Philadelphia, PA - Author Elisa Costantini published her debut cookbook “Italian Moms: Spreading Their Art to Every Table” after her husband died, Francesco, who died of Stage 4 gastric cancer on Christmas Eve 2013.
Spreading Their Art to Every Table
The expensive battle from her late husband’s cancer left Elisa concerned about her future and financial security. She spent months on the sofa mourning her late husband and waiting for her turn to pass on. Elisa’s children became very worried about her health and mental wellbeing. As a distraction and a way to earn some income, they convinced her to publish a cookbook of her tried-and-true recipes.
Since the cookbook’s publication, Elisa has a new purpose in life. She is donating much of her time and proceeds from her book to help local charities and schools that include the ALS Association. What started as Elisa’s way to earn an income has developed into a mission to give back to a community she’s loved since coming to America almost 50 years ago.
Elisa’s family recipes prove that love and family is an essential ingredient in the kitchen. Her beautifully illustrated collections include easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes, such as antipasto, pasta, pieces of bread, pizza, main dishes, and desserts. Her book also shares stories of her life and explains the culinary history of the Abruzzo Region in Italy. Her story is ongoing and ever-changing.
About The Author: Elisa Costantini was born in 1938 in Poggio Valle, Italy. The daughter of farmers, she learned to cook at a very young age as an apprentice to a local chef using simple, fresh ingredients to create wonderful food for those closest to her. At the age of twenty-three, she immigrated to the United States with her husband, Francesco, and daughter, Nadia. They settled in Philadelphia and raised their family there. For more than 35 years, Elisa has used her expert cooking skills to provide for children with special needs at Divine Providence Village in Springfield, PA. She continues to work with Special Needs Teens and Adults for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Elisa donates portions of her book sales to local schools and charities in her community.
Share This Article on Social Media
