Family recipe inspires cookbook that traces the Italian heritage of Regionals professor
- Cugine in Cucina
- Jun 6, 2021
- 1 min read
By Val Prevish for Miami University Regionals

Recipe swapping is a beloved tradition in many families. For the family of Associate Professor in Commerce Mary Kovach, however, it has turned into a bestselling cookbook capturing authentic Italian dishes dating back over 100 years.
Kovach and two of her cousins released “Don’t Cut the Basil: Five Generations of Authentic Italian Recipes” in December 2020 and the book has hit number one on multiple bestseller lists in at least four countries, including the U.S. Inspired by a beloved biscotti recipe used for years by Kovach’s grandmother, she and her cousins understood the homemade Italian recipes they shared growing up together were part of a beloved tradition that valued dishes made from scratch using local ingredients.
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