I hope you are all enjoying the hazy days of summer. We have been spending time at our favorite New Jersey beach destination, doing summer reading, and taking long walks in our local parks. We live in close proximity to horse farms and get to see the gallant horses trot everyday, so it’s very scenic and truly magical!

The summer menu has been filled with fresh produce from our organic garden: eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, parsley, cilantro, basil and more. Since I love zucchini, I planted multiple plants and I cannot believe how much zucchini grows and takes over the whole garden box! We have had an abundance of zucchini, so Zucchini Bread (recipe on blog) and Savory Zucchini Bread ( recipe in book) have been on rotation in our home. Also, I love eggplant and can truly eat it everyday. I have been making a family favorite Italian Eggplant, featured in my cookbook, Food From My Heart & Home, with lots of fresh basil.

Another thing I’ve been doing all year long is writing my holiday cookbook. I am happy to say that the book is now in the design phase and close to being published. Gather For The Holidays will launch Fall 2021. It is chockful of crowd-pleasing recipes for holiday gatherings, desserts galore, and 9 mouth-watering cookie recipes including my irresistible Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus Sugar Cookies. It will be available on Amazon and makes a great holiday gift. I hope you pick one up!

Princeton Magazine Feature

It was extremely flattering to be featured in this prestigious magazine. After publishing Food From My Heart & Home, the magazine wanted to feature me in the July 2021 issue. I have provided a brief quote from the article below and a photo of this delicious summer salad featured in my book. You can click on the provided link to read the article. I hope you get a chance to check it out! My book is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Heart-Home-Mary-Abitanto/dp/1951772253/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=food+from+my+heart+and+home&qid=1628706170&sr=8-1

Local Cookbook Authors Offer Recipes That Draw Us Together 

“The food couldn’t be more different. But meals as a means to gather, to celebrate, and to connect with friends and family is the underlying theme of three newly published cookbooks by local authors.

Mary Abitanto of Mercer County, Jen Carson of Princeton, and Joy E. Stocke of Stockton take the power of shared meals a step further by giving us their advice and recipes. They are passionate about their food, and the aromas practically permeate the print..

The cookbooks from home cook and prolific author Abitanto; baker Carson at LiLLiPiES; and from travel and food writer Stocke extend the boundaries of the region’s reputation as a mecca for flavorsome and meaningful meals…”http://www.princetonmagazine.com/local-cookbook-authors-offer-recipes-that-draw-us-together/