Lenny Ricci has cooking in his blood.
As the middle child of a huge Italian family from central New Jersey, he is proud to tell people, “There is no shame in saying that we were at times a poor family, but always a loving family.”
You will laugh at Lenny’s many stories about growing up with six sisters and three brothers. He combines many of those stories with some of the easiest and most delicious Italian recipes that just about anyone can follow. If that weren’t enough, you’ll also find some heart-warming and charming tales involving adolescent rites, family shares and kitchen tips to make cooking even more fun.
Just so you know, Lenny is a man of many other talents. Besides cooking, his favorite hobby is traveling. His love for world exploration came at an early age with middle school class trips to places like Hershey Park in Pennsylvania and the New York Botanical Gardens in Queens, NY. “You don’t realize the immense diversity of the people and the land until you have actually been there”. Travel makes you appreciate culture and culture is the backbone of civilization. He has been to all 50 states and at least 17 countries which is quite an achievement considering that three quarters of his entire family has never been more than two states away from where they currently live.
Now retired, Lenny spends some of his time and energy preparing food for an organization called Lasagna Love. Once a week, he gets a request from a family in need of a meal and makes sure that they receive at least one full tray of Lasagna, homemade Italian bread and desserts for that family. Starting in 2023, he has made and delivered over 100 meals and counting. “In some small way, I know I am helping to make even the tiniest difference in someone else’s life, and that makes mine all the more special”.
Lenny happily lives with his life partner Jim of 34 years in Aurora, Colorado.
