MSI Press Blog

  AN INTERESTING AND INSIGHTFUL READ Says Readers' Favorite about From Tuscany with Love by Lauretta Avina:  Our roots, where we were born, define who we are. But so do the foods we prepare and share amongst family and friends. In Lauretta Avina’s From Tuscany with Love , we follow the author as she shares her life, first in Tuscany and then in the United States. As the family became part of the melting pot of immigrant America, this Tuscan family maintained their love of the traditions they left behind in the Old World. A big part of these traditions revolved around food. As the memoir unfolds, so do the recipes that define the author. “As my family and I embraced our new life in the United States, we also carried with us the rich traditions and memories of our Italian heritage.” Lauretta Avina’s book, From Tuscany with Love: Recipes and Remembrances of an Immigrant Child , is a memoir told in stories and through recipes of the foods the author loves. The author shares her s...

  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...

AN EXTRAORDINARY READ FROM START TO FINISH Says MidWest Book Review of From Tuscany with Love by Lauretta Avina:  A fascinating combination of cookbook and memoir, From Tuscany with Love  is an extraordinary read from start to finish. The recipes are as authentic as Lauretta Avina's life lessons learned as she relates her personal life story and the role that family ethnicity and Tuscan approach to food played in that story. The recipes are 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, the life story parts and eloquent and emotionally engaging. The result is the Laurette Avina memoir, From Tuscany With Love is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Biography/Memoir and Ethnic Cookbook/Italian collections. Read the full review HERE . 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. Throug...

  WARM-HEARTED AND ENGAGING Says Rose City Reader of  From Tuscany with Love  by Lauretta Avina:  The book isn't a slick production, but it is warmhearted and engaging. I love it and can't wait to try the recipes.    Read the full review   HERE . 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. Keywords: Tuscany memoir, Italian cooking, cookbook, immigrant biography, culinary biography, Italian heritage book, family reci...