Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been a big fan of the show since the beginning. This book is a blessing. For a long time I would have to hunt down the recopies on the food network website, print them, lose half of them, etc. This way I have it all in a beautiful glossy hard cover book, written with warmth, personal stories and mouth watering pictures of the dishes.
I have made many of the dishes she features in her book, and not one turned out badly. It all comes out exactly as it's supposed to. That's tricky with some cookbooks, when you just can't get it to be what it's meant to be. Giada's book is divided in these sections:
Antipasti, Sauces, Pasta Polenta and Risotto, Entrees, Contorini (Side Dishes) and Dolci (Desserts)

Some of my favorite recipes I've made are:
Stuffed mushrooms: thank goodness they are so simple to make, because I am being hounded by my boyfriend to make them. Simply amazing.
Simple Bolognese- meaty, fresh, and satisfying, plus you don't have to wonder what was in it. You made it and you know it's clean. Classic recipe that's easy to follow.
Brown Butter sauce - I can still close my eyes and taste the sage and butter, over any meat. Instant dress up to any meal.
Chicken piccata - light, lemony, olivey, simply fantastic.
I can just go on and on, but I don't want to bore anyone. This book is simply super. I don't mind the pictures of her, and if she changed her clothes for every single photo in the book, I would have mistaken it for a Vogue shoot, instead of a cookbook.
Hope you can enjoy it as much as I am. This book is in constant use at my house.

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In her hit Food Network show Everyday Italian, Giada De Laurentiis shows you how to cook delicious, beautiful food in a flash. And here, in her long-awaited first book, she does the same—helps you put a fabulous dinner on the table tonight, for friends or just for the kids, with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of flavor. She makes it all look easy, because it is. Everyday Italian is true to its title: the fresh, simple recipes are incredibly quick and accessible, and also utterly mouth-watering—perfect for everyday cooking. And the book is focused on the real-life considerations of what you actually have in your refrigerator and pantry (no mail-order ingredients here) and what you’re in the mood for—whether a simply sauced pasta or a hearty family-friendly roast, these great recipes cover every contingency. So, for example, you’ll find dishes that you can make solely from pantry ingredients, or those that transform lowly leftovers into exquisite entrées (including brilliant ideas for leftover pasta), and those that satisfy youryearning to have something sweet baking in the oven. There are 7 ways to make red sauce more interesting, 6 different preparations of the classic cutlet, 5 perfect pestos, 4 creative uses for prosciutto, 3 variations on basic polenta, 2 great steaks, and 1 sublime chocolate tiramisù—plus 100 other recipes that turn everyday ingredients into speedy but special dinners.What’s more, Everyday Italian is organized according to what type of food you want tonight—whether a soul-warming stew for Sunday supper, a quick sauté for a weeknight, or a baked pasta for potluck. These categories will help you figure out what to cook in an instant, with such choices as fresh-from-the-pantry appetizers, sauceless pastas, everyday roasts, and stuffed vegetables—whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll be able to find a simple, delicious recipe for it here. That’s the beauty of Italian home cooking, and that’s what Giada De Laurentiis offers here—the essential recipes to make a great Italian dinner. Tonight.

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Lucinda's Rustic Italian Kitchen Review

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(More customer reviews)Lucinda's Rustic Italian Kitchen offers simple, authentic, mouthwatering recipes paired with fantastic photography. This small book should be on every food enthusiast's book shelf.

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Cucina Amore Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned this book for about 4 years and I return to it time and again for sure-fire Italian recipes. The bruschetta is always a hit with the balsamic vinegar, and a must-try is the three pepper salad. I serve it religiously to my dinner guests and have always received compliments.
I usually like pictures to accompany the recipes, but this book doesn't need it. The antecdotes are enjoyable and give a personal touch to the cooking. I haven't seen his show in ages, but I hope he's still inspiring people to cook. I haven't bought his next book, but I bet it has the same results.

