About This Cookbook

This book is dedicated to our families who contributed to it. In the beginning when I learned to cook, we all lived near one another in the country, and, for the most part, used the same recipes. We still have a lot of old “stand bys” that we all use. Now our families have grown and moved to various parts of the country. This has added a new dimension to our cooking and made it even more interesting. Also, the many prepared foods now available enables us to build on the old ideas and be more creative

I am grateful to Gerald who always encouraged me and was willing to try all my experiments and cooking adventures. Without that support, I would not have developed the interest in cooking that I have.

Most of the old recipes are in this book because we don’t want to loose them. You have reminded me of many of them in your correspondence. Many have been added that I have gathered and all the great ones you have sent. Thank you very much. It’s been great hearing from all of you. I hope you enjoy the book and that it inspires you in the “art” of cooking.

First Edition Published 1997 (Cooking My Way), Second Edition Published 2003 (Cooking Our Way), and Web Site Edition Published 2007 (www.cookingourway.net)

Special thanks to Frances and Silvio Coppa whose kindness and skill made this a much better presentation.

Photos contributed by: Giovanni Coppa, Katherine Parks, Jerry Mitchell, Lisa Lamb, Frances and Silvio Coppa.