• sck on July 28, 2010

  Nice little everyday Italian cookbook. Nothing too complicated or fussy here, but a great reference when you're wondering what you can make with what's already in your pantry or refrigerator.

Notes about Recipes in this book

• Checca sauce

  • Ladyberd on May 25, 2010

    the fastest easiest pasta sauce ever and it tastes like a bowl of summer! http://ladyberds-kitchen.blogspot.com/2010/05/taste-of-summer-tomato-basil-pasta.html

• Chicken cacciatore

  • ajs on June 22, 2010

    Very good dish. Even better the next day. It was easy and reasonably quick, too. I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs and breasts, and it was fine. I also added a little crushed red pepper, which wasn't in the original recipe.

  • Zosia on February 22, 2021

    Very flavourful version of cacciatore - quite lively thanks to the capers - that family enjoyed. I had only skinless, bone-in chicken breasts and the cook time provided worked perfectly.

  • kaityblueeyes on September 07, 2023

    This was so simple and delicious. Definitely a repeat! Used only skin on bone in chicken thigh and a a few leftover onions from the fridge. Loved it!

• Chicken piccata

  • PennyG on May 28, 2023

    A classic! Super easy and tasty.

  • peaceoutdesign on December 14, 2022

    Fast and tasty. I used huge chicken breasts so I sliced them to make them thinner and pounded to even thickness. I would do this again regardless of the breast size.

  • Littlebirdchoc on April 29, 2020

    Fantastic! Used boneless thighs and pounded flat

• White bean dip with pita chips

  • PennyG on May 05, 2013

    I made this for my Supper Club last night and it was a hit. Raves from all and so easy. I added fresh basil since I had some on hand.

  • Baxter850 on October 28, 2020

    Delicious and super simple. Make this a staple. Dip and chips were both great. Increase salt to taste in dip. Make extra pita chips.

  • VeryCherryBerry on March 06, 2020

    Incredibly tasty, I could eat this daily. Definitely rinse the beans for no sour aftertaste. And it's easy - no mess.

• Salmon baked in foil

  • lorloff on August 23, 2016

    Fantastic salmon dish. Used fresh French thyme from the garden and home grown Greek oregano. Will definately make again. Good enough for a dinner party and simple to make!

• Marinara sauce

  • jbuchman on July 11, 2015

    Easy and really good. May need to add water -- 2 T. at a time-- if the sauce is too thick. Good balance between acid and sweet -- no need to add sugar.

  • averythingcooks on April 23, 2021

    I have made (and really like) Giada's "Quick Marinara" from Family Dinners and I think that this one falls short of that one. The addition of carrots & celery seems more "bolognesey" to me and the lack of fresh herbs (ie basil) is an obvious flaw. I fussed & added to this to get it where I was happier but I will stick to her other version in the future.

• Lemon spaghetti

  • aileent1 on February 03, 2012

    Wonderful! I always make this with salmon (with lemon and capers) and broccoli or asparagus. Reserve a bit of the lemon until you taste it. I also cut down on the olive oil a bit.

  • Baxter850 on June 19, 2022

    Super easy and delicious. Need to use great pasta. Served with Jamie Oliver’s swordfish and shrimp sautéed with garlic. Will make again. Would be good for dinner with company, as you can make the sauce ahead of time.

• Wild mushroom risotto with peas

  • Shannoncooks17 on June 10, 2023

    Delicious! Easy to make and so full of flavor! Perfect meal on its own or if you wish to have with a protein.

• Simple Bolognese

  • alliebaybay on February 03, 2015

    Here is the link to the recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/simple-bolognese-recipe3.html

• Baked polenta

  • alliebaybay on February 03, 2015

    Here is the link to the recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/baked-polenta-recipe4.html

• Mushroom ragú

  • alliebaybay on February 03, 2015

    Here is the link to the recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/mushroom-ragu-recipe3.html

• Almond cake

  • alliebaybay on February 03, 2015

    Here is the link to the recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/almond-cake-recipe3.html

• Basil pesto

  • emiliang on August 04, 2013

    This is tough to beat on both taste and simplicity. Used walnuts instead of pine nuts -- same great result.

  • kaityblueeyes on October 20, 2023

    Simple and tasty pesto recipe. Served with thin spaghetti and fish with an orange butter sauce and it was a delightful dinner!

• Beef and cheese manicotti

  • dmass on June 18, 2013

    I used fresh mozzarella as that is what I had on hand. I would like to try it with the non fresh mozzarella next time. My husband loved it just the way it was.