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The launch of Nick Stellino's "Cucina Amore" on public television stations marked the debut of a new kind of television chef and a new style of cooking show. The authentic trattoria setting and casual, relaxed atmosphere allow viewers to feel as if they are actually dining with their host while being entertained with stories about his beloved grandmother, Nonna Maria, his perfectionist father, Don Vincenzo, his mother, Massimilliana, and his brother and partner-in-mischief, Mario--all the while learning how to re-create the authentic Italian dishes he was taught to make at home.This companion cookbook, Cucina Amore, brings you all the warmth, love, and culinary delights that have made Nick Stellino so successful. Here you will find one hundred simple and delicious recipes--ranging from Caponata to Wild Mushroom Salad, Ossobuco to Country Style Roasted Potatoes, and Sicilian Cheesecake to Tiramisu--along with all of Nick's wonderful family memories, and the secrets he has learned both at home and as a professional chef to make the cooking both simple and foolproof.And for the first time in any cookbook, we have included a CD of delightful Italian dinner music to inspire the cook's creativity and enhance the diners' pleasure. For Nick Stellino, cooking for others is a joy and a celebration, and with this music he is inviting all home chefs, their families, and their guests to join in the festivities. With the versatility and perennial popularity of Italian food, and the growing awareness of the Mediterranean diet as a healthy way of eating, Cucina Amore is a cookbook you will turn to again and again.

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New Classic Family Dinners Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a cookbook that you will keep open on your kitchen counter. The pictures are inspiring, and Mark Peel's voice throughout the book is encouraging and mentoring. I truly enjoyed just sitting down and reading the cookbook, like a book. The book is more like cooking classes, not only recipes. Truly enjoyable is how each recipe has an intro. to it, and a tip to make it work.
The surprising part was how much time was spent on the foreward. Rather than just a cookbook, with an index of recipes, Mark talks you through how to begin sparking up family dinners. I received the book Sept. 24, and have used it nightly since.
It is more fun to cook, when you have the reasons for doing it the way you should, right there. Complete with explanations on how to avoid lifeless green beans, or how to fry chicken just right. It's all in the know how...takes your family meals from plain to top level, just by knowing the secrets here and there.
This cookbook is a lot of fun, and is just like going through a lesson with a friend. There is a lot of personality in this book, so it is just not another dry cookbook, with no one encouraging you to try something new.
I am having fun with this cookbook, and my family of 5 looks forward to the change in the kitchen atmosphere...the boys lay out the ingredients, and my youngest reads the directions. We do it together, and they have learned something from each recipe. Now we know why our fried chicken just wasn't crispy enough before! We followed the recipe in Mark's book, and it was out of this world.

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Giada's Family Dinners Review

