Readers hungry to explore Sicily's Jewish cuisine won't discover much of it in Vincent's sentimental scrapbook of favorite family recipes. Instead, here's a cooking romance as it might be imagined by the Lifetime network's producers: skinny daughter of WASPy Los Angeles veterinarian and Jewish beauty grows up to play C.J. on the 1980s TV series Matt Houston
; marries Duke Vincent, the dashing producer who cast her in the role... and they eat happily ever after in their opulent California kitchen. Vincent isn't a professional chef, and some of her recipe instructions are downright strange (an entire head of garlic simmers in tomato sauce for only five minutes; another sauce described as "marinara"—traditionally meatless—owes its punch to pepperoni). But grandmother Yette knew her latkes; dad Jack was a shish kebab master; and Duke's Italian-American staples are easy and appealing. Too bad we don't hear more from housekeeper Lucy Ramos, whose two salsa recipes are tantalizing. Vincent's style is more girlfriendy than informational—every recipe includes several exclamations of "Delicious!"—and the photographs include more publicity head shots than actual dishes. Serious foodies will find little of interest here, but Vincent's enthusiasm for the pleasures of table and family in the midst of life in the TV fast lane is likable enough. Agent, Ed Victor. (Sept. 3)
