Louisiana Italians, Foods, Recipes & Folkways

For over three decades, Nancy Wilson collected anecdotes and recipes from Louisianas Italian immigrants, including her family and friends, as a way to preserve her childrens Italian heritage. Included here alongside lively personal commentary are historical and cultural facts about Italian American immigration patterns, religious institutions and festivals such as St. Josephs Day, and over one hundred recipes from the old country. This collectable volume will appeal as much to cultural historians as to those seeking their Italian grandmothers fava bruschetta instructions. Recipes include Mamas Italian Bread, eggplant casserole, olive salad, Aunt Lenas Ricotta, rosary cake, osso bucco, St. Josephs Day breadcrumbs, and more. Wilson also includes a glossary and an illustrated how-to for making your own mud oven to bake authentic Italian bread. The down-to-earth voices collected in Louisianas Italians, Food, and Folkways make this an interesting blend of personal and public history and a delicious celebration of the Italians love of God, food, and family. About the Author Inspired by the stories of her Italian American mother-in-law, Angelina Culotta, Mrs. Wilson undertook Louisianas Italians, Food, Recipes, and Folkways thirty years ago as a way to preserve Ms. Culottas ethnic and religious pride for future generations. She was so inspired by collecting and documenting original Italian recipes, stories, and traditions for this book that she built a mud oven in order to bake her own authentic Italian bread at home! In addition to her interest in Louisianas cultural history, Mrs. Wilsons personal interests include cooking and baking, heirloom sewing, collecting antique linens and lace, and writing for preschool children. Her other books include St. Charles Parish, A Brief Look at the Past, Mam Papauls Country Creole Basket, and Now You Are Cooking Louisiana Style. Mrs. Wilson earned her bachelors degree in home economics education in 1964 at the University of Southwestern Louisiana and her master of science degree in family life and child development at Louisiana State University in 1967. She has taught home economics at the high-school level and has been a kindergarten and Head Start teacher. Since 1972, she has been president of Louisiana Gourmet Enterprises, Inc., a family-owned business that manufactures Cajun-Creole dinner mixes and specialty gourmet cake and frosting mixes under the Mam Papaul brand name.