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(More customer reviews)Wonderful!! Absolutely wonderful!! This sophomore effort of one of the cooking world's fastest-rising chefs who has worked hard for her title the rewards of accolades. Once again, she has given us fresh, delicious, and satisfying recipes that give us a thoroughly enjoyable experience in the kitchen.
This latest effort has all you need to prepare meals that will give you pleasure and joy in their preparation, as well as using the experience to have your guests help you. Through the use of staples, other everyday foods, and directions that are clear and crisp, you will be most satisfied within your stomach and soul.
The book is also full of photos of family, friends, and food that share this part of her life, as well as glorious photo presentations of the finished dishes; all of them styled to make you feel as comfortable as she in their preparation.
The book is divided as such:
SOUPS AND SANDWICHES: beef and lentil soup/ tomato soup with pancetta/ pasta e fagioli/ winter minestrone/ escarole and bean soup/ italian wedding soup/ stracciatella soup/ tuna and artichoke panini/ venetiano panini/ vegetable panini with mozzarella/ prosciutto and lemon panini/ open-faced PLT (that's prosciutto instead of bacon--very delicious!)/ italian muffuletta
ITALIAN SALADS AND SIDES: roasated beet and arugula salad with goat cheese and avacado/ italian caesar salad/ arugula and orange salad with basil vinaigrette/ broccoli florets with Meyer lemon olive oil/ marinated zucchini and summer squash/ butternut squash gratin with pesto/ roasted eggplant and tomatoes/ sauteed green beans with tomatoes and basil/ roasted fennel with parmesan/ orzo with garbanzo beans, red onion, basil, and mint/ cannellinin beans with herbs and prosciutto/ stuffed artichokes/ braised swiss chard/ basic polenta (the food of the gods!)/ herbed cheese polenta
FAMILIY ENTREES: pepperoncini shrimp/ broiled salmon with garlic, mustard, and herbs/ tilapia with citrus bagna cauda/ swordfish milanese/ sea bass with beans and radicchio/ chicken marsala with mustard and mascarpone/ pollo frito/ chicken tetrazzini/ garlic and citrus chicken/ chicken vesuvio/ chicken florentine/ flank steak with red wine sauce/ filet mignon with balsamic syrup/ rack of lamb with mint-basil pesto/ veal scaloppine with saffron cream sauce/ parmesan-crusted pork chops (the best)/ pork chops alla pizzaiola/ lasagna rolls/ stuffed zucchini and red bell peppers (who knew? what a great recipe for zucchini)
THE ITALIAN GRILL: pane alla grillia/ grilled portobello mushrooms with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella/ grilled lettuces (very different but very good)/ grilled artichokes with parsley and garlic/ grilled steak sandwiches/ grilled chicken with gremolata (a delicious paste of garlic, herbs and citrus)/grilled chicken with basil dressing/ grilled lamb with salsa verde/ grilled tuna burgers with tapenade/ swordfish spiedini/ grilled tuna steaks with roasted cipollini onions/ grilled summer fruit/ italian s'mores
FAMILY STYLE PASTA: little thimbles scuie' sciue'(your own choice of ingredients)/ linguine with chicken ragu/ fresh fettucine with roasted chicken and broccoli rabe/ penne with spinach sauce/ chicken carbonara/ polpette and spaghetti/ rigatoni with steak/ fusilli with shrimp and arugula/ qucik marinara sauce/ raviolo with creamy tomato sauce/ penne with sausage, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes/ whole wheat spaghetti with swiss chard and pecorino cheese/ farfalle with asparagus and mushrooms/ red wine risotto with peas/ dirty risotto
FAMILY STYLE GET-TOGETHERS: pizzette with gorgonzola, tomato, and basil/ crostini with gorgonzola, honey, and walnuts/ sun-dried tomato and mozzarella kebabs/ salami crisps with sour cream and basil/ turkey bolognese/ baked angel hair timbale/ farmers pasta/ zuppa di pesce ( hearty fish soup)/ veal stew with cipollini onions/ pot roast with porcini mushrooms/ pancetta-wrapped prok roast/ vegetable gratin/ baked mashed potatoes with parmesan cheese and bread crumbs
FAMILY FEASTS: bellini bar/ limoncello spritzers/ rose wine with fresh sage and lemon/ turkey with herbes de provence and citrus/ ciabatta stuffing with chestnuts and pancetta/ butternut squash lasagna/ insalata di rinforzo/ holiday salad/ Easter pie/ pizza rustica/ Easter lamb/ roasted red snapper with parsley vinaigrette/ linguine with spicy red clam sauce/ panettone bread pudding with amaretto sauce (deelish)
FAMILY STYLE DESSERTS: (always the best chapter!): chocolate anise biscotti/ chocolate chip cookies with hazelnuts/ mocha semifreddo/ chocolate ricotta pudding with strawberry sauce/ raspberry-almond tart/ orange segments and berries with balsamic cream/ nectarine and blueberry crisp with amaretti cookie topping/ nutella ravioli/ spicy mocha/ raspberry tirmisu/ apricot crostata/ espresso brownies/ limoncello cheesecake squares/ zuccotto/ chocolate pizza
She then gives a wonderul "menu's for family dinners" that covers: Christmas/ Thanksgiving/ Easter/ cold weather get-togethers/ backyard BBQ/ celebratory dinner/ kid-friendly dinner/ elegant dinner
Giada has it all down and written in the style that her love of family, friends, and food can bring together. (As another aside, I am also deeply grateful that the meals are titled as "Christmas/ Easter" and not as "holiday"). Enjoy the excitement and fun of planning and creating meals that will give you much to be grateful for, in the thought of the blessings that are in your life, all courtesy of Giada!!

