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Dear Lili,
This is a cookbook your Nonnie helped put together for the local Italian-American organization, AMICO. (Amico means “friend” in Italian.) Many of Nonnie’s recipes are in here, and if you make them yourself, you can know exactly the kind of food I ate growing up as a child! It’s a way for your female ancestors and extended family members to communicate with you. Had you been a little older, you and Nonnie would probably have made some of her dishes together. This is very much a part of your family’s history, and part of your heritage.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed scanning it and posting it here for you to read.
I love you with all my heart,
Daddy XOXOXOXOX
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The Amico Cookbook
AMICO (American-Italian Cultural Organization) was formed in my home town of Springfield, New Jersey in the early 1970s. Both my parents, Philip and Gertrude Del Vecchio, were founding members.
As part of a fund-raising activity AMICO put out a cookbook in 1974 entitled “Favorite Italian Recipes.” My mom was the driving force behind this idea, and many of her own Italian recipes are contained inside. (Even though she was German-Swedish she could make an Italian meal that rivaled anything my Italian grandmother could put together. She rarely cooked anything German or Swedish, actually.)
Also in the cookbook are recipes contributed by other family members including my grandmother, Livia Del Vecchio (“Lena”); my great-aunt, Florence Bagnano (“Aunt Flo”); my sister, Denise Gallaro (“Pooh”); my sister, Valerie Serra (at the time still Valerie Del Vecchio); my brother-in-law, Elio Serra; my sister-in-law, Lucille Del Vecchio; and my father’s cousin by marriage, Mildred Galella.
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Click on any image to view an enlarged page and to print.
Click on that page to magnify on screen.
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(cover design by Philip Del Vecchio [PDV])
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That’s the whole cookbook, Lili. I have one original copy which I’ll keep safe for you and give to you one day.
In the meantime, try making some of these dishes and, as they say in Italian, “Buon Appetito!!”
Ciao, Principessa Liliana!
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tony-and-liliana-delvecchio.com 
Hello i am Helen Sollas grandson david and have a few copies of this book as well as pictures you may be interested in. Let me know and ill put together what i have.
Hi Tony. I just found this book in my late Uncles collection. It was so interesting to read through it. Can’t wait to try some recipes.
Real Italian-American soul food!