Amy Riolo - Italian Recipes For Dummies

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In addition to the book you’re reading right now, be sure to check out the free online Cheat Sheet for tips on getting comfortable cooking Italian dishes, reading food labels to identify authentic, quality Italian products, and planning a traditional meal like an Italian. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and type Italian Recipes For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the search box.

It’s time to start planning your Italian culinary adventure! Start by reading the Table of Contents and look at all of the subjects this book has to offer. You can begin wherever you like, but I recommend setting aside some time to really read and absorb the chapters in Parts 1and 2before diving into the recipes in Part 3. If you take the time to do this, the recipes will make more sense. You will understand the ingredients and why they are used. You will learn to pair the foods together properly in authentic Italian meals. Best of all, you’ll know how to stock your pantry, what to make when, and what to look for when buying Italian foods. It is imperative to know about the history and culture of Italian cuisine, so you know what to serve, when, and why. The concept of cooking seasonally is one that Italians take seriously, and it is better for our economy, health, and environment, so it’s a good idea to become familiar with Chapter 4as well. Chapter 5gives you the tools you need to recreate delicious and nutritious Italian meals in minutes with the help of a well-stocked pantry and pantry recipe formulas.

Next, read through the recipes and create a course of action. First, I recommend stocking your pantry accordingly. Then spend some time making the base recipes. Next, dabble with some sauces or try a beloved recipe when you have time to do so and enjoy yourself in the process. Little by little, try new recipes and experiment pairing them properly. When you have a particular type of produce you like that is in season, look up how to prepare it, or swap it out for an ingredient in another recipe. You’ll be on your way to cooking like an Italian in no time!

Remember that genuinely mastering a cuisine takes decades of interest, discipline, and dedication, as well as travel and experiences. This book contains information that you would carefully absorb from witnessing your family this way while growing up in Italy, which takes at least eighteen years. It also contains a great deal of information that you would learn if you spent years in an Italian culinary school and had the opportunity to travel throughout the country. If you are able to appreciate and integrate a few recipes or a chapter every two weeks, for example, and with just a bit of patience and dedication, by this time next year, your Italian meals and the quality of your culinary life will be totally transformed.

The important thing to remember is that there is no race and that incorporating a few of these suggestions (when it feels best to you) offers pleasant and positive payoffs. Remember that authentic Italian cooking is a lifestyle, and the results will continue to multiply throughout your life, so there is no rush. To rush into anything is not the Italian way. “ Chi va piano arriva lontano,” or “who goes slowly arrives far,” as the Italian expression suggests.

May you savor every moment at the kitchen and the table!

Part 1

IN THIS PART …

Understand authentic Italian cuisine, its history, and culture.

Discover the importance of mastering time-honored traditions.

Enjoy cooking seasonally.

Build an Italian pantry and learn to cook from it.

Learn the art of la bella figura — how to make a good impression with food.

Recreate Italian base recipes that are the backbone of the kitchen.

Embrace Italian-style Sunday and holiday meals.

Master everything from traditional, typical meals to light dinners at home and meals on the go.

Become fluent in Italian culinary terms.

Chapter 1

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding authentic Italian cuisine

Discovering the role of culture in the Italian kitchen

Knowing how ancient strategies work in the modern kitchen

Enjoying the seasons at the table

Understanding the importance of the pantry

Putting this book to use and making genuine Italian food

Love is the common denominator that binds the cuisine of each Italian region together to create a national treasure. Before discussing individual recipes and techniques, one must conjure up a sense of amore in order to be a great Italian cook. A deep sense of love for oneself, for those you’re cooking for, for the recipes and the regions themselves, and for the producers of the ingredients – let them inspire you to place a premium on cooking and eating well in the first place. Keeping those topics close to your heart and mind will inspire you to cook Italian food well.

Even if you’ve never cooked Italian food before, there’s no need to be intimidated. Despite Italy’s long, rich, and varied culinary history, the tips and techniques in this book prove how simple, accessible, straightforward, mouthwatering, and healthful Italian food can be.

Italians take cuisine very seriously while enjoying it to the fullest. In addition to mere fuel for the body, food is viewed as a source of daily pleasure and culinary medicine that should be savored. Along with fashion, music, art, architecture, design, and other artisan crafts, authentic cooking and food products are important parts of the culture that are a source of pride for Italians. Italians believe that the more informed we are on where our food comes from (both in the historical and geographical sense), the more we will appreciate it and enjoy it. In addition, understanding the history behind a dish helps to preserve its place in history by creating a place for it on the culinary landscape that won’t soon be forgotten. Taking the time to learn about Italian history and the unique features of its geography gives you the knowledge needed to serve the proper dishes at the right time of day and during the right season. It also enables you to pair foods together more easily and get the most out of seasonal produce. In short, knowledge of Italian history and geography helps to give you the mindset that an Italian naturally brings to the kitchen.