Pasta Nonna: A Taste of Love and Family

Every family has its traditions — the small rituals that become the heartbeat of who we are. For me, that rhythm has always come from the kitchen. From laughter, stories, and the smell of simmering sauce on a Sunday afternoon. Pasta Nonna was born out of that love — of faith, family, and food. It’s my first published book, and it feels like a piece of my heart on paper. The story follows a grandmother who teaches her family that food is not just about what we eat, but about how we love. Each Sunday, the family gathers to cook together, shaping pasta that matches the story being told that day — little symbols of love, life, and lessons shared around the table. This time, the pasta is shaped like hearts — because this story is about love. Not just romantic love, but the kind that binds generations. The love that shows up in laughter, in shared meals, in a grandmother’s hands rolling dough beside her grandchildren. There’s a page in the book — a letter from Nonna — that reminds us what truly nourishes us isn’t just the food, but the connection. The time spent together, the conversations, the small gestures that say I see you. I love you. You belong here. Just like my real family’s traditions, Pasta Nonna celebrates togetherness. It’s about slowing down long enough to create something by hand, to pass recipes and stories from one generation to the next, and to remember that love is the ingredient that makes everything taste better.

At the end of the book, I’ve included recipes for homemade pasta and marinara sauce — simple, comforting, and full of flavor — so families can recreate that magic in their own kitchens. Because books, like meals, are best when shared. Writing Pasta Nonna reminded me that every Sunday dinner we ever had was a story in motion. My grandparents’ laughter, the clatter of dishes, the smell of garlic and tomatoes — those were my earliest lessons in joy and connection. This book is my way of keeping that alive. It’s a love letter to my heritage, to the kitchens that raised me, to the families who gather despite the chaos of life, and to every Nonna who ever taught through taste, tenderness, and tradition. I hope Pasta Nonna finds its way into kitchens and hearts everywhere — because when we cook and share a meal with those we love, we’re doing more than feeding our bodies. We’re feeding our souls.