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Book Reviews: From the Family Kitchen, and Fine Cooking Italian

October 18, 2012 By A Spoonful of Sugar - 4 Comments

Books are the perfect gift to both give and receive. Whether it be novels, craft or cooking books – we love them all. We have a couple of titles today that will interest home cooks and would make terrific gifts for Christmas.

From the Family Kitchen: Discover Your Food Heritage and Preserve Favorite Recipes by Gena Philibert-Ortega, is all about gathering and preserving family recipes for future generations  This book is in a journal style with three parts. The first part is all about discovering your family’s food heritage, food traditions from your country of origin, food throughout time, the evolution of cookbooks, and how to find your ancestors recipes. If you are interested in food and its origins you will be fascinated with the content. Part two looks back at historical recipes and helps you decipher vintage cooking terms, measuring charts etc. It also includes vintage advice on dining and cleaning, and a some historical recipes. Part 3 is a Recipe Journal for you to record you own family recipes.

If you are interested in food, in family’s, and in genealogy, this book will inspire you to record and preserve your family’s food memories and recipes for future generations.

Book Details:
Format:         Hardback, 205 pages
ISBN:            9781440318276
Publisher:       Family Tree Books
RRP:              $29.99

From the Family Kitchen is available from Fishpond, and  Booktopia, You can find a google preview on Fishpond.

Fine Cooking Italian: 200 Recipes for Authentic Italian Food provides plenty of mouthwatering menu options for lovers of Italian food. The book features plenty of step-by-step photos to explain new techniques, as well as loads of tips and tricks to achieve a great result. The book is a compilation of recipes from some of USA’s top Italian chefs.

The book is divided into the following chapters:

  • starters, salads, and soups
  • pizza, calzone, and stromboli
  • pasta
  • main courses
  • polenta and risotto
  • sides
  • desserts
Some of the recipes that caught my eye include: grilled pizza with tomato-balsamic sauce, chicken and eggplant; lamb shank and sweet pepper ragu over pappardelle; butternut squash risotto with bacon and sage;  and lemon curd soufflés.  For more photos and recipes, check out the google preview on Fishpond.
Book Details:
Format:       Paperback, 252 pages
ISBN:         9781600854309
Publisher:    The Taunton Press
RRP:           $24.99

Disclaimer: Please note that we are not paid to write book reviews but we do receive a review copy of the book from distributors/publishers. We are affiliates of Fishpond. 

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Comments

  1. ~ko says

    October 18, 2012 at 4:52 am

    I just found two answers for Christmas gifts! Love these reviews, especially the From the Family Kitchen! Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Rubbish disposal Sydney says

    October 19, 2012 at 1:51 am

    nice blog

    Reply
  3. Rubbish disposal Sydney says

    October 19, 2012 at 1:52 am

    nice blog

    Reply
  4. Gena Philibert-Ortega says

    October 19, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Thanks so much for reviewing my book From the Family Kitchen. I appreciate it!–Gena

