My family is not unlike any other American family. We have a varied background. I am related to kings, queens, presidents and Native Americans. I am Italian, French, Scottish, etc. I married a Sicilian/American. So, you would think that we have similar foods that we cook, right? Well, similar, yes. However, different as well. Since my family is more varied, and our families come from different parts of Italy, you will find recipes for the same food, with a slightly different twist. It has been said that the last piece of a culture to remain, after it has been assimilated into a new country, is the food. Through time and generations, we lose track of where family traditions came from, who started certain recipes, and many of the family jokes and legends. It is very sad to think of the loss of a family member. We will always remember all of the smiles, the trips that we took together, jokes that were told, even the fights that we had. However, through time, and through the passing of generations, so much is lost. This cookbook is my attempt to keep a little piece of that family history alive...and to share it with you. Maybe you will find a piece of your family here as well.