MSI Press Blog

   Today's Publisher's Pride is From Tuscany with Love  by Lauretta Avina, which reached the following sales rankings on Amazon: #1 in hot new releases emigrant & immigrant biographies #3 in hot new releases in Italian cooking #93 in hot new releases in cookbooks, food & wine #21 in emigrant & immigrant biographies [this is all books historically published in this category list] #34 in emigration & immigration studies #55 in culinary biographies & memoirs 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 lo...

  Released today: Ebook edition of From Tuscany with Love by Lauretta Avina. Book description: Lauretta Avina, an Italian American immigrant, has a deep passion for sharing good food with family and friends. Her first cookbook, Ricette del Mio Paese, came out in 2011. Lauretta is the founder and president of the Franca Barsi Memorial Scholarship, created to honor her late sister, a victim of domestic violence. In addition to her advocacy for domestic violence victims, she is a staunch supporter of military veterans and their families. She also advocates for students in her role as a Guidance Technician at her local high school. Lauretta enjoys preparing delicious meals, often using vegetables and spices from her husband's garden. She is well-known in her community especially for her Lasagna alla Lucchese and her Biscotti. Endorsement:  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 ...

  You would be surprised where you might find some unique -- and tasty -- recipes. Some of more interesting books have some special recipes tucked inside them. See, for example... Dia de Muertos . Ever wonder how to make some of those yummy Day of the Dead treats? Sula has the recipes for you! Syrian Folktales . Muna has included more than a folktale from each region of Syria; she has also included recipes from each region of Syria. Maybe this is one of the reasons that this is one of our best-selling books. Girl, You Got This! -- you might be surprised -- contains healthy recipes for mothers-to-be who are paying involved in fitness activities. HOWEVER, unlike Amazon's stubborn classification of The Optimistic Food Addict as a cookbook, it is anything but. Dr. Fisanick, the author, shares personal stories of coping with overeating and provides much self-help and guidance to readers. There is not one recipe there! (Seek instead, recipes in the books listed above.) But, should be i...

  Today's book back story is about the (today) timely book,  Syrian Folktales   by Muna Imady . From the publisher: Muna Imady, sister of Omar Imady and daughter of Elaine Imady, both of whom have published through MSI Press, was a teacher of English in Damascus, collector of recipes, and recorder of Syrian folktales that she gathered at the feet of her grandmother. These tales have captured the attention of readers all over the world. Unfortunately, Muna unexpectedly died from heart surgery a couple of years after the book was release, and her next book, Damascus amid the War , was published posthumously.  Book Description: This delightful book relates folktales from various regions of Syria. Each folktale is located on a regional map and is accompanied by a local, related recipe.  The stories in the book have been adapted to theater by a regional company in Massachusetts.  They live beyond the boundaries of time, as does now the book and its author. CONTE...

Kitchen Chaos My mommy is a very nice mommy, but she is a very bad cook. When my sister needed to take some deviled eggs to Rain­bow Girls’ meeting, my mommy made them. Mommy didn’t re­ally want to make them. She wanted to find some place to buy them. However, the leader of the Rainbow Girls’ chapter told Mommy that they were asking all the mommies to make, not buy, the food contributions in order to set a good example for the girls in the chapter. Some example! Against her better judgment and protesting all the way, my sister, Fawn, took them to her meeting. We all knew what would happen. Sure enough, Fawn came back home with all the eggs except one. After one person had tasted one of the eggs, no one else wanted to eat them. Mommy said she did not understand what the problem was. She had made only one small change to the recipe. Since she did not have any paprika, she used some­thing that she thought would be okay because it looked very much like paprika: cayenne peppe...