When Life Hands You Lemons, Throw Tomatoes: Lessons in Life and Leadership - Paperback

by Donna Rapaccioli (Author)

"Beautiful in its words, lessons, and recipes, this wonderful book takes you on a journey of family, food, and life. You will relish every page and every dish!" -CHESTER ELTON, author of the New York Times bestseller The Carrot Principle

"Utterly charming."

-LIDIA BASTIANICH, Emmy award-winning television host, bestselling cookbook author, and restaurateur

"A love letter to the art of cooking, a testament to the power of nostalgia, and a source of inspiration for anyone seeking comfort, connection, and a deeper understanding of life's simple pleasures."-MANDELL CRAWLEY, chief human resources officer, Morgan Stanley


Part cookbook and part memoir, When Life Hands You Lemons, Throw Tomatoes takes you on a culinary journey while highlighting the ties among business, everyday life, and, of course, cooking. Here you'll find more than 100 recipes to create multi-course, delicious meals for you, and for your family and friends.

Each chapter includes foolproof recipes for at-home meals, from appetizers (try the Salty Guacamole) and main courses (a warming winter Chicken Cacciatore), to side dishes (always-a-hit Syracuse Salt Potatoes and Classic Tomato Salad), desserts (a super-simple Affogato alongside some complicated cookies), and even savory cocktails (the best Espresso Martini you'll ever have). Hungry yet?

Donna also serves up stories from her life--some about her large, loving (and loud!) New York Italian family, and others that highlight key attributes of successful leadership. Tales are told with each meal, just as we tell stories around the family dinner table.

The specific ingredients featured--lemons, tomatoes, chicken, carrots, salt, duck, cheese, and fish--have all, in one way or another, inspired Donna's life and leadership approach. For her, it turns out that food and business are forever intertwined.

This book is for anyone interested in delicious from-scratch, at-home cooking, especially those who want to learn a bit more about business while you're at it. Most importantly, Donna hopes you feel the love in her recipes and pass it along--maybe in the form of a cookie, cake, or soup--to someone you care about.