Sicilian-American Pasta: 99 Recipes You Can't Refuse [Paperback]

John Penza (Author), Tony Corsi (Author), Miriam Dougenis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

Penza and Corsi offer a warm, appreciative look at Sicilian cooking as it has been modified by generations of cooking in America. Rich in history and shaped by innovation, these 99 recipes represent a blend of centuries of delicate variation and their refinements of modern cooking techniques.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sicilian cooking is unique and apart from the rest of Italian cuisine: that's the message of a cookbook which features over ninety strong recipes spiced with family anecdotes. From a low-fat Tomato, Basil and Almond Pesto to an unusual Spaghetti with Fruit and Nuts, this packs in terrific flavors. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898156211
• ISBN-13: 978-0898156218
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,325,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the price used, September 2, 2004

By 

Mitch Baywatch (Brighton, NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Sicilian-American Pasta: 99 Recipes You Can't Refuse (Paperback)

After a brief but helpful introduction, the authors provide 99 recipes in three main sections: vegetables (55), meat (18) and fish (26). The sections are further divided by ingredients, so you get three cauliflower recipes in a row, and, later, two with scallops, and so on. I'm personally appreciative of the number of bean/legume recipes (10), and there are several good ideas for pesto and lasgane sprinkled throughout.

The recipes range from very easy to mildly challenging, but the authors do not cut corners with ingredients. There's no garlic powder or canned crushed tomatoes here (canned peeled are okay). The illustrations by Miriam Dougens are nice, but I always prefer photos. This book will not lie open and flat on its own.

EDIT: also, there's no index.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Friendly, Fun, and Really Good, February 29, 2000

By 

Margot Comstock - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sicilian-American Pasta: 99 Recipes You Can't Refuse (Paperback)

Out of a selection of nearly a dozen books on Italian cooking, Penza & Corsi's book steps forward with a friendly smile and warm handshake. No airs, no yuppie insistance on unknown ingredients rise up to cow the cook. If some ingredients aren't always available, Penza & Corsi tell you what to do instead. They make new recipes easy in every respect--not because they're overly simple, but because the authors make them seem so. The results are delicious. By all means, try it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding cookbook overall., October 18, 1999

By 

Marta E. Schlapp (Plano, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sicilian-American Pasta: 99 Recipes You Can't Refuse (Paperback)

Coming from Long Island, New York, I grew up on southern Italian cooking and I am still a great fan of it. I brought "Sician American Pasta:99 Recipes You Can't Refuse" a few years ago and it turned out to be one of my best buys in cook books. This is because there are so many excellent recipes packed in one cook book that I have used and have turned out great. John Penza & Tony Corsi have written a little gem in the area of cooking in general and it is more than worth the price you pay.