pasta cookbook

Chanterelle Mushroom and Prosciutto Pasta

Pasta alla Boscaiola, 20-Minute Italian by Andrea Soranidis, Photography by Andrea Soranidis

With Italian-born cook Andrea Soranidis’ 20-minute (or less!) recipes, you can enjoy classic Italian dishes without spending hours simmering sauce or slaving over a hot stove–and most importantly, without sacrificing the amazing flavours you love.

20-Minute Italian by Andrea Soranidis Choose from 75 speedy recipes, including vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options, such as:

– Easy Pillowy Ricotta Gnocchi
– Spicy Shrimp & Zucchini Linguini
– Classic Italian Polpette (Meatballs)
– Black Pepper Mussels
– Speedy Spaghetti alla Nerano
– Fast Oven-Baked Chicken Cotolette (Breaded Chicken Cutlets)
– Classic Calamarata Pasta
– White Wine Veal Scaloppine
– 7-Ingredient Broccoli Pesto Pasta

No matter how hectic your schedule is, 20-Minute Italian is sure to have a quick and delicious recipe to please your palate.

20-Minute Italian: Your Traditional Favorites, Faster, Easier and with a Modern Twist is available at Amazon.com and Indigo. (more…)

Penne with Trapanese-Style Pepper

In Italy, pasta is more than just food—it is a tradition and a way of life with a long history. In most Italian homes, no meal is complete without a plate of pasta, no matter how it is enjoyed—from a quick basic spaghetti with tomato sauce, to elaborate baked dishes or a simple soup!

This is the beauty of pasta, it is simple to prepare, very versatile and you can make it to suit any occasion and budget. And this is probably why it has become a popular food all over the world. Let’s face it, most people love pasta!

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Cookbook Review: Tuscany

Tuscany by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi

At the heart of every Tuscan, there is a pride for their region and an incredible sense of responsibility and love for their surroundings. From the minute they look out of their windows in the morning to the last nightcap at the bar, Tuscans, like most Italians, are immersed in food.

In Tuscany, Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi take readers on a culinary journey through a Tuscan day. The rhythm of life pace that Tuscans cook is slow and calm. Breakfasts are considered, lunch often eaten at home with family, and weekend dinners a feast.

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Book Review: Pasta by Hand

It never occurred to me that I could make pasta the old-fashioned way—by hand. I mean, who does that? I always thought that task was relegated to old-world Nonna’s. And let’s be honest, Italian cooking is intimidating. For me, it’s fraught with peril. My fear of bungling a centuries-old cuisine is very real.

Along comes Pasta by Hand: A collection of Italy’s regional and hand shaped pasta. The fact that no special equipment or ingredients are needed to form pasta shapes chips away at my list of excuses. The book contains more than 65 recipes for homemade pasta dough and easy instructions on how to shape it into small orbs, cups, twists, shells, noodles, and dumplings.

Ms. Louis has spent what seems like infinite hours of research and travel schooling herself on the humble dumpling, or what Italians call gnocchi. The book begins with a section on ‘The Basics.’ Exactly what I need. The pages outline the specific ingredients, tools, and techniques that will help craft dumplings, as well as a list of 12 tips for making great gnocchi. For example, ‘Tip #4’ instructs us to pay special attention to the mixing and cooking directions for each recipe. The mixing method for each dumpling dough will be different, to achieve the correct texture. Not all dumplings are meant to be tender and light.

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