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Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites Review

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(More customer reviews)I must admit that I, like other reviewers, was at first disappointed by the offerings in Giada's latest publication. When I looked at the recipes closer, however, I realized how much I appreciated the book.
Fans are used to an array of savory, Italian dishes...understandably because this is what Giada has turned out before. This new book puts more of an emphasis on fresh, light flavors. Many recipes call for butternut squash, melons, and other vegetables.
The recipes are no longer strictly "Italian," which I think opens Giada's creativity. Although many recipes call for fresh herbs, I found the ingredient list to be, in general, significantly less intimidating and pricey. It's really about fewer groceries with fresher, bigger flavors. I particularly enjoy the "(Not) Just For Kids" section. Here we find fun recipes for things like pizza pot pies, polenta-fried shrimp, and mascarpone mini cupcakes with strawberry frosting.
I think Giada's new direction, away from specifically "Italian" cuisine and into an Italian-inspired Californian cuisine, will prove successful. After three cookbooks of mostly traditional Italian food, she needed to expand somewhere anyway. Staying loyal to strictly Italian food may have become boring and listless for both the chef and her following. I can't wait to see where she goes next!

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Italian Family Dining: Recipes, Menus, and Memories of Meals with a Great American Food Family Review

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(More customer reviews)The first thing that struck me about this book is how beautifully designed it is. It's quite substantial, a good size without being unweildy. It is printed on good-quality cream colored paper with dark green ink, and nearly every page features hand-drawn illustrations. However, the proof is in the recipes.
The premise of this book is that "Italian meals are structured in a way that keeps family and friends at the table." Italians sit down together to eat; a custom that is rapidly becoming obsolete in our busy American lifestyle. Viewed that way, cuisine because one of the most important ways to spend quality time with your family. The book is in itself a family affair, a father-daughter collaboration.
Italians acknowledge that food tastes best when prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and to that end the book is structured around the four seasons, featuring recipes and menus for spring, summer, fall and winter. It also features special recipes and menus for the major holidays of each season. There are many other menus build around themes such as "A Quiet Fall Dinner," "A Simple Summer Dinner for Company," or "A Sexy Winter Dinner."
The recipes are fabulous, although I was challenged by many of the ingredients. A good many of the recipes called for ingredients I simply cannot get at my local supermarket, such as tripe, fresh morels, onion blossoms, cardoons, puntarelle or cranberry beans. Some of these things I have never even heard of before! However, adverturous palates with access to gourmet food stores and farmers' markets will delight in the recipes that will allow them to make use of the variety that is available to them. There were enough recipes that didn't call for more exotic ingredients that I didn't have any trouble putting this book to good use. One thing is for certain, this is no mere book listing different ways to prepare pasta!
Some of the recipes in the book are: Leek and Chestnut Soup, Butternut Squash and Rice Soup, Farfalle with Green Tomatoes, Eggplant Rolls, Chicken with Lobster, Duck Baked in Salt, Linguine with Blue Crab Sauce, Spaghettini with Maine Shrimp, Risotto with Crabmeat, Parchment-Wrapped Sausage with Fennel and Onions, Orange-Clove Souffle, Pannettone Bread Pudding, Lemon Sorbet with Spumante, Jaques Pepin's Rhubarb Galette, Strawberry-Rhubarb Coffee Cake.
Adventurous chefs wanting to try something new, healthy, and at the same time homey in a uniquely Italian way will delight in exploring this excellent cookbook.

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The author of the beloved classic Italian Family Cooking teams up with his daughter for a book that is part recipe treasury, part family memoirand totally irresistible!James Beard Award winner Ed Giobbis passion for fresh, seasonal fare, lovingly prepared, was nourished in a family to whom food was a sacred pleasure. Craig Claiborne, the late New York Times food critic, said, Some of the most memorable meals of my life have been taken in Eds kitchen.Now, 30 years after Giobbis first cookbook, Italian Family Cooking, became an instant classic, he and his daughter, Eugenia Bone, have produced a wonderful companion volume on the art of preparing fabulous seasonal meals. Taking as inspiration the Italian countryside in Liguria where the Giobbi family has its roots, Italian Family Dining will show the reader how to combine dishes to put together unforgettable spring, summer, fall, and winter repasts.Scrambled Eggs with Scallops and Morels, Mesclun Salad, and Strawberry Flan make a delicious quick spring meal, while Grilled Duck Breast, Warm Beet and Potato Salad, and Sliced Pears with Cheese combine spectacularly for a fast fall dinner. Throughout the book Eugenia Bone shares warm family reminiscencesand the recipes for Italian-style dining are simple but elegant, created by one of Americas great home cooks, Ed Giobbi.

