Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "It was July 1975, a few weeks before I was to leave for America..." (more)
Key Phrases: red pepperflakes, saucelike consistency, penne rigate, Italian-Style Bread Crumbs, Nonna Adele, Strawberry Sauce (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Can it be that there are no bad cooks in Italy and Sicily? Or maybe there are only a few really good cooks, while the rest aren't so much mediocre as simply ordinary. But it's the children of the really good cooks who end up on TV cooking shows and in magazines and writing cookbooks, much like Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen, that skew what's real.

Nick Stellino has made a living in print and on TV selling the Italian family table, and this book is very much in that same vein--a little more personal, if nothing else. In often overly sentimental vignettes, Stellino shares with the reader the soul of his own family, the generations of aunts and uncles and grandparents, all of them seemingly either living in or very close to the kitchen. From this experience the reader can glean some helpful tips on how to prepare foods to cook in the Italian kitchen, how to plan meals, how to enjoy good food, and, of course, how to enjoy life: follow your dreams, follow your heart, money comes and goes but family is there forever. Stuff like that.

Stellino prides himself on presenting Italian dishes in simple, quickly assembled recipes, and that's what Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen is all about. The text is divided into chapters that include appetizers, soup, salad, and side dishes; pasta, entrees, desserts, basics; and menus. You'll find Braised Artichokes, Mussel Soup with Curry, Spinach Cannelloni, Chicken Scaloppine with Mushroom Sauce, Swordfish Scaloppine "Pizza Style," and Ricotta Cake with Coffee and Chocolate. --Schuyler Ingle

From Publishers Weekly

This collection of more than 100 original recipes is not intended to magically create a sophisticated cook. Instead, Stellino, host of PBS's Cucina Amore, sets a friendly tone for his fourth cookbook (after Cucina Amore and Nick Stellino's Glorious Italian Cooking), celebrating pleasures like shopping in an open market and singing off-key. Stellino's recipes, as promised, are simple and served with cheerful asides about Stellino's family and Sicilian culture. Even straightforward recipes like Pasta with Sausage and Mushrooms read seductively, with ingredients such as white wine and fresh sage, rosemary, basil and parsley. The thorough directions and "chef's tips" are cogent and memorable. In his recipe for Pasta with Black Squid Sauce, for example, Stellino reveals the secret of extracting the squid's non-edible gift: "To obtain the ink, remove the slender silver ink sac from the strands connected to the tentacles." Desserts, such as the indulgent Ricotta Cake with Coffee and Chocolate, tend to be unapologetically comforting rather than showy. Other favorites include Heavenly Tiramis?, and Chicken Scalloppine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Peas. Recipes are followed with menu suggestions for creating simple though unusual flavor combinations. Author tour. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (October 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399145338
• ISBN-13: 978-0399145339
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,601 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen, December 1, 1999

By	Robert Zimmer (Mendocino, California) - See all my reviews

A usual, Stellino shows lots of care and passion for his book and his recipes. I have all four if his books and recommend this one to anyone who wants to eat well while not having to spend all day in the kitchen. Bravo! 5 stars!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastico!, January 18, 2001

By A Customer

After watching Nick's program on PBS, I was dying to try some of these mouth-watering recipies. Fortunately, this book is a gift that keeps on giving! Some of the recipies require more preparation time, but they are very simple and easy to follow. So far, I have yet to try a bad recipie. Some of the combinations of ingredients are very unique, but have incredible bursts of flavors. It is a must-have for those who love Italian and Sicilian cooking!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In 2 years, I haven't moved past the Pasta chapter!, May 1, 2002

By A Customer

I love to cook, and my family loves to eat, but we don't always have time for that! Nick Stellino has a wonderful repertoire of quick pasta dishes, for which we usually have the ingredients on hand(or can come close enough). These aren't your typical spaghetti and meatballs pastas, but interesting, exciting, alternatives that my whole family enjoys (I have 4 kids from 8 to 15). I can't live without this book, and his others!