Entertaining with the Sopranos
Author: Allen Rucker
Fans of a certain multi-award-winning HBO dramatic series and lovers of fine eating everywhere made The Sopranos Family Cookbook a runaway #1 bestseller, thanks to its intimate vignettes and delectable Old Country recipes. But that just got the party started. Now comes the ultimate guide to making every event the perfect occasion, served up by the Garden State's most gracious hostess, Carmela Soprano.
From graduation parties to holiday gatherings to poolside barbecues, Carmela gives you everything you need to keep your personal crew as happy as a clam in red sauce: over 75 delicious new Neapolitan-based recipes as well as scores of Soprano-approved tips on picking the ideal location, choosing tasteful decorations, whipping up the best drinks, and selecting the right music. Sweetening the festa are dozens of never-seen illustrations and insightful commentaries from Soprano relatives and intimates. You'll find "AJ" Soprano's confirmation invitation, advice on "party anxiety" from therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, a term paper by Meadow Soprano on "Why My Grandmother Can't Cook," advice from family friend Paulie Walnuts on throwing a surprise party, and much, much more.
Unsure about wine? Follow the advice of Artie Bucco, proprietor of the renowned Nuovo Vesuvio restaurant in Newark, New Jersey: "If you have steak, a 'big' meat dish, think of a 'big' red wine like a California Burgundy. I guess you could match it with a big white wine, too, but I don't know of any big white wines."
Want to surprise with a birthday gift? Model yours after what Carmela plans on giving her husband, waste management executive Tony Soprano, on his fiftieth: a Dean Martin impersonator, an outdoor screening of his favorite film, The Public Enemy, starring James Cagney, and a monogrammed putter. (But no ritzy watch. He has a dozen of them.)
Planning a wedding? Find inspiration in the vision of Carmela's sister-in-law, Janice Soprano Baccilieri: "As guests enter a cathedral of pines, they would pass an ancient wishing well where they could deposit small presents or deep thoughts about life and love. Ideally, I would love for the whole ceremony to be done in the nude, but unfortunately, the time for that kind of pagan openness has long passed."
Flustered by funerals? Heed the wise suggestions for his own wake from Tony's Uncle Corrado "Junior" Soprano: "A lot of food, no crap, a lot of homemade Bucassi vino, a nice speech from Bobby Bacala, since he was always the nicest to me of all those bums, and me singing like Caruso on the Victrola."
In Carmela's words: "What's closer to a celebration of life than celebrations? Look for them, jump into them, charger plates and all, and have a ball."
Library Journal
Soprano has "written" the second cookbook based on the characters of the popular HBO series. Rucker and Scicolone return as ghost writers and work with a format similar to their The Sopranos Family Cookbook. The swearing, blood, and gore of the TV series are not evident as Soprano suggests plans for a variety of parties-literally from birth to death. There are 75 well-thought-out recipes to accompany these occasions, from a simple Spaghetti Pie to a more difficult Easter Sweet Bread. Soprano provides many examples of Italian American culture, including the origin of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, courtesy of Natalie Del Greco of the Newark, NJ, Public Library. Other members of the extended Soprano family provide commentary on the events. Daughter Meadow recommends gifts for graduation parties-no dictionary but consumer technology or cash! Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri speaks on how to give a toast; the last suggestion, "Make it short-it's a toast-not an address to Congress." This would not be the first purchase for an Italian cookbook, but it will be popular among fans who would like to emulate the Sopranos' celebrations.-Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Read also Lo mejor para barbacoas or On the Brink
Dana Carpender's Every-Calorie-Counts Cookbook: 500 Great-Tasting, Sugar-Free, Low-Calorie Recipes That the Whole Family Will Love
Author: Dana Carpender
Dieters everywhere are realizing that weight loss is a simple equation: You have to burn more calories than you take in. Pretty simple, right? You just eat fewer calories. The problem is, most low-calorie cookbooks cut calories by cutting fat, which also means they cut nutrients and flavor! They also fill you up with unhealthy carbohydrates like sugar and white flour. No more! Dana Carpender comes to the rescue with 500 delicious and healthy low-calorie recipes that include healthy fats like olive oil and nuts and healthy carbs like brown rice and whole-wheat bread. It's the best of both worlds, and the healthiest diet imaginable, because every calorie counts in terms of nutrition. There are no empty calories from fillers with no nutritional value. These recipes are delicious and healthy and will help you lose weight for good.
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