Because I was raised in home where my parents and grandparents were immigrants from Italy, food is an essential part of my being. Good homemade food equates to love, and sharing it with my friends and family is the way I have learned to show my loved ones I care. Here are some authentic Italian American recipes that I serve when I gather my friends and family for a long, soulful, delicious meal. A lot of love goes into each dish! Throw an Italian-themed dinner party and serve these recipes to your friends and family – they’ll taste how much you care.

More than a glass of water“The good things – you put out.” That is what my dad Angelo always says about entertaining and having people over. Growing up a first generation American in an Italian household, we always had company. If we didn’t have 10 or more people at our home for dinner, we were at someone else’s full house. But it wasn’t a scene from the TV show The Sopranos, it was real. We didn’t speak with our hands, or chew with our mouths open, or talk about “hits.” We talked about school, current events and sometimes gossip.

Get the recipes: Recipes for an Authentic Italian American dinner party | Sheknows.com