From Publishers Weekly
Pilato, longtime potter (some of her pieces are showcased here) and cooking teacher, has produced a veritable primer of Italian cuisine that instructs with keen attention to the craft of cooking and with an artist's appreciation for the good things in life. She begins with a practical list of essential pantry ingredients and basic kitchen equipment, plus a prep guide for mainstays like Romano cheese, chopped garlic and canned tomatoes, followed by "stepping-stone" recipes for such staples as marinara and pesto. After the salad section, dried pasta, fresh hand-made pasta and gnocchi are thoroughly explained and sauced, from a simple Pasta with Raw Tomato and Mozzarella Sauce to a more complicated Cannelloni Stuffed with Spinach and (home-made, of course) Ricotta. Pilato is sensitive to modern home cooks' busy schedules and unabashedly promotes her love of using a microwave to prepare her Spinach Sauce. Beyond pasta and sauce, the recipes range from Squash and Potato Stew and Ladder Bread with Olives and Onion to classic Italian meat and seafood preparations such as Osso Bucco (braised veal shanks); Fresh Sausage; Mama Rosa's Roast Chicken with Honey, Oranges, and Lemon; and Cod from the Christmas Eve Tradition. And what could be better to complete an authentic Italian meal than an ethereal Basic Eight-Egg Sponge Cake? Pilato clearly understands food and appetites and has prepared a book that is as inviting to the novice as it is to the advanced home cook.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Born in Sicily, Pilato now lives in Pennsylvania, where she teaches Italian cooking to both adults and children. The first section of her engaging book presents "Stepping-Stone Recipes," which are set up to provide a mini-course in essential cooking techniques. These are followed by dozens of her favorite recipes, both familiar traditional dishes and more unusual regional specialties. Pilato is obviously knowledgeable, and her text and head notes, many of which include family anecdotes and memories, are written with warmth and charm. There are dozens of Italian cookbooks in print, but Pilato's style sets this one apart.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Anyone seeking a reasonably comprehensive Italian cookbook not written by a chef will appreciate the hefty substance of Grace Pilato's Cooking with Grace . She covers most of the familiar territory of Italian cooking without resorting to cliched dishes. Her simple shrimp-stuffed ravioli will please those seeking something new and comforting at the same time. Her bread recipes entice, but they are designed to produce multiple loaves for large families or for giving away. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"Cooking with Grace is not only full of honest, homestyle recipes; it is also an insightful look into good cooking techniques."--Mary Ann Esposito, author of Ciao Italia-- Bringing Italy Home and host of public television's Ciao Italia
"There's no way you can lose your footing when learning authentic Italian cooking with Grace Pilato's step-by-step course. Reading her cookbook, you not only learn the important culinary basics but you also gain insight into the Italian heritage behind the cooking."--Chef Martin Yan, host of the PBS series Yan Can Cook
"There's no way you can lose your footing when learning authentic Italian cooking with Grace Pilato's step-by-step course. Reading her cookbook, you not only learn the important culinary basics but you also gain insight into the Italian heritage behind the cooking."--Chef Martin Yan, host of the PBS series Yan Can Cook
Book Description
An extraordinary course in real Italian cooking, from basic Stepping-Stone recipes to more complex dishes for special occasions.
Grace Pilato was born in a Sicilian mountain village. From her close knit family, she learned to make the homey, traditional dishes of her mother country-- and the joys of preparing and eating them together. Now a popular cooking instructor and an accomplished potter, Grace brings her talents, knowledge, and love of Italian cooking to this unusually useful, friendly cookbook.
Starting with Stepping-Stone recipes for basics you'll use again and again, both on their own and in more complex recipes later in the book, Cooking with Grace progresses to intermediate and more advanced dishes, always taking care to fully explain each technique, as well as inform about the ingredients and special traditions that are essential to great Italian food.
Recipes include
* Magnificent Stuffed Artichokes
* Sunday Tomato Sauce with Meatballs
* Lentil and Pumpkin Soup
* Onion, Garlic, and Cheese Focaccia
* Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
* Mama Rosa's Roast Chicken with honey, oranges, and lemon
* Lemon Ricotta Drop Cookies
* Graziella's Decadent Cake
The recipes are complemented by stunning photography featuring artwork by remarkable American craftspeople.
Whether you are an absolute beginner or a lifelong Italian cook, this informative warmhearted book will help you celebrate the traditional foods and timeless pleasures of cooking with love and flair.
Grace Pilato was born in a Sicilian mountain village. From her close knit family, she learned to make the homey, traditional dishes of her mother country-- and the joys of preparing and eating them together. Now a popular cooking instructor and an accomplished potter, Grace brings her talents, knowledge, and love of Italian cooking to this unusually useful, friendly cookbook.
Starting with Stepping-Stone recipes for basics you'll use again and again, both on their own and in more complex recipes later in the book, Cooking with Grace progresses to intermediate and more advanced dishes, always taking care to fully explain each technique, as well as inform about the ingredients and special traditions that are essential to great Italian food.
Recipes include
* Magnificent Stuffed Artichokes
* Sunday Tomato Sauce with Meatballs
* Lentil and Pumpkin Soup
* Onion, Garlic, and Cheese Focaccia
* Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
* Mama Rosa's Roast Chicken with honey, oranges, and lemon
* Lemon Ricotta Drop Cookies
* Graziella's Decadent Cake
The recipes are complemented by stunning photography featuring artwork by remarkable American craftspeople.
Whether you are an absolute beginner or a lifelong Italian cook, this informative warmhearted book will help you celebrate the traditional foods and timeless pleasures of cooking with love and flair.
About the Author
Born in Valguarnera, Sicily, Grace Pilato teaches popular cooking classes in State College, Pennsylvania. She is also an accomplished potter and art instructor.
