Customer Reviews

Cooking Dinner: Simple Italian Family Recipes Everyone Can Make

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful cookbook! My husband just bought this for me and I can't wait to make them all. In addition to recipes, many pages have an area called "Did You Know" (which gives info on Italian cooking or history of the dish), "Helping Hands" (how your kids can help in the cooking process) and a Kitchen Tip.
The recipes are very straight forward and the photographs are beautiful (I find it helpful to see what the dish is supposed to look like). The Nonna's Secrets (which means Grandma's secrets in Italian) chapter gives lots of useful information such as how to get more juice out of an orange (put them in warm water before squeezing) or how to ripen an avocado quickly (store the avocado in a paper bag with an apple).
Finally you get tear-out lists to take to the store so you can plan meals for the entire week. This cookbook/handbook would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys cooking. I highly recommend it!

I bought this cookbook on the recommendation of a friend. The recipes are easy to follow, and most of them are "rather good," but some of them are not as tasty as the previews make them sound. I've fallen back to the Betty Crocker cookbook for my basics after these have turned out "just OK."

This is the best collection of recipes ever. Wonderful flavors, fresh seasonal ingredients, and simple quick preparation. My friends and family are especially impressed with the many vegetable suggestions and "pink" sauce is the new staple in my refrigerator. This is THE hot girlfriend birthday gift this year!

Delicious and yet very simple recipes. Everything is fresh and instructions are very
clear. In the end you feel like this great native Italian cook!

What first attracted me to this cookbook were the abundant, gorgeous, and enticing photos that made my mouth water. Reading through it, I realized that Cooking Dinner is just what I've been looking for: easy, healthy recipes, beautifully presented, and Italian!

The addition of informative and anecdotal text bubbles, sprinkled throughout, gives these pages a very cozy feel, as if Claudia and Rima are at my side while I cook. Their menu-style layout is refreshing, and the book comes with detachable, meal-centric shopping lists that make ingredients gathering foolproof and easy.

I made the Lasagna, (pg.95). The recipe called for making a Tomato Meat Ragu. The Lasagna only required half a batch of this delicious sauce, which left plenty for subsequent dinners, (such as Spaghetti al Ragu, or with Gnocchi). It also called for a batch of Béchamel White Sauce, which added a silky touch. This recipe was easy and fun, and the lasagna was so, so delicious. A total win-win for me.

Now I'm really looking forward to trying the other recipes in Cooking Dinner. I am encouraging my family and friends to purchase their own copies of Cooking Dinner so they won't be tempted to borrow mine. I love Cooking Dinner, and I'm so glad I purchased it. I frequent their website, too.

My wife is a superb cook! Cooking Dinner made her cooking even better. Viva Italia !!!

The book was received in a timely manner and in new condition. I was very pleased. D. - California

I used to babysit for Claudia many years ago. This cook book is exciting and very easy to use. I have made several dishes from the book and all are exceptional. The menus are very good and the dishes compliment each other. I particularily like the index of ingredients--if I have carrots on hand what dishes can I make. Great job--I recommend to first time cooks as well as experienced "chefs". It is a fun cook book and well illustrated.

I have been cooking non-stop on the weekends since I purchased this cookbook. The recipes are easy to prepare, fun to cook and the eating the meal is the best part. I have made the ragu spaghetti sauce two times-it is that good! I keep thinking about what to cook next-the best part of this book is that I am able to talk about the recipes with one of the authors who gives me suggestions and feedback. It is sort of a Julia/Julie segment. Cooking is so much fun since this cookbook came into our kitchen.

LOVE THE COOK BOOK, ESPECIALLY THE PART WHERE THE CHILDREN HELP. THE PICTURES ARE INCREDIBLE. I LOVE COOK BOOKS WITH LOTS OF PICTURES. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST COOK BOOKS I HAVE EVER SEEN. ANYONE THAT BUYS THIS BOOK WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED. THE RECIPES IN TEH COOK BOOK ARE WONDERFUL.

I TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THE COOK BOOK!

JUDY RODRIGUEZ