In every Italian kitchen, there's more than food simmering on the stove-there's love, memory, and faith passed down like a sacred recipe. A Table for Everyone (Italics), is a heartfelt collection of over 55 family recipes, woven with the story of Assunda "Susie" Giancola Thomas, a beloved mother, grandmother and friend whose cooking brought comfort to everyone who walked through the door.
From Sunday dinners to Christmas smelts, from handwritten cookie recipes to comforting soups and casseroles, each dish is a doorway into a life filled with generosity, resilience, and joy. This cookbook honors not only the flavors of Southern Italy but the enduring spirit of an Italian-American community in Youngstown, Ohio.
With reflections, prayers, and legacy photos, this book invites you to cook, remember, and pull up a chair-because at Susie's table, there was always room for one more.
Linda Susan Thomas grew up In Youngstown, Ohio, where the scent of simmering sauce and the sound of laughter around the table left a lasting imprint. Raised by Assunda "Susie" Giancola Thomas, a woman known for her faith, humor and endless generosity, Linda learned early that food was more than nourishment- it was love made visible.Though her professional life included leadership roles in state and federal corrections, it was her mother's kitchen that she found her truest sense of home. After caring for her mom in her final years, Linda felt called to preserve the traditions, recipes and sacred moments that defined their Italian-American family.With Italian roots tracing back to Calabria, Abruzzo, and Molise, Linda honors the courage of her immigrant grandparents and the spirit of a community that never let go of its heritage. This cookbook, lovingly assembled after Susie's passing, is more than a collection of recipes- it is a tribute, a healing, and a way to keep her mother's heart at the table.
