What Can I Bring?

A holiday multi-cultural cookbook from an Italian point of view. Quick and easy dishes one can prepare for holiday gatherings that are healthy and flavorful. This book has a heavy family theme. The chef is Isabella Morgia di Vicari, a Central Florida caterer who co-owned a premier Italian restaurant for over 20 years in Orlando. Her passion for people, family and food resonate throughout every recipe and personal story.

Here is an excerpt from her book:

"As you go through these recipes you'll see that you can use them in many different ways. In other words some of the entrees can be made into appetizers and vice versa.

Now here are a few tips on how to make these recipes even healthier;

• Use Whole Wheat Pasta.
• Reduce the amount of extra virgin olive oil.
• Add wheat germ to the recipes.
• Replace some of the unbleached flour with whole wheat flour or soy flour.
• Add beans to the salads or more of your favorite fresh vegetables Flavorful, aromatic, healthy and satisfying is what I think we should all strive for when we bring a dish to someone's home. We want "Mangiare con Sapore" - "Food with Flavor" as my Nonna Isabella use to say!

The true message I want to convey to my famiglia or friends is that I care enough to make this for you.

Sure at times it's easier to buy something already prepared, a bottle of vino, candy, and flowers. There's nothing wrong with that but when we take the time to create something well thought out, especially with them in mind, we communicate something very different. That's what I want to do. That's what I want to share with you. I'm always saying that in order to impact the lives of others we need to touch them at the "heart-string level". I believe it's there and only there where we're able to impact change or stir emotion within. I apply this mindset to all I do with famiglia, friends, business associates and my clients. Yes it's all personal to me."