Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian: More than 250 Classic Recipes from the Kitchens of Italy [Paperback]

Weight Watchers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1999 | Series: Weight Watchers

From antipasto to zuppa, Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian offers more than 250 recipes for the best regional Italian dishes.

Simply the Best Italian takes you on a whirlwind tour of the kitchens of Italy. It supplies you with hundreds of recipes that are quick to prepare and quite healthful, focusing on good-for-you ingredients that are staples in the Italian kitchen, like fresh vegetables, pastas, grains, and plenty of heart-healthy olive oil.

From the best of Italy's home-style favorites to delicious trattoria dishes, Simply the Best Italian has classics like Risotto alla Milanese, Lamb alla Cacciatora, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, and Insalata alla Caprese. But only Weight Watchers can provide you with healthful renditions of Lasagne with Tomatoes and Cheese, Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza and Eggplant Parmigiana. To top off your meal or to satisfy a sweet tooth, Simply the Best Italian offers delectable dolci like Espresso Granita, Chocolate-Almond Biscotti or Torta di Ricotta.

What's more, Simply the Best Italian reveals the secrets and tricks all great Italian cooks know. Clever and easy tips abound, as does useful information, such as how to choose the perfect wine for your meal or the subtle difference between olive oils.

If you're following the popular Weight Watchers 1-2-3 Success? Food Plan, you'll be happy to know that each recipe features POINTS? values as well as nutrition information. Even if you aren't following a weight-loss plan, you can rest assured that you'll be eating healthful yet delicious food - Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian is a book that lives up to its title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Simply the Best Italian From antipasto to zuppa, Weight Watchers^® Simply the Best Italian offers more than 250 recipes for the best regional Italian dishes. Simply the Best Italian takes you on a whirlwind tour of the kitchens of Italy. It supplies you with hundreds of recipes that are quick to prepare and quite healthful, focusing on good-for-you ingredients that are staples in the Italian kitchen, like fresh vegetables, pastas, grains, and plenty of heart-healthy olive oil. From the best of Italy's home-style favorites to delicious trattoria dishes, Simply the Best Italian has classics like Risotto alla Milanese, Lamb alla Cacciatora, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, and Insalata alla Caprese. But only Weight Watchers can provide you with healthful renditions of Lasagne with Tomatoes and Cheese, Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza, and Eggplant Parmigiana. To top off your meal or to satisfy a sweet tooth, Simply the Best Italian offers delectable dolci like Espresso Granita, Chocolate-Almond Biscotti, or Torta di Ricotta. What's more, Simply the Best Italian reveals the secrets and tricks all great Italian cooks know. Clever and easy tips abound, as does useful information, such as how to choose the perfect wine for your meal or the subtle differences between olive oils. If you're following the popular Weight Watchers 1-2-3 Success^® Food Plan, you'll be happy to know that each recipe features Points^® values as well as nutrition information. Even if you aren't following a weight-loss plan, you can rest assured that you'll be eating healthful yet delicious food—Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian is a book that lives up to its title. Visit Weight Watchers online at www.weightwatchers.com and Macmillan at www.mgr.com/cooking --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

From antipasto to zuppa, Weight Watchers highlights everyone's favorite ethnic cuisine—Italian! Savor more than 250 classic favorites and exciting regional dishes that let you eat well—and healthfully. Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian also provides easy, clever cooking tips as well as useful information, such as how to choose the perfect wine for your meal and the differences between olive oils. Each recipe includes Weight Watchers Winning Points^® Weight Loss Plan, as well as complete nutrition information. So whether you're following a weight loss plan, or just planning on eating great food, this is the book that lives up to its title! You're sure to love these appetizing Italian dishes: Classics

• Spaghetti with Meatballs
• Eggplant Parmigiana (pictured)
• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Cannoli

Trattoria Favorites

• Cheese Fricos
• Roasted Vegetable Pizza
• Risotto with Shrimp and Scallops
• Tiramisù (pictured)

From Nonna's Kitchen

• Pasta e Fagioli
• Osso Buco (pictured)
• Ham and Cheese Calzone
• Polenta with Mushroom "Ragù"

Lighter, Flavorful Dishes

• Insalata alla Caprese
• Prawns Fra Diavolo
• Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce
• Spinach-Stuffed Shells (pictured)

Visit Weight Watchers online at www.weightwatchers.com and Hungry Minds at www.hungryminds.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764565036
• ISBN-13: 978-0764565038
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #775,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't realize it was weight watchers!!!!, December 6, 2001

By 

Mary Foley (Brewster, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian: More than 250 Classic Recipes from the Kitchens of Italy (Paperback)

I was browsing through this book and was intrigued by the recipes...they seemed simple and I love Italian food. I found several that I wanted to try and then started to notice the nutritional info...they were all so healthy!! Then I noticed the Weight Watchers line in the title!!! No wonder!!
I have tried ten recipes so far in this book and have loved every one! Most can be made with things I already have on hand...no strange ingredients. The chicken marsala was great as was the roasted pepper pesto over penne pasta. We loved the peas with prosciutto. My husband and two teens have loved it all and never knew it was "health' food.I highly recomend this book for busy cooks who love Italian food. It's so nice to get away from 'diet' food!

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious--not "Diet", January 2, 2002

By 

"eeyore26" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian: More than 250 Classic Recipes from the Kitchens of Italy (Paperback)

First of all, I am not a WW member. I am not on a "diet." The newer WW cookbooks have impressed me so much that I keep buying them, though. This book has so many wonderful recipes. I have already made a three course meal for some (vegetarian) friends; they were wow'ed and didn't have a clue that I had used WW recipes. Furthermore, for those three courses, the only ingredients I had to run out and buy were a can of evaporated milk, a bulb of garlic, and and a bag of fresh spinach. These recipes rarely call for exotic or "specialty" items, which I think is the downfall of WW's Great Cooking Every Day, which I have but do not particularly enjoy.

I made the Polenta with Mushroom Ragu last night, and it was a hit as well. Although I am not a vegetarian, I enjoy dishes that are heavy on the vegetables and have been getting tired of boring and bland vegetarian dishes. The ragu was thick, hearty, and flavorful--and a wonderful change from old standby's. The preparation was a snap. I will be using this cookbook on a regular basis. Simple preparation, simple ingredients, and exceptional taste and presentation. It doesn't get better than this.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great buy!, March 10, 2001

By 

Elizabeth Blumgarten (Pelham, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian: More than 250 Classic Recipes from the Kitchens of Italy (Hardcover)

The bad reviewers of this book are crazy. I own tons of cookbooks and this is one of the best I've seen. It offers wonderful rich tasting authentic food for litttle calories and fat. Entries such as the three-cheese pizza made me feel like I was eating from a restaurant when I was eating the foods I cooked from this book. The recipes are amazing and until you buy this book you won't know what good food is. I also found I had many of the ingredients for the recipes in my kitchen!