionate about life. About family, cooking, justice for the voiceless, and about her love for Italy. As I was reading, I could hear every word in Lauretta's own voice. ...

  MSI Press author, Lauretta Avina ( From Tuscany with Love)  was recently featured in the "Eat Drink, Savor" column of Benitolink . Book Description: From Tuscany with Love  is an emotional memoir capturing the heartfelt journey of a scared, little girl from the rolling hills of Lucca to the bustling life in America. Through evocative stories and cherished family recipes, the author pays tribute to the rich culture, love, and flavors that shaped her life. This memoir beautifully blends personal reflections on family, resilience, and the timeless traditions of Tuscan cuisine, offering readers a deeply personal and flavorful look at an immigrant's path to finding a home and a sense of belonging in a new world. A Reviewer's Comment: "a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye" I never had a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye, but this one did. [Lauretta's] story is simultaneously unique and universal. Different from yours or mine, but also the same. Reac...

  This is one book we cannot keep in stock:  From Tuscany with Love   (Avina). For a full week or more it wore Amazon's red #1 banner (immigrant biographies).  According to Lauretta, she sold out of her the books she had taken with her for the book signing at Calvera Coffee in Hollister, CA. Way to go! Book Description: From Tuscany with Love  is an emotional memoir capturing the heartfelt journey of a scared, little girl from the rolling hills of Lucca to the bustling life in America. Through evocative stories and cherished family recipes, the author pays tribute to the rich culture, love, and flavors that shaped her life. This memoir beautifully blends personal reflections on family, resilience, and the timeless traditions of Tuscan cuisine, offering readers a deeply personal and flavorful look at an immigrant's path to finding a home and a sense of belonging in a new world. A Reviewer's Comment: "a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye" I never had a co...