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Vegan Italiano: Meat-free, Egg-free, Dairy-free Dishes from Sun-Drenched Italy Review

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(More customer reviews)I pre-ordered this book before it came out because I loved the author's previous book, The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen. When it arrived I started using it immediately and have not been disappointed. I hope she goes on to write a Vegan Francaise cookbook and many more.
The recipes are relatively simple and straightforward. I am thrilled that they avoid vegan ingredients that are not indigenous to the region - there are no calls for tofu, fake meat or tempeh, etc.
Where an Italian recipe traditionally calls for cheese or eggs, the author finds a vegan version or invents one, staying within the norms of the cuisine. Most recipes are less than a page. There are no pictures. Every recipe I have tried has been delicious and even my husband (who thinks all Italian food should be smothered in cheese) has liked these dishes.
Anyone who like Italian food will appreciate this book.

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Mangia-minus the meat and dairy-with these classic Italian dishes from the author of The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen. In the sumptuous style of classic Italian cuisine, this collection of delectably authentic recipes reinvents vegan. Mouth-watering dishes burst with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil-all within an animal-free diet, ideal for lactose-intolerant eaters and vegetarians, too. Delicious Italian food was made for bountiful and flavor-filled variations, not weak substitutions-which is why none of these recipes calls for tofu, soy milk, or other ingredients that mimic meat, dairy, and eggs. Now readers can treat themselves to something scrumptious-even if they can't make it to Italy this year.

