Ciao Italia Family Classics

Book excerpt: A “complete, authoritative and accessible guide to Italian ingredients, cooking and cuisine” from the host of America’s longest-running cooking show (Kirkus Reviews). On Ciao Italia, which has been airing on PBS for more than twenty years, Mary Ann Esposito has taught millions of fans how to cook authentic Italian dishes. Now Mary Ann returns to her family’s humble beginnings to bring us a treasure trove of more than 200 time-honored recipes. They represent traditional, everyday foods that she regards as culinary royalty—always admired, respected, and passed down through generations. Even better, they’re easy to make and guaranteed to please. Try such classics as: - Sicilian Rice Balls - Spaghetti with Tuna, Capers, and Lemon - Risotto with Dried Porcini Mushrooms - Lasagna Verdi Bologna Style - Homemade Italian Sweet Sausage - Veal Cutlet Sorrento Style - Roasted Sea Bass with Fennel, Oranges, and Olives - Almond Cheesecake - Orange-Scented Madeleines With appetizing full-color photographs and homespun essays about Italian cooking and family traditions throughout, Ciao Italia Family Classics will inspire you again and again. “Esposito has been demystifying rustic cooking from her ancestral homeland for decades. In this volume, which compiles favorite recipes passed down from her grandmothers and mother, Esposito argues for a return to the family dinner table, where meals are shared alongside memories and the traditional Italian values of food and togetherness are celebrated.” —Publishers Weekly