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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The Splendid Table: Recipes from Emilia-Romagna, the Heartland of Northern Italian Food Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned this book since it first came out in 1992, and it occupies a special place in my cooking library -- eye-level shelf for easy reach. The salad of tart greens with prosciutto and warm balsamic dressing has been my first course for many outstanding dinner parties, including several on New Year's Eve. Other particular favorites - the lamb, garlic & potato roast, maccheroni with baked grilled vegetables, torta barozzi, and chestnut ricotta cheesecake. Ms. Kasper's outstanding knowledge of this regional Italian cuisine is equally matched by her understanding of how a home chef times and assembles a multi-course meal. I'm now ordering her new book, The Italian Country Table, and hope to be just as impressed.

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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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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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The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper: Recipes, Stories, and Opinions from Public Radio's Award-Winning Food Show Review

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(More customer reviews)I love to cook but was in a rut with my weeknight standard recipes, and heard Lynne talk about this new book on NPR. I immediately bought it just for the Hoisin Noodles 4 Flavors recipe, which I made this weekend for a very appreciative audience of husband and dad - it was easy and delicious of course, but most happily it was something different. I can't wait to try many of the ideas I've found there - now I need a bottle of fish sauce to add the umami to lots of recipes - and am excited about weeknight cooking again. I'd recommend this to anyone who isn't afraid of red pepper flakes, roasting a vegetable, or the occasional pat of butter or dollop of cream. It's full of tips, clear explanations, realistic cooking times for recipes, and a great "Here's a basic equipment list," plus great little stories and quotes. I love this book! I'm ultra-confident that new recipes will put the "Wow" back into our weeknight AND weekend cooking! Thank you, Lynne and Sally!

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Just when you thought the last thing the world needed was another book on weeknight cooking, along comes an entirely fresh take on the subject. As they do on their weekly show, host Lynne Rossetto Kasper and producer Sally Swift approach their topic with attitude and originality, making The Splendid Table’s How to Eat Supper one of the most engaging cookbooks of this or any other year.As loyal listeners know, Lynne and Sally share an unrelenting curiosity about everything to do with food. Their show, The Splendid Table, looks at the role food plays in our lives—inspiring us, making us laugh, nourishing us, and opening us up to the world around us. Now they have compiled all the most trenchant tips, never-fail recipes, and everyday culinary know-how from the program in How to Eat Supper, a kitchen companion unlike any other.This is no mere cookbook. Like the show, this book goes far beyond the recipe, introducing the people and stories that are shaping America’s changing sense of food. We don’t eat, shop, or cook as we used to. Our relationship with food has intensified, become more controversial, richer, more pleasurable, and sometimes more puzzling. How to Eat Supper gives voice to rarely heard perspectives on food—from the quirky to the political, from the grassroots to the scholarly, from the highbrow to the humble—and shows the essential role breaking bread together plays in our world.How to Eat Supper takes you through a plethora of inviting recipes simple enough to ensure success even if you’ve never cooked before. And if you are experienced in the kitchen, you’ll find challenging new concepts and dishes to spark your imagination.

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Bowl Food: Comfort Food for People on the Move (Laurel Glen Little Food Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was delighted with Bowl Food from the moment my sister brought it home, with its adorable concept and full-color pictures for every recipe. I immediately flagged multiple recipes to try, and have found several that have become staples for dinner parties (the Sweet Potato Salad is particularly impressive when trying to win over non-vegetarians) and for every-day dinners as well (the asparagus risotto is a tasty recipe and easy for those making their first foray into risottos). There are plenty of vegetarian recipes (I'd say at least 25%) and many others can be converted to vegetarian with a few easy substitutions. However, be aware that the majority of these recipes call for time-consuming prep and exotic ingredients. This book as a whole is not for the everyday home cook with a fulltime job--it's for weekend experimentation. While some recipes can still be explored without all the prep if you have a good local market (for example, if you can buy paneer cheese instead of making it!), many require a search for ingredients you may have never heard of.
If you like adventurous eating and spending hours in the kitchen is sometimes fun for you, you'll like this book. If not, buy it for a friend who adores cooking, and then borrow it to copy down the quick and easy recipes.


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In a nutshell, bowl food is relaxed eating. Depending on your mood, you can slow simmer a fiery curry, put together a luscious pasta dish, or simply toss a few fresh ingredients in a wok. Take the tedium out of salad and pasta without all the mess. All that remains is to lift your spoon and eat with pleasure.

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