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Everyday Pasta Review

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(More customer reviews)Giada's third entry into the cookbook theater is as good as her first two, and there seems to be no end to her culinary offerings to us. This time, she immerses herself into the somewhat crazy world of pasta and the many "clothes" it wears. Delicious to say the least!
I have to admit that one of the first things that grabs my attention when looking at cookbooks is its presentation; does it make me want to look at because it invites me with with something comfortable and familiar? Or is it something that jazzes up that same familiar look? With it's sharp, fresh, and detailed photography and simple, yet inviting writing, Giada brings to you a compendium of sorts in her ode to pasta.
She begins her introduction with "The Origins of Pasta" then goes into her "Top 10 Pasta-Cooking Tips" which is followed by "Matching Pasta Shapes to Sauces" (I never really thought of how the shape of the pasta actually influences the flavor depending how it attaches to the shape). The book then breaks down into 3 sections: Pasta Go-Withs, Pasta for All Seasons, and Pasta Basics.(Pasta Go-Withs)
ANTIPASTI and APPETIZERS
Baked Caprese Salad (baguette slices w/ tomatoes, mozzarella)
Goat Cheese Toasts
Bruschetta w/ Frisee, Prosciutto, and Mozzarella
Toasted Ciabetta w/ Balsamic Syrup
Crostini w. Anchovy Butter and Cheese
Parmesan Popovers (definitely a big hit w/dinner)
Fried Ravioli (these were EXCELLENT!)
Zucchini and Carrot a Scapece (pickled veggies)
Fried Zucchini
Prosciutto-Wrapped Veggies w/ Parmesan
SOMETHING ON THE SIDE:
Cornbread Panzanella
Arugula Salad w/ Fried Gorgonzola
Spinach Salad w/ Citrus Vinaigrette and Frico (very light and healthy)
Insalata Mista w/ Basil Dressing
Hearty Winter Salad w/ Sherry Vinaigrette
Greens w/ Gorgonzola Dressing
Asparagus w/ Vin Santo Vinaigrette
Anytime Veggie Salad
Sauteed Spinach w/ Red Onion(Pasta for All Seasons)
SOUPS AND PASTA SALADS
Italian White Bean, Pancetta, and Tortelini Soup
Pasta e Ceci (garbanzo beans)
*a small info section on "grating" types of cheese for the soup/pasta's
Italian Veggie Soup (perfect during winter!!)
Ribollita (soup)
Tuna, Green Bean, and Orzo Salad
Fusilli Salad w/ Seared Shrimp and Parsley Sauce
Neapolitan Calamari and Shrimp Salad
*tips for a perfect pasta salad
Mediterranean Salad
Antipasto Salad
Italian Chicken Salad in Lettuce Crisps
HEARTY PASTAS
Baked Penne w/ Roasted Veggies
Venetian "Mac and Cheese"
Crab and Ricotta Manicotti
Rigatoni w/ Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
Roman-Style Fettucine w/ Chicken
Farfalle w/ Creamy Mushroom Gorgonzola Sauce
Pappardelle w/ Lamb Stew
Cinnamon-Scented Ricotta Raviolo w/ Beef Ragu (very different/tasty)
Proscuitto Raviolo
Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells (the artichokes add a nice twist)
Gnocchi with Thyme Butter Sauce
Ricotta Gnudi in Parmesan Broth
Tagliatelle w/ Short Rib Ragu
Penne w/ Swordfish and Eggplant
Baked Pastina Casserole
Baked Gnocchi (these are heavenly little dumplings)
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
Linguine w/ Better, Pecorini, Arugula, & Black Pepper
*no-cook pasta sauces
Saffron Orzo w/ Shrimp
Penne w/ Spicy Tomato Sauce
Spaghetti w/ Sauteed Onions and Marjoram
Eggplant Mezzaluna Ravioli
*stuffed pastas
Orecchiette w/ Mixed Greens and Goat Cheese
Capellini Piedmontese
Spaghetti alla Pirata
Spaghetti w/ Red and Yellow Peppers
Swordfish and Spaghetti w/ Citrus Pesto
Conghilie w/ Clams, Mussels, and Broccoli
Rotini w/ Salmon and Roasted Garlic
Rigatoni w/ Red Pepper, Almonds, and Bread Crumbs
Angel Hair Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
QUICK AND EASY WEEKNIGHT PASTAS
Chicken in Lemon Cream w/ Penne
Little Stars w/ Butter and parmesan
Breakfast Scramble w/ Orzo, pancetta, and Asparagus
Creamy Orzo
Farfalle w/ Broccoli
Wagon Wheels w/ Artichoke Pesto
*flavored pastas
Spinach Fettuccine w/ a Quick Sugo or Salsa
Spicy Angel Hair Pasta
Rotelli w/ Walnut Sauce
Cheesy Baked Tortellini
Cinnamon Pancetta Carbonara
Rigatoni w/ Sausage, Artichokes, and Asparagus
Linguine w/ Turkey Meatballs and Quick Sauce
Ditalini w/ Mushrooms and Artichokes
Mini Penne w/ Parmesan Chicken (this is very tasty and very filling)
Farfalle w/ Spicy Sausage and Kale
Penne w/ Beef and Arugula
Capellini w/ Tomato and Peas
PASTA FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS:
Spicy Baked macaroni
Tagliatelle and Duck Ragu
Spaghetti w/ Eggplant, Butternut Squash, and hrimp
Crab Salad Napoleans w/ Fresh Pasta
Shrimp Lasagna Rolls w/ Creamy Marinara
Pork and Lemon Orzotto
Spaghetti w/ Pinot Grigio and Seafood (very romantic indeed)
Butternut Squash Tortelloni w/ Cranberry Walnut Sauce
Pappardelle w/ Seafood Cream Sauce
Champagne Risotto (light and flavorful)
*reimagining risotto
Linguine and Lobster Fra Diavolo
Corn Agnolotti w/ Tarragon Butter
Turkey and Cranberry Ravioli
*dried pasta versus fresh
Sweet Fresh Fettucine
PASTA BASICS (basic recipes):
Fresh Pasta
Basic Marinara Sauce
Bechamel Sauce
Arrabbiata Sauce
Chili Oil
Citrus Olive Oil
Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Red Wine Vinaigreet
Parmesan Frico (for the Spinach & Citrus Salad; they're pretty & tasty)
Italian Wine Course by Christian Navarro
Topic Menu's
This was a delight to go through in my initial run of cooking; I plan on going through more as the list of requests continues from those who know Giada from TV. Funny how I never seem to run out of volunteer taste-testers with her recipes! Enjoy!


