A retired Catholic priest has found his second calling in the kitchensharing his love of food and family with delightful recipes and anecdotes Only Sicily can boast about the variety and richness of its cuisine, says Father Orsini in his introduction to his selection of delicious rice recipes. In 827 A.D., Arabs from nearby Tunisia invaded Sicily bringing with them the knowledge of the cultivation of rice. The Sicilians took it from there; wars came and went, Sicily grew rich and powerful, Italy came into being and through it all the Sicilians performed miracles with the grain. They still do, as Father Orsini demonstrates in this exciting collection. Rice is wonderfully adaptable. It is as at home in desserts as it is in soups. It can star in a delicate salad or provide the sturdy and tasty base of a main course. Father Orsini gives his rice recipes that have long been the treasures of Italian families. In this volume, Father Orsini has arranged the chapters to coincide with the courses of an Italian formal dinner, and it is a rare combination of authentic Old and New World recipes. For todays hurried and harried lives, Father Orsini has included snappy, delicious and practical recipes. Along the way, Father Orsini shares heartwarming family anecdotes and fascinating historic and cultural facts about Italy.