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My Italian Kitchen:
Home-Style Recipes Made Lighter & Healthier

by Janet Zappala

Description
Presenting a fantastic selection of authentic recipes, this cookbook captures the robust flavors of real Italian cooking. Inspired by the expertise of the author’s family, this compilation offers such favorites as Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad), Mama Mia Ziti, and Blue Crab Linguine in Marinara Sauce. Featuring traditional sweets such as Save-the-Day Sour-Cream Coffee Cake, Tiramisu, and Dad’s Favorite Pignoli Cookies, this tempting array of mouthwatering masterpieces also provides tips on how to make these classic dishes more healthful without sacrificing flavor.

Review
I really love to eat but I truly hate to cook. My big beefs with cooking are that it takes too much time and the recipes are always difficult. Then a friend gave me Janet's cookbook and dared me to try a recipe. I was having a group of colleagues over so I decided to prepare the vegetarian chili (and I'm not even a vegetarian.) My gosh, the chili was easy to make AND such a hit that people commented on what a great cook I was. Who would ever think? I've tested out more recipes and have never had such AMAZING marinara sauce! The mascarpone stuffed chicken (which I like to call Al Capone chicken) is delicious, too. This book has opened up a whole new world for me. I'm never going to admit that I "love" cooking but I will say that Janet's recipes have transformed my eating habits and kitchen rituals. I highly recommend this book and have started giving it to my cooking and non-cooking friends as a gift! 
(Amazon.com: G. Irvine "New Cooking Convert," San Diego)