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For New York Times bestselling author Giada De Laurentiis, pasta has always been one of the great pleasures of the table: it’s healthy and delicious; it can be light and delicate or rich and hearty; it’s readily available and easy to prepare--everything you want in a meal. And nothing satisfies a craving for Italian food quite like it! In Everyday Pasta, Giada invites you to share her love of this versatile staple with more than a hundred brand-new recipes for pasta dishes, as well as for complementary sauces, salads, and sides tempting enough to bring the whole family to the dinner table.Without forgetting about the classics we all love, Giada makes the most of the many varieties of pasta available to create recipes that combine familiar flavors in exciting new ways.Although most of these dishes are all-in-one meals in themselves, Giada also supplies recipes for her favorite appetizers, side dishes, and salads to round them out.Whether you’re looking for a simple summer supper that makes the most of seasonal vegetables or seeking comfort in a pasta bowl on a cold winter’s night, Everyday Pasta offers just the thing. ? Tuna, Green Bean, and Orzo Salad? Crab Salad Napoleans with Fresh Pasta? Roman-Style Fettuccini with Chicken? Baked Pastina Casserole? Tagliatelle with Short Ribs Ragou? Spaghetti with Eggplant, Butternut Squash, and ShrimpEasy to prepare and endlessly versatile, pasta makes a wonderful quick supper when time is short but easily becomes an elegant meal when the occasion requires. In Everyday Pasta, Giada shows you how, with a few basic ingredients from the fridge and the pantry, you’re never more than minutes away from a delicious pasta dinner.

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Mario Batali Holiday Food Review

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(More customer reviews)preordered this book when I saw it listed, knowing anything Mario had published would have to be great. I was however a little surprised when it arrived and I saw just how small it actually was. After reading it through from cover to cover, I overcame my disappointment however, realizing that Mario had chosen only the best recipes for the holidays. As the Italian food host at BellaOnline, I am always on the lookout for Italian cookbooks that offer more than simply everyday recipes. Anyone buying this cookbook that is familiar with Mario Batali's work, will not be sorry. If you are interested in Italian recipes specific for the holidays, buy this book!

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Big Night In: More Than 100 Wonderful Recipes for Feeding Family and Friends Italian-Style Review

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(More customer reviews)After having more than a year to enjoy her Glorious Soups and Stews I was really looking forward to anther chance to taste what Domenica was cooking up for this intriguing new cookbook. Big Night In, so aptly titled has exceeded my expectations. First of all it is such an easy layout- so well designed to help you plan and prepare a special meal. I love the colorful segmented ingredients lists which make it pleasing to the eye and make it convenient to plan. The tips, ingredient descriptions and equipment suggestions at the top of the book are very helpful. Domenica also has a lovely way of personalizing food and entertaining; just like you would exchange ideas with a good friend.
So having said that, the best part: the recipes!
I got the book just prior to my turn to host my monthly book club. This is a group of 5 women who have been meeting and exchanging hosting dinners for over 10 years. We take pride in trying to create something special for each other each time we meet. I was excited to plan a Big Night In experience for them. After pouring over all the menus I decided on the Spicy Seafood Chowder, Spinach & Apple Salad and Frank's Garlic Bread. One reason I picked this was because we have a non meat eater in the group but also it was something I could mostly prepare ahead of time so I would not be fussing in the kitchen when my friends arrived. Domenica takes care to give "Do Ahead" tips that facilitate planning.
Well what a hit it was! Our conversation was frequently interrupted with exclamations of praise over each dish. I had made an entire loaf of the garlic bread thinking I would have leftovers. Well, there were nary a few crusts left. No one turned down an offer to take some of the chowder home either for themselves or their spouses, which I was of course delighted to provide, yet selfishly realized the next day I would not get to enjoy it as many subsequent times as I hoped!
Exciting recipes, easy to follow instructions, warm and helpful commentary and gorgeous photos, make this a winner of a book. I know what I am giving as a Christmas gift to many folks on my list this year!

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Author Domenica Marchetti had wonderful memories of her childhood, when her Italian-born mother often cooked up homemade ravioli, lasagne, roasts, invited everyone over, and always made them feel at home with her warm and open personality. Domenica recreated those days for her own family and friends by creating over 100 simple, delicious, Italian-inspired recipes that are comforting, delicious, and perfect for any size gathering whether an intimate dinner party or a huge crowd of hungry relatives.

