You don’t have to live in Italy to live like an Italian. In Cooking Up an Italian Life, an inviting collection of meals and stories, well-known food writer Sharon Sanders unites an Italian sensibility to an American lifestyle. Sanders lived, worked, and married in Italy—one of the few foreigners ever to wed in the celebrated Church of Santa Croce. With “What I Learned About Life from the Risotto King of Milan,” “I Brake for Italians, ” “My Dinner with Luciano,” and other spirited essays, Sanders escorts us to the Italy that is in everyone’s kitchen. Keenly aware of how sharing food enhances daily living, and in tune with the simplicity people crave today, she shares nearly 200 recipes made from seasonal produce, imported basics, and ingredients found in any supermarket. Most recipes are designed as complete meals at a glance. For special times, dozens of appetizer and dessert recipes may be added to the core dinners. Cooks ready for more ambitious projects may turn to “Making Rustic Bread,” “Capturing Summer Flavors for All Meals,” “Making Fresh Egg Pasta," or other lessons. The affordable wine recommendations enable everyone to raise a glass and offer a hearty salute to the spirit of Italy within all of us.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
As every serious cook knows by now, fresh ingredients whether grains, vegetables, seafood, poultry, meat or herbs are the mainstays of Italian cooking. The recipes in this collection, flavored by engaging (though not terribly original) stories about the author's own culinary adventures in Italy, are variations on that deservedly popular theme; in addition to a tasty Chicken Noodle Soup with Spinach and Basil, there's a hearty Beans, Greens, and Sausage Soup that can be prepared in a snap. Some of the pasta dishes are predictable, especially those featuring meat sauce or clams, but others are more adventurous a ziti dish, for instance, uses cauliflower, ripe olives and toasted bread crumbs, while Radiatori with Chick-peas, Kale and Herbs is boldly seasoned with thyme and sage. Sanders (Prevention's Low-Fat, Low-Cost Cookbook; Slim Snacks) also offers up appetizers, including a variety of crostini toppings, and salads. In addition to more decadent dessert ideas ranging from Watermelon Wine Granita to Roman Cheesecake, she promotes the Italian notion of simple, ripe fruit as an elegant and healthy coda to any meal. There's no shortage of Italian cookbooks for Americans, yet in her missionary zeal, Sanders often writes as if she is introducing us to something new. Even so, these straightforward recipes can be easily prepared for a family, even after a busy day.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Sanders, a cookbook author and food writer, loves Italy and Italian food, and readers of her charming new book will find her enthusiasm infectious. Each chapter includes several stories about her visits to Italy (she and her husband were married in the Church of Santa Croce in Florence) and explorations of Italian cooking ("What I Learned About Life from the Risotto King of Milan"), as well as boxes on basic techniques and preparations, and useful sidebars on every page. Recipes are generally simple but appealing Red Snapper in Spicy Tomato Broth, Sage Pork Tenderloin, Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Tomatoes and easy variations are suggested for many of them. Similar in spirit to Lori de Mori and others' Italy Anywhere (LJ 9/15/00), this is recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
Sharon Sanders is an independent food and travel writer, editor, recipe developer, and cooking teacher specializing in simple, seasonal home cooking. She is a Certified Culinary Professional in the International Association of Culinary Professionals. A long-time Chicago Sun-Times food reporter and cookbook editor at Rodale, she has edited/ghost written more than two dozen cookbooks, penned thousands of articles, and never misses a meal. Her book Cooking Up an Italian Life is based on living, loving, and traveling in Italy, and she frequently contributes to Dream of Italy, an award-winning paid-subscription newsletter. She connects with other "Inner Italians" on her blog www.simpleitaly.com.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The only Italian cookbook you'll ever need!,
By "sao725" (NJ , USA & Rome, Italy) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Cooking Up an Italian Life : Simple Pleasures of Italy in Recipes and Stories (Hardcover)
Reading this wonderful book is like taking a trip to Italy with your best friend -- if she happens to be a sensational tour guide and an excellent cook. Here are the recipes that ARE Italy -- clearly explained so that even beginners can whip up delicious, authentic Italian fare. It's now the only Italian cookbook I use -- I have one in my New Jersey kitchen and in my kitchen in Rome. You'll love the author's warm, authoritative voice and her delectable tidbits gleaned from her travels throughout Italy. Take it from me, a cookbook collector, Italian food devotee and frequent Italian traveller --if you only buy one cookbook (Italian or otherwise), make it this one.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cooking Up an Italian Life,
By
This review is from: Cooking Up an Italian Life : Simple Pleasures of Italy in Recipes and Stories (Hardcover)
Though I've never physically been to Italy, I feel I travel there every time I crack this book open. The author has a way with words that transports the readers all the way across the ocean. I feel like I'm right beside her as she visits the markets and returns home to cook up the simplistic, but delicious Italian fare. The recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients are straightforward. Many of the recipes are traditional classics. I tried the Bolognese-Style Meat Sauce recipe and fell in love with Italian cuisine all over again. One of the easiest, yet most flavorful recipes I've tried so far is a refreshing Bread Salad with Tomato, Cucumber, Onion and Basil, flavored with a touch of red wine vinegar. I could eat that salad every day! My most treasured cookbooks are those that allow me to read for pleasure and cook from to enjoy. This is a wonderful book to curl up with a glass of wine and just indulge in the stories and history the author lovingly shares. It's also a great book to take into the kitchen and whip up some authentic, simple Italian cuisine. I'm so glad I found it!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm hooked,
By Elicia "signorinaelicia" (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Cooking Up an Italian Life : Simple Pleasures of Italy in Recipes and Stories (Hardcover)
I'm hooked on the asparagus and shrimp risotto recipe! I loved this dish when I lived in Rome. When I came back to the US, I tried many different recipes for this risotto and none of them tasted the same (they were all difficult and messy as well). The recipe in this book is fantastic - I make it, with or without the shrimp, about once a month. It is such an easy recipe that now I'm working my way through the other ones. The stories are also fun. It's hard to find a cookbook this easy and entertaining.
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