Carnevale Italiano: The Romagnolis' Meatless Cookbook

Rating:
Summary: Easy, interesting and delicious -- worth tracking down
Review: After spending three hours last night preparing a just okay dish from The Greens cookbook, I had to jump on the net and find out if my favorite cookbook is still in print. Alas, it isn't, but in case anyone wanders to this page, here is what you can expect if you find this book somewhere:

The meatless in the title means this book has vegetable and fish recipes. These are very traditional Italian recipes, divided into convenient categories (pasta, soups, side dishes, etc.), but what makes them great is not only how quick, easy and tasty they are (my favorite recipe, ziti with tomato and tuna sauce, takes 20 minutes start to finish), but that the Romagnolis really tell you how to make the recipes using Italian ingredients, or how to adapt them to more easily available American products. For instance, the Romagnolis tell you what makes Italian tuna different from American and tell you where you can find the Italian version, but also tell you that you are perfectly okay using American tuna packed in oil. The only drawback is that sometimes the American vesion is available in different quantities than the Italian. For instance, my favorite recipe calls for a 7-oz. can of tuna, but American tuna is sold in 6 oz. cans. This is only a minor inconvenience, however, as amounts don't need to be all that precise.

There is a great introduction on Italian ingredients in general, and many of the recipes are introduced by a short history on the dish. Instructions and clear and concise. The recipes cover a wide range of ingredients and are great for full meals for non-meat eaters, or vegetable or pasta dishes to accompany a meat main course. Many are simple enough that you can see what is fresh at the market and then choose your dish to match. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Easy, interesting and delicious -- worth tracking down
Review: After spending three hours last night preparing a just okay dish from The Greens cookbook, I had to jump on the net and find out if my favorite cookbook is still in print. Alas, it isn't, but in case anyone wanders to this page, here is what you can expect if you find this book somewhere:

The meatless in the title means this book has vegetable and fish recipes. These are very traditional Italian recipes, divided into convenient categories (pasta, soups, side dishes, etc.), but what makes them great is not only how quick, easy and tasty they are (my favorite recipe, ziti with tomato and tuna sauce, takes 20 minutes start to finish), but that the Romagnolis really tell you how to make the recipes using Italian ingredients, or how to adapt them to more easily available American products. For instance, the Romagnolis tell you what makes Italian tuna different from American and tell you where you can find the Italian version, but also tell you that you are perfectly okay using American tuna packed in oil. The only drawback is that sometimes the American vesion is available in different quantities than the Italian. For instance, my favorite recipe calls for a 7-oz. can of tuna, but American tuna is sold in 6 oz. cans. This is only a minor inconvenience, however, as amounts don't need to be all that precise.

There is a great introduction on Italian ingredients in general, and many of the recipes are introduced by a short history on the dish. Instructions and clear and concise. The recipes cover a wide range of ingredients and are great for full meals for non-meat eaters, or vegetable or pasta dishes to accompany a meat main course. Many are simple enough that you can see what is fresh at the market and then choose your dish to match. Highly recommended.