"Only Sicily can boast about the variety and richness of its cuisine," says Father Orsini in his introduction to his selection of scrumptious 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 at home in desserts as it is in soups. It can star in a delicate salad or provide the sturdy and tasty baste of a main course. Father Orsini makes recipes that have long been the treasures of Italian families available to all his readers. 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 today's hurried and harried lives, that the majority of us lead, Father Orsini has included snappy, delicious and practical recipes. Along the way, Father Orsini shares heart warming family anecdotes and wonderful historic and cultural facts about Italy.