Everyday Pasta
by Giada De Laurentiis
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Book Reviews of Everyday Pasta
Book Review: A must have
Summary: 5 Stars
I confess that my husband and I have something of a cookbook fetish. We have, however, invested in some books that didn't prove worthwhile and so before shelling out the money for Giada's books, I decided I would check them out from the library, make some recipes, and go from there. I wanted to know if the recipes were as good as she makes them look on the show and if, upon tasting it, my husband and I would have expressions on our faces that mirror the food ecstasy Giada seems to experience. The answer to that question: Oh, yes! Today I've ordered all three of her books because I simply can't imagine living without them and not being able to make her delicious, heavenly recipes whenever I want. Here are my thoughts on a few of the recipes:
Rigatoni with Sausage, Peppers, and Onions - I come from an Italian family and grew up with Italian sausage on the grill, peppers and onions served alongside. I've never had it with pasta before but Giada's recipe is divine. I used chicken Italian sausage rather than the turkey and this dish was so tasty that I could hardly wait to eat the leftovers the next day.
Roman-Style Fettuccine with Chicken - This was another hit that even my rather picky daughter liked. The sweetness of the peppers blends well with the mustardy tang of the capers. The chicken was juicy and delicious and the sauce perfectly seasoned.
Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells - My four-year-old daughter loved this one so much that as she was eating it, she was asking when we could have it again. I found the yield to be much higher than indicated in the recipe but this was a bonus as I was able to make an extra tray of the shells, freeze them, and then pop them into the oven one night for a quick dinner. The dish is savory and delicious and tastes very rich--even when using all white meat ground turkey.
Linguine and Lobster Fra Diavolo - My husband raved about this one and positively devoured it. I'm not as big of a seafood fan as he is but I liked it as well. It has a very nice bite to it and is surprisingly spicy for a dish with just a bit of red pepper. The cognac really brought out the bite of the pepper.
Basic Marinara - This is a tasty basic sauce that is easy to make and just takes a bit of time for the simmering. We made a double batch and frozen it and it was very good when thawed and used to make a quick baked penne with some mozzarella.
Book Review: Good source of pasta recipes
Summary: 4 Stars
Giada De Laurentiis has become quite well known as a result of her expertise in cooking. This cookbook is another among a number that she has authored. And it is a nice addition to the collection of cookbooks "out there."
We do a lot of pasta cooking and Italian cooking at home. We cook up a "gravy" each Sunday (tomato sauce and accompanying herbs and goodies). The recipes in this book will be solid additions to our repertoire.
The book begins with a nice, brief essay on the nature of pasta, concluding with the author's "Top 10 Pasta-Cooking Tips" (e.g., always cook pasta in a big enough pot; don't add olive oil while cooking; make sure that the end product is al dente; don't overdo portions when serving; etc.). The introductory part of the book concludes with a "dictionary" of types of pasta, from capellini/angel hair to spaghetti.
The first section of the book is what she calls "Pasta Go-Withs," antipasto, appetizers, side dishes. One dish in this section that resonates with me: "Sautéed spinach with red onion" (page 58). Easy to make and tasty! Ingredients are straightforward; the instructions are pretty easy to follow. A good antipasto is always a nice accompaniment to a meal. On page 81, the author presents a nice antipasto salad, complete with pasta (in this instance, fusilli).
Pasta main dishes? Some that strike my fancy: Roman-style fettuccine with chicken; Linguine with butter, pecorino, arugula, and black pepper; Spaghetti with sautéed onions and marjoram; Mini penne with parmesan chicken.
Sauces? I like marinara. The author provides her recipe for this redoubtable treat on page 224. Dressings? Take a look at her Roasted garlic vinaigrette on page 228.
All in all, for those who like pasta dishes, this is a very nice addition to one's culinary library.
Book Review: Great pasta recipes
Summary: 5 Stars
I love Giada's amazing Italian dishes, and I love pasta -so combining the two into one cookbook is the perfect recipe collection for me. In fact, I first gave this cookbook to my mother for mother's day last year, and was so addicted to it that I had to get my own copy when I moved out.
In Everyday Pasta, the fine art of making sophisticated, yet easy and mouthwatering pasta is thoroughly explored. Not only does the book offer a heavy dose of pasta recipes, but includes a history of pasta, information about the differences between fresh and dried pasta, some pointers on stuffed pastas and flavored pastas. There's even a small section on basic pasta recipes and basic sauces.
Rather than covering the typical bases in cookbook, Everyday Pasta omits things like desserts and explores appetizers, soups (pasta and non), salads (both antipasta and pasta) and pastas for every type of mood: hearty pastas, lighter pastas, special occasions and quick, easy weeknight pastas. Some of the tasty pasta dishes here include Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables, Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells, Rotini with Salmon and Roasted Garlic, and Cheesy Baked Tortellini.
It's incredibly hard to say no to such a savory collection of healthy, relatively easy and downright fun recipes. They're easy to follow and feel natural, though I admit that some of the ingredients are a little less common and appeal a little more to the "foodie" crowd, Everyday Pasta is the perfect staple for any cookbook collection.
Book Review: More style than substance
Summary: 3 Stars
This book contains a collection of recipes that Giada has presented on her show on the Food Network, and can be viewed as the companion to her show. The emphasis is, obviously given the title, on pasta, but there are some salad, appetizer, and dessert recipes as well. The production quality of the book is outstanding. There are beautiful photos of every dish, and the book is nice to flip through. I didn't think that the recipes themselves are particularly imaginative, however (just look at the sample recipe above). If you are a relative newbie to Italian cuisine, you may find this cookbook interesting, but for anyone who has cooked (or eaten) much Italian cuisine, this book isn't going to broaden your repertoire very much. You will easily be able to find better pasta cookbooks on Amazon. Most of the dishes in this book are designed to be made quickly and can be prepared in half an hour or less, so they are well suited to the busy lifestyle. There are a few baked pasta dishes that require a bit more effort (and time). Many of the dishes have also been `Americanized'. Bottom line is that this is a nice cookbook if you want some ideas for quick appetizers or pastas, but there aren't a lot of particularly memorable recipes (or even ideas here). Not something you are likely to return to again and again. A nice companion if you like Giada's show, but not a serious pasta recipe book.Book Review: So Easy and Impressive!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I swear by Giada's first 2 cookbooks and this one doesn't dissapoint at all! I am a newlywed and I haven't been cooking for very long and every recipe of Giada's has always come out wonderful. There are some basics in there, but tons of recipes that sound and taste much fancier and more difficult than they really are. My favorite thing about Giada's books is how exact her directions are, they really don't leave room for error. Honestly, when a cookbook just says to brown the pork chops, or sautee the veggies to crisp-tender, or whatever that is just SO meaningless to me. Giada lays it out perfectly, with specific directions like over medium heat cook the pork chops for 3 minutes on each side etc. She doesn't use any jargon or leave any guesswork to you so your meals will come out perfectly every time!! I recommend this book to people who want the most impact from their meals, with minimal amount of effort. Most of the meals in this book take under 15 minutes to prepare, and the rest only really take 15-30 minutes of hands on time. Amazing food that is healthy, and much less expensive than a trip to your favorite italian restaurant, can really be prepared VERY quickly with Giada's help. Oh, and it is great for entertaining since the recipes can easily be doubled or tripled.