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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Italian Cusine With Only Five Ingredients!, December 12, 2009
This review is from: Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites: Quick and Delicious Recipes from an Italian Kitchen (Hardcover)
I only enjoy cooking a meal if it is easy enough that I can enjoy the process and the end results. Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites has recipes for hearty Italian cusine that are inexpensive and easy to prepare. She begins the cookbook with a wonderful introduction to the basic ingredients to keep on hand. Of course, five ingredients for the pantry, five for the refrigerator, and five for the freezer. Each recipe section begins with a clever introduction and five tips for that food type. For example, the Pasta section begins with her introduction, "Pasta Police", an amusing comment on incorporating pasta in your diet in a healthy way.
My first-to-try recipes include Zuppa di Paradiso (Paradise Soup), Cheesy Stuffed Meatballs, Coal Miners' - Style Spaghetti and Tortine di Gianduja e Banana (Chocolate, Hazelnut, and Banana Tartlets). Mmmm- Nutella is one of the ingredients!
As in my other cookbook reviews, I always consider the ingredients needed and whether I will be able to easily find them in my small-town area. There were a few cheeses that I am not familiar with, but even in the two small towns around here, there is a good cheese selection. I don't think I will have any problem finding them.
This is definitely a great gift for a bridal shower gift, Christmas gift, or an addition to your own cookbook collection. A great everyday book!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites, December 26, 2009
This review is from: Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites: Quick and Delicious Recipes from an Italian Kitchen (Hardcover)
is a cookbook that focusses on quick and easy Italian recipes and is written by Mary Ann Esposito who is the host of public television's program Ciao Italia. She shows cooks how to turn just five quality ingredients into a delicious Italian dish.
The cookbook contains seventy five authentic Italian recipes including recipes for antipasto, soup, pasta, sauce, meat and poultry, fish, vegetables, salads, and sweets. She also details five seasonal five course meals. In keeping with the theme of five ingredients, each section contains five recipes.
This is a hardcover cookbook with a dustjacket. The paper used, is a high quality, heavy paper so the cookbook has a very expensive feel to it. Scattered throughout the cookbook are a number of gorgeous photographs of the recipes listed in the cookbook.
The recipes are very well written with step by step instructions so that even a novice cook should be able to follow them without a problem. The recipes are mouthwatering and will leave you feeling as though you've splurged at a fancy Italian restaurant without leaving your own home.
A few of my favorite must try recipes include Cheesy Stuffed Meatballs and Puffy Merringues. The Chocolate, Hazelnut and Banana Tartlets are high on my list of must tries too!
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Surprised, February 25, 2010
This review is from: Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites: Quick and Delicious Recipes from an Italian Kitchen (Hardcover)
I LOVE Mary Ann Esposito and am a huge fan. I often turn to her recipes as they are always a hit. When I received notification of the this book coming out and an offer to get it at a discounted price, I jumped on it with excitement. Unfortunately, it was a real let down. Not as many recipes I thought there would be and definitely not inspiring. I have not had any desire to make even one dish from this book. Now, "Ciao Italia," that's a book! It's almost like my bible. There are so many wonderful, delicious recipes. Every single recipe I've made from it has been heaven on a plate.
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