Italian Cookbooks Review

If you had told me 10 years ago, I'd actually spend my free time sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cookbook in the other... and enjoying it... I'd have laughed out loud. Now, I enjoy reading cookbooks and finding something new to try. But not all cookbooks are for everyone and one recipe you think is too hard today, may be just right a month from now.

Here are some I've chosen to review for you. To be fair I give a list of pros and cons for each and do not show preference towards any particular one.

Pros: Lots of recipes and with photos! That is a big plus. Another positive is that these are recipes from Italy, many from the Northern regions which offer a more diversified selection. Mario gives a good background summary of each dish. I also like the fact that the recipe subtitles are in Italian as this always makes it fun.

The book also includes a ribbon bookmark which is helpful, but I still will probably stick to my mountain of post it tags since I use them to flag every possible recipe I ever want to make.

Cons: These are not all common recipes with basic ingredients. He gives you the ingredients you need, but does offer some alternatives. Keep in mind Mario is very big on quality and creativity. Therefore, don't be surprised if a recipe calls for something you have never heard of. You may find what he calls easy will take a little longer for you to call some dishes easy.

Summary: In summary, this book will push you to try new things, and yet will help you revamp some of the common Italian dishes you are more familiar with already. It would be a nice book to add to your Italian collection. Use for the times when you are willing to either expand your culinary knowledge, or if you are already at that higher level - it should be a breeze.

Pros: For Italian foodies it is a must have. The photos are beautiful and like Mario, Giada does a nice job explaining therecipes. She offers detailed step by step instructions, which is great for those fairly new to the kitchen arena. Her recipes are inspiring and although some may be considered not super easy there are definitely some simple recipes in there for everyone.

Cons: This cookbook wasn't designed to be amazingly easy with everyday ingredients. If expecting to come home at 6 in the evening and grab a recipe plus have it on the table by 6:45, you won't find it here. Some of the recipes call for ingredients which we don't always have on hand, but could be substituted. For example she often uses japanese eggplant in her recipes (and on TV), but you could use regular or Italian eggplant instead.

Summary: This is still a recommended book to have at home. Take the time to learn the recipes and plan ahead when you find a recipe you want to try - this way you can make sure you have the ingredients on hand when cooking time comes. The book gives a good range of dishes not just one set style. It is sure to have something for everyone.

Pros: This book has a lot of cultural information on the history and regions of Italy. If you are a fan of her Lidia's Italy show on PBS on Saturdays, and enjoy her insights into the various parts of Italy then you will enjoy reading through this cookbook. The historical writings are more like articles and are written by her daughter Tayna who also appears periodically on the show. As usual her recipes are flavorful and delicious, sure to impress even yourself!

Cons: Unfortunately, there are not photos for every recipe - but don't let that turn you away. I love photos and can't stand it when they don't show images as that is often was peaks my interests not the title. However, if you are a dedicated fan of Lidia, I doubt that will turn you off. It is a great book whose editorial style make it a great coffee table book as well. Leave it on the counter to pick up and enjoy - don't put it away in your cookbook stash. You will learn something new each time you read it.

Summary: If you are a newbie at cooking - much less Italian cooking - and you are looking for a cookbook that is just and only that - a cookbook, you might be disappointed in this particular book because it gives you much more. However, most of her books will talk about the history of the recipes, this is her style and what sets her apart. If looking to give this book as a gift, make sure the individual likes to read.

Pros: The son of Marcella Hazan which means he was trained well. However, it seems Mr. Hazan is more in tune with the fast paced life many of us have. This book is easy to understand and is written with the average busy person in mind. We want a good meal that doesn't take 3 hours to make. He doesn't use a long list of hard to find ingredients in his recipes which is nice. The ingredients you might not have, you could substitute with something else.

Cons: Sometimes he uses ingredients you might not have like fresh sheeps milk. Not all recipes are super easy and will push a novice cook, which can be viewed as a "con" but then again, might be a good thing. After all, we can't get anywhere by staying in the same place. Like some of the other books mentioned, not every recipe has a photo. I'm a sucker for photos, so that is disappointing.

Summary: A great addition to your collection. The book includes recipes you can whip up quickly, while still offering some more challenging ones as well. Even though some recipes may actually take more than 45 minutes, it is well worth it and with time will become faster to make as you learn your own shortcuts and substitutions. Definitely worth a try and would make a great gift.

Pros: It teaches you how to cook everything. I use this book so often from how to cook meat to grilling vegetables. It has your most basic recipes from how to boil water to how to grill leg of lamb. It has wonderful illustrations (not photos) which interestingly has been more helpful to me than I would have imagined. Italian or not, this book is like a kitchen Bible and is perfect for everyone.

Cons: It isn't just about Italian cooking. No photos. Really big. Not for people looking for exquisite recipes. Many of the recipes are fairly basic without any specialty. It is a basic book about a lot of cooking.

Summary: I love having this book on hand. I recommend this book every time I pull it out in front of someone new - unless they already know a ton about cooking. It makes a great reference book more than a challenging collection of recipes you rave about. A great gift for anyone new to cooking as I was when it was given to me. I let this book sit for 2 years without opening it and kicked myself for doing so. However, for someone who already knows how to roast chicken, grill leg of lamb or ribs, or create their own fish stock, this won't be an exciting book. I think this book is a great bridal gift.