Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a Daughter to a Dad, June 10, 2003
My father is a constant source of amazement. Since I was a young girl, he has astounded me with tales of his very modest childhood in Italy. As a newly arrived, Italian-speaking US citizen aged 13, he excelled in school, eventually winning a scholarship to university. Throughout these times he cared and cooked for his younger siblings while his parents worked - quite a humbling thought for an American-born girl who always had plenty of clothes, toys and food. It seemed to me that my father achieved the 'American Dream'. My own childhood memories are filled with family events and gatherings centred around my father's cooking and conversation and my mother's skill in presentation and entertaining. Every relative seemed to have a special recipe associated to them and I remember feeling daunted by the prospect that, one day, I would be hosting family gatherings of my own - what would I cook, how would I manage? Inevitably, the dreaded day came. How painful a process it was to cook a meal! It took me all day and I was constantly ringing home to ask my father's advice. Thanks to him, it was a success, and many more family meals followed, but I still called my dad every time to ask "how do you make this or that?" Eventually I think this prompted my father to write down all our family recipes gathered over the years. The cookbook provides a wonderful, personal memento for me, but it's also a failsafe guide to preparing and enjoying some classic, delicious and uncomplicated recipes. Mealtime gatherings will always play a huge part in our family life but it's wonderful to reflect that our family life may now impact others' mealtimes!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
from SherriAllen.com, October 29, 2004
In today's fast-paced world, the dinner choice for many is something from the nearest fast food restaurant. Fortunately for us, Tony Casillo wanted better for his daughters. Casillo wrote Tony Casillo's Family Cookbook: A Treasure Trove of Recipes and Cooking Advice From a Dad to His Daughters as a gift for his girls, to remind them how quick and easy it can be to prepare "decent, wholesome food."
Casillo's family emigrated to America from Italy when he was 12 years old, so the dishes are predominantly Italian. There are recipes for tasty, simple dishes like Bruschetta, Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil, Beef with Tomatoes, Gina's Salmon Parcels, Grandma Casillo's Zucchini, Brown Sugar Potatoes and Almond Biscotti. Osso Buco, Gina's Roast Pork with Mushrooms and Marsala, Lamb Ambruzzi Style, Elegant Livorno Fish Stew, Artichokes Roman Style and Neopolitan Ricotta Pie are some of the more elegant dishes which are perfectly suited for family celebrations. Of course, there are also recipes for great Italian classics such as Antipasto, Risotto, Lasagne, Flour Gnocchi and Zabaglione.
Part of the appeal of Tony Casillo's Family Cookbook is Casillo's relaxed attitude toward cooking. In the notes accompanying a recipe for Chicken Cacciatore, Casillo writes "if you don't like anchovies, leave them out...If you don't like olives, leave those out as well." There are variations listed for many of the recipes; eight variations are provided for Crushed Tomato Sauce alone. Casillo even includes a "basic formula for vegetable soup, so you can make your own creations." What truly makes this book a treasure, however, are the many old family photos and anecdotes sprinkled throughout the pages.
The recipes are easy to follow and Casillo's fatherly advice regarding ingredient selection and preparation is always helpful. With its emphasis on enjoying good meals as part of our everyday lives, Tony Casillo's Family Cookbook is an excellent cookbook for novices and advanced cooks alike.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't wait for the next one!, October 13, 2003
It's so wonderful to have this delicious recipe collection at last. I grew up running in and out of the Casillo family household, snacking and dining regularly at their generous table. Whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner, each dish was always a treat. This is the kind of cookbook that you will reach for time and again, week after week. Tony, thank you for sharing!
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