    Reply

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A lot can change in 10 years ❤️ It’s been fun look A lot can change in 10 years ❤️ It’s been fun looking back at where I was in 2016 and how far life has come since then. Swipe for a little trip down memory lane.Back in 2016, my priorities were firmly centred around family. I was working full‑time, sewing in the guest room, sharing tutorials on my blog, and slowly dipping my toes into selling a handful of patterns on Etsy. It was a busy, full season — and creativity was something I fitted in around everything else.  Fast forward to 2026… I’m now retired and living the creative life I once dreamed of. My kids have grown up and are living in their own homes nearby. My husband and I are free to travel, explore, and enjoy this stage of life. And I get to spend my days designing, sewing, and connecting with this beautiful community.Life looks different now — in the best possible way.Were you following me back then, or what has changed for you over the past 10 years? I’d love to hear your story too.Tagging the lovely makers of my quilt: @arabesquescissors @ministryoffabric @belloquacity @alittlepatchwork @sameliasmum coleandtaffy @quiltymamaof4 @shequiltsalot @downgrapevinelane @lizzierosesews @lovethatfabric @sew_mimi.k #2026isthenew2016 #10yeartransformation #sewingjourney #sewingcommunity #aspoonfulofsugardesigns
Fall in love with sewing all over again ❤️I’ve Fall in love with sewing all over again ❤️I’ve rounded up 10 heart‑themed makes — from quick gifts to charming quilt blocks — perfect for weekend stitching or using up your favourite scraps. Whether you’re sewing for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or just because, there’s something sweet for every maker.Comment HEART and I’ll send you a link to my Heart Pattern Collection.#sewingproject #heartsewing #quiltblock #scrapsewing #easytosew
Raw edge appliqué doesn’t have to feel fiddly or i Raw edge appliqué doesn’t have to feel fiddly or intimidating. With a few simple techniques, you can create neat, crisp shapes — even tiny details like penguin beaks and hearts.I’ve put together My Top 5 Secrets for Raw Edge Appliqué to help you feel confident, whether you’re brand new to appliqué or looking to refine your finish. Save this for your next sewing session.If you’d love a quick, beginner‑friendly project to practise these tips, my Penguin Love Mugrug is the sweetest Valentine’s make — scrap‑friendly, gift‑ready, and such fun to sew.Comment PENGUIN and I’ll send you the link to the pattern. Available now in our Pattern Store and Etsy shop.  #rawedgeapplique #appliquetips #sewingtipsandtricks #mugrugpattern #penguinlove
If you’ve ever wanted to add eyelets or grommets t If you’ve ever wanted to add eyelets or grommets to your sewing projects, here’s a quick look at how I install them using my DK93 snap press. It’s the same tool I use for snaps — and it makes installing eyelets beautifully quick and consistent.For this Ribbon Pouch, I used the Liberty Gifts from the Garden collection (printed on Lasenby cotton and released in January 2026). The colours and motifs pair so well with the little ribbon tie detail.Here’s how to install the eyelets:Punch out the four holes using a hole‑cutting die.Place the eyelet into the hole.Press it into place using the snap press.That’s it — easy peasy, and it gives the pouch such an elevated, professional finish. I love how clean and sturdy the result is.Fabric is Gifts from the Garden by Liberty - kindly provided by @regent_street_fabrics — thank you!If you’d like the Ribbon Pouch pattern (it comes in 3 sizes), comment RIBBON and I’ll send the link straight to you.Ribbon Pouch Sewing Pattern: available in our Pattern Store and Etsy shop ( links in profile).#SewingInspiration #SewingProjects #Eyelets #Grommets #SnapPress
The Twirling Treasures Hot Pad & Placemat Set show The Twirling Treasures Hot Pad & Placemat Set showcases one of my favourite FPP designs — a stunning kaleidoscope‑style block that always turns out beautifully. Kaleidoscope blocks are some of my most popular FPP patterns, and this set is such a fun way to use them.  This set includes six sizes, making it incredibly versatile: use them as hot pads, trivets, placemats, or simply as a way to add a pop of colour to your kitchen.For these samples, I went with a monochromatic scrap‑busting approach, pairing fabrics from the same colour family with a low‑volume background. The black‑and‑white striped binding adds such a crisp, modern finish. It’s a wonderful project for building your FPP confidence — and a fantastic way to use up those treasured scraps.The Twirling Treasures Hot Pad set is our Pattern of the Week. It is currently 25% off this week in our Pattern Store and Etsy Shop.If you’d like to sew your own set, comment TWIRL and I’ll send the pattern link straight to you.Happy sewing! Lisa 🌸#FoundationPaperPiecing #Quilting #HotPads #ScrapBuster #KitchenSewing
The Ribbon Pouch is one of those little makes that The Ribbon Pouch is one of those little makes that feels special from the very first stitch. I made this sweet trio in the Liberty Gifts from the Garden collection, and the colours couldn’t be more perfect for gifting, organising, or adding a little beauty to your everyday.Each pouch features: 🌼 A simple ribbon tie closure 🎀 Optional sew‑in tags or DIY felt/fabric labels 🧵 Three practical sizes — perfect for notions, treats, or small gifts ✨ A quick, beginner‑friendly sewIf you’d like to make your own, comment RIBBON and I’ll send the pattern link straight to your inbox. Save this for your next weekend project — it’s such a satisfying little sew. Pattern is available in our Pattern Store.Thanks to @regent_street_fabric for the Gifts from the Garden fabric collection. (released Jan 2026)#SewingInspiration #SewingProjects #LibertyFabric #SewingPatterns #BeginnerSewing
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