Sophia Loren's Recipes and Memories

In good condition but I was unaware that the book cover was missing. Had I known, I would have searched for one that included it.

The dust jacket was discolored / faded - I know this because I have another copy of it. Also it was inscribed with a personal message. I think the descriptions should include that information in case it is meant to be a gift.

Wonderful book---great recipes and photos of her family with a bit of her family stories included...I love it. Also in great condition from seller as advertised.

I love cooking the recipes in this book because they require few ingredients and cook with little preparation. The rustic simplicity of these recipes resonates very well with her childhood and adolescent memories. You get the feeling that the poverty that she endured in her youth has now tempered to only warm memories with time, but you can still read the hunger and deprivation between the lines. She is so gracious! You really feel as if she is handing you her family recipes. I was never a big fan of hers(too young to enjoy her movies) but I appreciate her so much more--she reveals so much if you read between the lines. One of my favorite recipes is spaghetti with lemon. I didn't have any cream so I used butter instead. Came out great. Took absolutely no time to prepare.

I loved the book and the receipes are easy to follow and they are good to eat too. I love to cook and since I am Italian and my grandparents came from Naples I really enjoyed this cook book

Beauty is the theme that runs through "Sophia Loren's Recipes & Memories." The beauty of Italy, whether it be Genoa or Naples, and the beauty of Ms. Loren, and her family, and friends, shine in this wonderful cookbook. It is a Latin custom to share food, recipes, memories, stories, and smiles when one is in la cucina. Ms. Loren is a very down-to-earth cook, and she invites you into her kitchen to share her recipes and memories. She wants to confide the "piccoli secreti" ("little secrets") of her table, her cooking, and her kitchen. She shows treasured photos and her famous zest for life; to her, "family is sacred."These recipes are authentic. I have tested several of them and find them to be excellent. The recipes are minimalist and leave plenty of room for improvisation, so you can substitute seasonal fresh ingredients or add your own version of a dish to hers. Although this cookbook has meat and meatless recipes, I have found that many of the traditional meat-based recipes may be adapted for a vegetarian without much fuss. Most of the recipes have full-color pictures, with beautiful food styling. Many of the recipes reflect Ms. Loren's Neapolitan heritage. She offers "Ragù alla Napoletana" (Neapolitan Stuffed Beef Rolls and Sauce), which is a classic meal for Sunday family dinners. The making of the ragù, or sauce, is a ritual in the Italian kitchen. For vegetarians, there are two wonderful recipes: "Spaghetti con Salsa al Pomodoro Semplice" (Spaghetti with Basic Tomato Sauce) and "Spaghetti con Pomodoro Crudo" (Spaghetti with Uncooked Tomato Sauce.)This cookbook offers recipes and guidelines for preparing everything from Antipasti to Dolci. One can use this book to make an authentic Italian dinner, with all the courses, from start-to-finish. Here is one of my favorite meals for casual entertaining, with recipes taken from Ms. Loren's book: Antipasti ("Melone e Prosciutto" e "Bruschetta"); Zuppa ("Il Minestrone"); Il primo ("Linguine con Salsa Sophia"); Il secondo ("Agnello Bella Napoli"); Dolce ("Torte di Ricotta.")While Ms. Loren's cookbook does favor Neapolitan specialities, such as pizza, baccalà, and tirami-sù, she also offers classic recipes from Rome, Genoa, and Sicily."La cucina sfiziosa" is "the whimsy kitchen." "Sfizioso, -a" is a colorful Neapolitan word that Ms. Loren defines on page 178 as ". . . that little extra touch that takes a dish beyond its traditional form and adds a hint of fancy, sparking the curiosity and satisfying the most difficult palate." I enjoy the spirit, imagination, creativity, and love that I find in these recipes and memories. Grazie Sophia Loren, la belleza della cucina e del cinema!

The book is filled with loads of recipes for the novice as well as a seasoned cook. I am a vegetarian and I found many recipes that meet my requirements. There is a large variety of recipes, most of which you could serve to your family or to company. The pictures and info on Sophia over the years is a bonus. I recommend the book to anyone who enjoys Italian cuisinne