Giada’s Italy: My Recipes for La Dolce Vita

Whether you are looking for quick weeknight meals, snacks, or something more substantial to impress the weekend guests, Giada’s Italy has you covered. It’s not only full of mouth-watering recipes, it also has a cozy, intimate family feel to it. The beautiful photographs of food and the author with her daughter made me think that this book was put together with a sense of love and joy, which shines through every page.

The recipes range from simple to a little more time consuming, hence the focus on weekend cooking when there is more time for creating savory meals for the whole family. One of my favorites was pan-seared salmon with artichokes and white wine, which to me takes a piece of cooked salmon to an entirely new level. I also liked the Positano pizza, because who wouldn’t love a mini pizza in the shape of a heart, and the savory crostata, which makes a great snack or a meal depending on your preference.

On top of the wonderful variety of recipes, I enjoyed the information the author provided about Italian life and culture. I think this book gives one the possibility of incorporating a little of that Italian flare into mealtimes without having to go all the way to Italy. So let this cookbook put a smile on your face and inspire you to whip up something fun and flavorful.