Well here it is. Anticipation, excitement , nerves and relief. Breath in , and let’s see what happens. There are not many people who can say they have a dream and actually have the chance to make it become a little reality. I however have. A huge passion for Italian food has now become reality and depicted in a beautiful little book.

Southern Italian Family Cooking, is me. The raw form , the way I cook and the passion behind Carmela’s Kitchen. I was concerned that after receiving my final copy I would have wanted to change various sections. Thankfully this Italian is incredibly proud and pleased with the content. The introduction actually made me a little tearful. Memories that were so vivid for both my grandparents and parents, on leaving Italy and settling here in the UK, the ‘Sereno and Paolini’ families merged and became what we are today.

I was taught to cook relatively late to be honest but both my beautiful mum and Nonna have been the inspiration for me all the way. Mum has an incredible patience with me and she too has a natural instinct on how to cook the most amazing dishes. My mum, ‘Solidea’, will still say today that it was my dad’s mum (Nonna Carmela) who taught her to cook cucina povera style food. To this day they still cook and inspire each other.

This delicious read encapsulates everything that is family cooking. Simple, seasonal and absolutely delicious. I will say that please only buy this book if you have a gigantic appetite, outrageous imagination and are not searching for perfection on a plate, because you will not find it here. There are no glossy colour photos, no nonsense, just fabulous recipes that you need to embrace, love and add to your family cooking repertoire.

As a mother of 4 children, cookery teacher and now author (whoop), life is busy. So plan your meals, prepare ahead and remember to love carbs. In one form or another I enjoy pasta, rice or potatoes daily. The Italian Mediterranean diet is healthy, full of flavour and can be made with ease.

My priority now is to write my second book which will be based on my first love in the kitchen…’Pasta’. However before this I need to ensure that my first book is well received, develops sauces splatters on every page, encourage folded dog eared pages and becomes part of your family. There is a HUGE amount of competition out there, BUT there is most definitely room for this Italian and her bible of Cucina Povera cooking.

Finally I just really want to say a massive thank you to everyone who follows me on social media, listens to my nonsense and also who supports me and tells me to keep going. Without you all this would not have been possible, I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart.

So raising a small glass prosecco, I will say ‘Cin Cin a dove va!!

Pre-order from Amazon.. ‘Southern Italian Family Cooking‘ ..release date 20th November 2014

Grazie Carmela x