Synopses & Reviews
What makes Italian food so delectable? As chef, author, and TV personality Valentina Harris beautifully shows with these 90 recipes, the mouthwatering flavor comes from the use of only the freshest ingredients. With her help, and this gorgeously illustrated collection, even a beginner can cook up a luscious Italian feast to delight the senses. Harris goes through the year, presenting an array of tempting dishes that make the most of seasonal bounty. Baked Artichokes with Parmesan and Butter or Asparagus and Pea Risotto burst with the flavor of springtime produce. Sunny summer brings such treats as Prawn and Olive Salad or Cod Fillets with Chili, Garlic, and Capers. Take advantage of autumn's harvest with Baked Stuffed Mushrooms, Eggplant and Mozzarella Lasagne, and a tasty Blueberry Semifreddo. Warm up for winter with a classic, hearty Tuscan Vegetable Soup, Pork with Leeks, or Mixed Bean Casserole. From appetizer to dessert, every dish is irresistible.
Synopsis
Celebrity chef Valentina Harris makes traditional Italian cooking easy. Over 100 authentic Italian Recipes have been simplified for the contemporary kitchen- piquant ragus with fresh pasta, nutty risottos, succulent meat and poultry dishes, aromatic fish and creamy desserts. Her instructions cover all the techniques necessary to master Italian cooking, from rolling fresh pasta, perfecting polenta and non-sticky gnocchi, notes on cleaning and boning fish and how to pick the choicest ingredients. An engaging raconteur she enriches her recipes with fascinating food facts and anecdotes from her store of childhood memories of the family kitchen in Tuscany. Her recipes are beautifully decorated with charming illustrations.
About the Author
Valentina Harris is a celebrity chef, author, broadcaster and lecturer. Her first television series Italian Regional Cookery for the BBC was shown in 1990 and 1998 to international acclaim and she has just completed a new series for television, Tasting History. Director of Villa Valentina Cookery Holidays, she has been teaching cooking for over 10 years.