This morning there was a tweet that came across my account. TWalk What's the best book you've read this year? I started to laugh. Tim Walker writes a blog for Hoovers called Hoovers Business Insight Zone. He always tweets questions that put a smile on your face, they make you think, they have great information. So I replied @TWalk Do cookbooks count? Because outside of The Tipping Point and my recent book, Trust Agent, I just don’t have time to read books. I read a lot…blogs, articles, recipes! His response came back @TWhiteCreations Everything counts! Well, now that I opened my big mouth, it made me think about the cookbooks we use on a regular basis. Some for ease and simplicity, others because we are in the mood for a culinary challenge.@TWalk I'll have a few for you tonight, just looking through my favorites.
As you follow Friends Food Family, I would like you to be able to make these recipes as easily as we do. Here are a few cookbooks that you can choose from and hopefully try some of the recipes. I say we because it takes two people to create what I photograph and Jeff, my other half, is a big part of the production.
The first book is Giada DeLaurentiis - Giada's Family Dinners. I can’t say enough about any of her cookbooks, but this one we use the most. From Pasta E Fagioli to Swordfish Spiedini and Chocolate Chip Cookies with Hazelnut, her recipes are interesting and her instruction for preparation is easy to understand and always leave you with a perfect dish.
The second book is Risotto by Maxine Clark. Our family eats risotto at least once a week. We make risotto with vegetables, tomato sauce, fresh herbs...the list goes on and on. This cookbook opens with a step by step risotto recipe which gives you the confidence to try different variations.
The last one is On Top of Spaghetti by Johanne Killeen and George Germon who own Al Forno in Providence, RI. Since we spend most of our time traveling between Providence, RI and Boston, MA for some of our food products, it's nice to have someone local to recommend. As I flipped through some of the greasy pages, this book has been right in the midst of every re-creation. One of our favorites is probably the simplest, Salinna-Style Spaghettini with Cherry Tomatoes. It's even better when you can use the cherry tomatoes and mint leaves from your garden. Hint...I make the cherry tomato sauce and use it on my homemade pizza with fresh basil and mozzarella cheese.
I know what you're thinking, is Italian food the only thing you cook? No, but we do love it! I promise, as we cook into 2010, I will showcase more cookbooks from which we get our recipes.If you are looking for a great gift for the beginner or creative cook, these are great cookbooks to start or add to any collection. If you have cookbooks that deserve to be recognized, drop me a comment and I'll add them to the list. Until then, Mangia!
