The Jewish-Sicilian Cookbook Hardcover – March 8, 2004

Lovely cookbook! I only regret I held off ordering it. I have a tomato allergy so my first thought was "tons of tomato recipes that I can't eat". Well first, there are plenty that don't have tomato (I can't wait to try the stewed fruit and I'm not leaving the rum out!). Second, I have worked up a tomato substitute, so bring on the recipes that call for a can of tomatoes! Some folks had some heartburn because not all of the recipes were kosher. Now I keep kosher, but I have learned that Jewish on a cookbook cover doesn't indicate kosher. If the write up isn't talking about kashrut or any mention of Shabbat menus, then maybe you should ask (the publishers need to be more clear on that). That being said, I think I can convert the clam sauce into a fish sauce for tilapia pretty easily. There was another comment about using a soup mix as a seasoning. I collect cookbooks, and I can attest that a lot of old cookbooks (and the grandmothers that used them) like those seasonings. Even the Queen of Kosher, Jamie Geller, admits her husband wants the cholent with the instant soup mix, not chicken broth. The recipe is online if you want to replace it. This is the type of Italian cooking I ate when I was stationed in Italy. Once you are away from the tourist areas, the cooking is simple and yummy. It's a lovely family cookbook and it's already made it's way to the "keep when we move" pile!

I couldn't find a -5 stars. The lowest I could find was 1 Star. Read on....This is not a Jewish-Sicilian cook book. It is a combination of boring stories and Italian recipes. It is a Jewish as "Rosy O'Grady's Passover Specialties." Would any Jew buy such a piece of work? Jewish comedians excluded. They need this material more than the kitchen.Here is an example from one of the recipies entitled "....Signature Spaghetti". 1/2 Beef bouillon cube with Parmigiano-Reggiano? What Kibbutz did this author live in? And all the other Sicilians are saying rosaries over the use of "beef bouillon cube".The author does a disservice to both the Jewish and Sicilian community by trying to parade her writings under this title.Don't waste your money. The book is a sham.

This is a really lovely cookbook filled with warm stories and wonderful recipes. No, it's not a "professional" chef book. Yes, it uses items like (gasp) canned tomatoes, just like the rest of us "normal" people use in our cooking. However, that's not the point. The book is a labor of love to pass along the legacy of the people in the author's life. It's a well-told read, in and of itself, reminding me of my own family. I sat and read it cover to cover one rainy afternoon, killing a pot of coffee as I got a glimpse into the life of an actress who left Hollywood, even though she seemed to have the world by the tail. It was totally worth my time, and the recipes are just downright delicious. And yes, I enjoyed!

I wish I could return this horrible book. It’s on me for not reading the reviews though.Clams, pork, oysters? Even the remotely “kosher” recipes aren’t very good, traditional, or innovative. You could find recipes of similar in any other book.Campbell’s soups are not kosher last I checked. Bullion, as far as I know, isn’t used in authentic Italian.No pictures of food, but filled with self-serving headshots. Ugh!I wish I could give it zero stars!

I very much enjoyed the cookbook. I like cookbooks where the author talks about recipes that were passed down to them and the history behind them. A lot of the reviewers were missing the point about the purpose of Mrs. Vincent’s cookbook. It is a family cookbook with recipes from her youth and adult life. It was not meant to be a comprehensive Jewish or Sicilian recipe collection. She didn’t say it was a Kosher cookbook. I took it for what it is and found it enjoyable. I’ve tried three of the recipes so far and found them delicious.

Patricia decided to write a cookbook/scrapbook with pictures and memories of her family. The book is enjoyable to read and the recipes are easy to follow. I even wrote Pam and got her to sign the book to my wife and I.If you’re a fan of Buck Rogers or Matt Houston and remember Pam as an actress, you should buy a copy.

Full of warmth and affection. There are chapters for each relative who have given Mrs. Vincent warm memories. The recipes are down to earth - simple and delicious. When I made the Cacciatore recipe, my husband and I loved it. Her mother Gail's Baked Chicken is so simple and easy. People who think this book isn't Kosher enough missed the whole point of this book - to share wonderful memories and as Mrs. Vincent put it - "to inspire others to create their own family cookbook-scrapbook". I'm very glad I purchased it. :)

I was very excited to purchase this book and hopefully expand my repertoire of Sicilian and Jewish family recipes. The format is lovely, with the author's family history and photos throughout. However, I believe the title of "Jewish-Sicilian" is a little misleading because although the author is Jewish and Sicilian, there are several recipes that include items such as pork and shellfish. I never expected to find that in this or any other cookbook with the word "Jewish" in the title. I still think that there is value to this book, but there are several recipes that are useless to anyone who is committed to the Kosher way of eating. I just wanted to warn anyone who might be thinking that this will be a source of entirely Kosher recipes.

What a waste of time this book was!I bought it assuming it was a Sicilian Jewish cookery book with some family anecdotes.Instead I found I'd purchased a not particularly interesting, (to me), family memoir with dull and unexciting 1970s recipes. Nothing Jewish Sicilian here folks.Don't waste your time if you're looking to be inspired by a Jewish Sicilian culinary fusion.

I bought this book as a present for my sister-in-law who keeps a strictly kosher kitchen.What a let down ! This book has many recipes with pork and seafood which are not kosher.Calling this book a 'Jewish Cookbook' is misleading to say the least.Nice little stories though if this what you are after.