Synopses & Reviews
Layered Potato and Cheese Casserole (Teglia Di Patate Al Formaggio)
Serves 6
Seek out authentic Italian Fontina, the semisoft mild cheese from the Valle d' Aosta. Offer this classic baked dish as a substantial first course or as a simple main course at lunch, perhaps accompanied by a green salad.
2 lb (1 kg) baking potatoes, of uniform size
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
salt
1 cup (4 oz/120 g) shredded Fontina cheese
2/3 cup (2 1/2 oz/8O g) grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup (8 fl oz/240 ml) light meat stock (recipe on page 40)
Have ready a large bowl of water. Peel the potatoes and slice them into thin rounds. As soon as they are sliced, place them in the water. When they have all been sliced, drain well and lay out on a kitchen towel to dry.
Preheat an oven to 300° F (150° C). Grease a baking dish about 9 1/2 in (24 cm) in diameter with the butter. In the prepared dish, layer some of the potato slices in a circle, with the slices slightly overlapping, to form a flower. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a small handful of each of the cheeses. Repeat the layering until you have used up all the potatoes, finishing with the cheeses. Pour the meat stock over the surface.
Bake until potatoes are tender when pierced with a toothpick and the top is slightly golden, about 11/2 hours. Be careful that they do not become too brown on top, covering the dish with aluminum foil if necessary. Serve hot directly from the dish.
Shrimp with Tarragon-Ricotta Stuffing (Gambeironi Al Dragoncello E Ricotta)
Serves 8-10
Here is a refreshing summer dish, as the shrimp are served cold. You can prepare a smaller quantity of the recipe and serve it as a first course oncrostini, or "little toasts." While tarragon is not common throughout Italy, it is showing up in newer recipes such as this.
60 large shrimp (prawns) in the shellrounded
3/4 cup (6 1/2 oz/200 g) ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
pinch of salt
several lettuce leaves
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook until they turn pink and curl slightly, about 5 minutes, or less if they are not large. Drain well and let cool, then peel. Using a sharp knife, make a deep incision lengthwise along the back of each shrimp. Set aside. In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, tarragon and parsley. Season with the salt. Pack the ricotta mixture into a pastry (piping) bag fitted with a star tip. Cover a platter with a bed of lettuce leaves.
Open the incision in each shrimp and pipe a ribbon of the ricotta mixture into each opening. Arrange the shrimp on the lettuce-lined platter and serve.
Synopsis
First published in 1988,
Italy the Beautiful Cookbook (200,000 copies sold) set the standard for exquisite presentation of Italy's authentic cuisine, combining recipes with scenic photography and details of each region. Now, nine years later, with worldwide interest in Italian food booming and a new Italian cuisine emerging, this new book has new power to satisfy the cook and traveler in us all.
With the accelerated pace of contemporary life, Italians have had to change their style of eating. This has created fresh ideas, quick approaches to the classics, rediscovered heritage dishes, and a more relaxed way of assembling menus. This new style is reflected in the more than 220 recipes culled from cooks throughout Italy. Emphasis is on light first courses and vegetable dishes; simply prepared fish, poultry and meats; and homemade breads, pizzas and desserts. Photographs of each region accompany these mouthwatering recipes. From the Alps to Sicily, from the fragrant herbs of Liguria to the pungent olives of Puglia, readers will delight in rediscovering the pleasures of this inspiring beloved country.
About the Author
Lorenza de Medici has published more than 30 cookbooks. She has appeared in a 13-part series on Italian cooking for public television and conducts a cooking school at Badia a Coltibuono, an 11th-century estate and winery near the Chianti region of Tuscany. She divides her time between Milan and Badia a Coltibuono.