Friday, 13 June 2008

The Best Italian Pasta Books


A good English language pasta book is hard to find. Sounds silly doesn't it, after all there are so many of them on the market.
Ten years of living in Italy and being married to a wonderful Italian chef (also a great lady) has helped me to realize that most of the pasta cook books on the market are not at all "authentic."
The pasta dishes in Italy are just so wonderful and so varied but so few cook books reflect this. Something is always missing or the recipes have been changed greatly from the real Italian original. To illustrate my point, did you know the Pasta Alfredo does not even exist in Italy and neither does deep pan pizza.
Well getting back on track, my wife and I have kind of developed a pet project. We have vetted a whole bunch of books to find those that truly capture the real Italian cuisine. Many of these books reflect Italian cooking in general (see the link at the bottom of the page for details) and not just pasta. But when it comes to great English language books exclusively about pasta there is one that all pasta lovers should have handy in the kitchen. No doubt you already have it if you love cooking pasta, it is a real classic. The book is: Everyday Pasta.
Very well written and presented, our edition of this book is so well used that it is now very dog-eared. The recipes are ideal for that quick dinner or light lunch. They are easy to follow, very simple and yet they are really delicious. Some are very slightly changed from the original Italian recipes but most are 100% authentic. I love the Capellini Piemontese and the Fried Zucchini but there are many many more great dishes.
Everyday Pasta will sort you out with a good deal of pasta recipes but there is so much more to Italian cooking and my next article will be about a really special book with hundreds of quite magnificent recipes.
If you would rather not wait you can visit:
http://www.my-italy-piedmont-marche-and-more.com/italian-food-books.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_J_Smith

Which Are The Best Books on Italy?


I have read literally thousands of books about Italy. I moved to Italy ten years ago, both before and since moving here I have been a voracious reader of all things Italian.
Since I moved to Italy many of my friends and family, not living in Italy, have asked me for tips on which books I would recommend they read. I have noticed people normally tend to ask me for advice on three types of book in particular. These are as follows:
1) Good travel guides for an upcoming vacation to Italy.
2) Eating like an Italian - which books really share the authentic recipes and cuisine of Italy.
3) The best travelogues, books in which you feel that you are right there in Italy.
One important caveat is that many books I read before moving to Italy do not reflect the reality of Italy. Many of the cook books don't reflect authentic Italian cooking, many of the travel books don't reflect the real Italian lifestyle.
The books I have selected are the real thing. Page after page you will find yourself transported into another world. A celebration of the extraordinary quality of life in Italy. I can assure you that the Italy you will experience in these books is little known but it is 100% genuine.
This is my first article on the subject and my first pick is the book:
The Lead Goat Veered Off
Definitely my best book about Sardinia, travel or otherwise. If you read just one book about Sardinia read this one. The book tells a very humorous tale of a three month bicycle trip around the island. Very successful at conveying a real taste of life on Sardinia - I really laughed myself silly.
If you would like to see my other picks visit:
http://www.my-italy-piedmont-marche-and-more.com/sardinia-travel.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_J_Smith

What You Need To Know About The Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book!


If you are a considering both your weight and nutritional health then the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book (s) can be a very valuable tool. Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books have had numerous version released over the years, with changes in recipes and the changes to match their Weight Watcher Diet Programs. This article will offer an objective review of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books, detailing its advantages and disadvantages and whether or not it will be useful to you.
As mentioned in the introduction there are several version of Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books available, some even date back far enough to be currently out of print. They generally come in the form of a significant number of recipes (500, give or take), which are often based in handy loose-leaf binder. The recipes you will find in the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book, no matter what version you are using, are extremely varied and cover a whole gamut of sauces, breads, soups, meats, chicken, fish, and vegetarian entrees, pasta, vegetable, grain, and potato side dishes, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, deserts. The meals and recipes in the book are based around healthy and nutritional principles, however they are not so different from many of the favourite foods you may already enjoy as part of your diet. The inclusion of familiar foods in the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book includes; Pizza, Oven “Fried” Chicken, Beef Stew, Tuna Noodle Casserole, Chocolate Cake and much more. There is also a great number of incredible International inspired recipes that have been adored by customers worldwide. Thus the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book’s certainly have quality and quantity in terms of recipes, however it is the nutritional focus that differentiates it from your everyday cookbook.
The best feature of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book’s, and all Weight Watcher Cook Books, is the nutritional breakdown that is provided with each recipe. Used generally as the basis for the Weight Watcher Program (particularly the Weight Watcher Points Plan), the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book focuses on recipes that a tasty and nutritional by giving the dieter a review of the nutritional elements in each recipe (inc. the total Weight Watcher Point Value of the meal). The breakdown in the Weight Watchers Complete Cook Books includes details of the calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fibre, protein, and calcium, as well as the Weight Watcher Points. The Weight Watchers Cook Book’s are extremely balanced providing recipes for all types of dieters, whether you are a busy single professional who only has time for a quick after-work meal, or a house-wife (husband) who wants to prepare a nutritional dinner for the a family of four, this book has it all.
In addition to the bulk quality of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book’s there are also several little features that are very beneficial:
- handy tips for use of leftovers
- the inside scoop on how Weight Watchers tamed calories and fat, while maintaining tasty meals
- helpful hints for getting meals on the table faster
- basics of related Weight Watcher Plans
Now some of the negatives for the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book. While the nutritional breakdown is extremely useful for dieters, the Weight Watcher Point Values will only be relevant if you have an understanding of the points, and generally if you are taking part of a Weight Watcher Point System plan. Furthermore many of the older versions of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books are now outdated due to changes that have occurred in the points system employed by Weight Watchers as the plans have changed. If you are planning on purchasing a Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book as a supplement to your Weight Watcher Plan it is recommended you ensure that it relates to the current plan you are on.
Therefore if you are after a Weight Watchers Complete Cook Book it is certainly a choice that will provide your cooking with a variety and taste equal of any cook book on the market, while also looking after your weight and health. However if you are using the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book to supplement your Weight Watcher Plan then it is very important to ensure the version you purchase matches the plan you are currently under.
Tobius Whitman is an expert in the feild of Health & Nutrition with a special focus on Weight Loss. He has an extensive knowledge and experience with the Weight Watcher Program, particularly the Weight Watcher Point Calculator and as a result has produced several detailed reviews regarding the products Weight Watchers offer.
For more details refer to his site at http://www.weightwatcherspointcalculator.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tobius_Whitman