Mariooch's Kitchen

When I was a little girl, my Italian father called me Mariooch, a variation of Mariuccia (pronounced mar-ee-ooch-ee-a), which means “little Mary” in Italian. When he would say, “Mariooch Mangia Cabooch.” I thought it was some endearing Italian phrase, but years later I found that he was just saying in his own funny and rhyming way, “Mary eats cabbage.” To this day, I still laugh about it. Thanks, Dad! Humor is a key ingredient in life!
I guard, honor and cherish family mealtime. Even if my husband, three children and I are very busy and moving in different directions throughout the day, at mealtime we gather together. It gives us time to reconnect with each other, share the happenings of our day, and enjoy a warm delicious meal.
Writing this cookbook was a labor of love and when looking for the book’s title I had to search no further than my father’s nickname for me. So, welcome to my kitchen - Mariooch’s Kitchen – Food That Will Gather Your Family. This cookbook includes a collection of some of my favorite meals and recipes. My hope is that these will inspire you to create delicious meals for your family and friends.