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Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner?: 52 Italian-American Menus to Enjoy with Your Family Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Although many recipes are simple that even children might enjoy helping out in the kitchen, the cook who enjoys Italian dishes will take delight in this straight forward cookbook. Recipes like the marinated artichokes will literally take minutes to prepare. Other more detailed recipes are delicious and many may invite the cook to return to certain recipes to repeat a menu.
A disappointing lack was a no-show index which would have made returning to locate certain dishes more convenient. I find myself constantly referring to the table of contents and making notations for myself on these pages to help make locating certain recipes easier. It is hopeful that an index will someday be produced for Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner book owners to download on the internet as an appreciated addition.
Also a better cover of a more durable substance will also be welcomed.
Buon appetito!

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Italian food and lifestyle expert Lisa Caponigri hopes to bring families back to the Sunday dinner table with her new cookbook, Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner? The book, which features full-color photos and a history of each recipe, contains 52 Italian-American dinner menus, one for each Sunday of the year! Complete with recipes for a five-course meal, each dinner menu is described in full detail, with every step, from the shopping list to the final biscotto. Besides showcasing her love of Italian cooking, Caponigri's mission for the book is to get families back to the dinner table on Sundays and make Sunday family day again. Sunday dinners, she adds, can be festive without being fancy. What's important is that the family is all together -- cooking, eating and conversing. Included in the cookbook's introduction, Caponigri shares research showing that the family unit is suffering because families no longer experience the conversation and intimacy of eating meals together. She discusses the benefits of Sunday Dinner and offers simple tips to get the family back to the dinner table. Each of the 52 five-course dinner menus are dedicated to Sunday dinner and include recipes for a full meal, including the antipasto (appetizers) and primo (soup, rice or a pasta dish), the secondo (meat, fish or fowl dish) and contorno (side dish that accompanies the secondo), and the dolce (the Italian word for dessert). Every recipe is illustrated with a full-color photo that offers a visualization of how each meal will look. Along with each menu, Caponigri also offers a brief history of why she designed a particular menu. It might include recipes that Caponigri's grandmother taught her, that she learned while living in Florence, or that are popular in a certain region of Italy. This cookbook showcases a year of Sunday dinners at Caponigri's home. It's a glimpse into her Italian lifestyle of family, friends and food. Caponigri's grandmother was born in Sicily and moved to the United States at a young age. Under her grandmother's tutelage, Caponigri learned how to cook dishes like cannoli and homemade pasta. Later in life, Caponigri moved to Italy where she raised her family and learned some of her most cherished Italian recipes. Each recipe has a special story, which Caponigri shares with you. As Caponigri says in her own words: I am like you, a Mother, a daughter, a sister, a person who loves to build memories with my family, especially while eating together. Caponigri's second book, 21 Days in Tuscany, will be published in late 2009. The cookbook will showcase 21 days of itineraries based on the food and culture of Italy's Tuscany region. A great deal of research has gone into creating this cookbook and travel guide. In addition to offering delicious Tuscan recipes, Caponigri shows readers how to shop where Italians shop, socialize where Italians gather, and visit the Italian museums that guide books don't mention. The tempting recipes found in 21 Days in Tuscany will include a rich Tuscan porcino mushroom sauce, figs soaked in full-bodied Barolo wine and savory bruschetta toppings.

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Giuliano Hazan's Thirty Minute Pasta: 100 Quick and Easy Recipes Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent cookbook for creating simple pasta meals that are a little adventurous and very tasty. The author has several sections - vegetarian dishes, seafood dishes, and meat dishes - with enough recipes in each section to make this a very usable book no matter what your eating habits. That is, unless you've gone gluten free. Even then, I suppose you could use this book with non-gluten pastas.
Another thing I like about this book is that the recipe requirements are not out of the ordinary. I tried the pasta alia puttanesca bianca and I had all the ingredients. I also had all the ingredients on hand for several other meals. I think this is a great book for a quick, delicious meal on a busy night or even if you're having company over.

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Now that America’s low-carb obsession is over, home cooks are once again looking to prepare well-balanced meals that include everyone’s favorite food—pasta. Few of us, though, have the leisure to create a classic Bolognese meat sauce from scratch. For those who are as pressed for time as they are starved for a toothsome bowl of beautifully sauced pasta, Giuliano Hazan has created 100 scrumptious pasta dishes that can be put together in half an hour or less.

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