• Chicken Parmesan

  • Zosia on January 21, 2015

    A lighter version of this dish that omits the breading and frying and uses just enough marinara sauce and cheese to enhance the chicken rather than overwhelm it. I used small chicken breasts pounded thin rather than cutlets so my portion size was closer to 170g.

  • kaityblueeyes on November 17, 2023

    A nice lighter (non-breaded) version of chicken parm. The herb olive oil was a nice touch for added flavor!

• Farfalle with turkey sausage, peas, and mushrooms

  • Zosia on August 06, 2017

    Really quick and very tasty and I liked that it was quite vegetable heavy - a complete meal in a bowl. I used only 2 tbsp oil...that's all that was needed to brown and crisp the sausage and cook the mushrooms.

  • sldoug on March 19, 2016

    I love the simplicity of this recipe but I was a bit surprised to see onion and garlic missing from the usual cast of characters. I used regular Italian sausage and could have used bulk instead of links since the recipe has you remove the sausage from its casings before cooking. I liked the balance of the sweetness of the peas with the boldness of the sausage and this recipe made enough to keep me in leftovers for a week.

  • kaityblueeyes on March 10, 2023

    Decidedly simple and delicious! I used pork sausage because it is what I had. Definitely a repeat.

• Herb-roasted root vegetables

  • Zosia on December 05, 2015

    I had only carrots and Brussels sprouts on hand and was feeding only 4 people so I reduced the amounts of the other ingredients accordingly. The flavours were good but the carrots needed longer to roast than the sprouts. Next time, I'll slice them thinner and leave the sprouts whole.

  • Shelmar on September 06, 2019

    "Those were yummy. I'd have them every week. And the were easy to do." This has become our family's most repeated recipe.

  • kaityblueeyes on November 17, 2023

    Good flavor, grocery didn’t have parsnips so skipped those. The sweet potato and carrots cooked slower than the Brussels, so may have to add them later next time.

• Broccoli and green beans

  • Zosia on January 21, 2015

    Delicious garlicky vegetable side dish but there was no need for all of that oil....2 tbsp was plenty. Also, if I'd used the full amount of red pepper flakes no one would have eaten it...1/2 tsp added enough kick.

• Peas and prosciutto

  • Zosia on January 24, 2016

    This was an easy way to elevate a bag of frozen peas. I do caution you to taste the prosciutto-pea mixture before adding salt; even with only half the prosciutto, it needed just a pinch or two.

• Basic risotto

  • alisonkc on January 21, 2014

    This is the risotto recipe that I work off of for any kind of risotto. When I'm feeling fancy I'll poach some shrimp in the broth as I make the risotto, and then stir them in at the last minute. Try swapping the chicken broth for a seafood stock for something really decadent!

• Frittata with potato and prosciutto

  • averythingcooks on June 20, 2023

    I cut this in 1/2 in a 6" skillet and added broccoli florets & a little grated cheddar to the filling. I mostly follow Dorie Greenspan's frittata cook times (2 minutes on stovetop, around 7-8 at 350 & then a quick run under the broiler - always perfectly cooked to my taste). I liked the use of prosciutto & basil here and this was a good "eggs for dinner" option served with a simple salad of mixed garden greens.

• Red wine vinaigrette

  • averythingcooks on April 27, 2021

    When I search for "steak salad" recipes, what I'm really after is a nice robust dressing stand up to the steak, cheese (usually blue or feta) and multiple greens & veg. This time, the search lead me to Giada's steak salad and ultimately to this really good vinaigrette. I did add a little dijon to emulsify it and we both agreed - this was a great way to dress a hearty steak salad.

• Endive and frisée salad with blood oranges and hazelnuts

  • Baxter850 on March 09, 2023

    Great winter salad. The lettuces are bitter so the oranges are needed to balance out the bitter. Liked even more with a little goat cheese.

  • kaityblueeyes on June 18, 2023

    Used escarole because I couldn’t find any other bitter lettuce. Definitely bitter but a nice accompaniment to a sweet marinara pasta.

• Roasted bell pepper salad

  • Baxter850 on October 28, 2020

    Garlic was overpowering at first. It mellowed out after an hour, but I would still reduce to 2 cloves next time. Tasty and was good for an antipasti set up. Served with Giada’s white bean dip from Everyday Italian which was absolutely delicious and simple.

• Steak salad

  • angrygreycat on September 10, 2022

    Nice and easy week night dinner. Made it with a strong bleu cheese.

• Roasted pork loin with fig sauce

  • whitewoods on October 20, 2019

    It's okay, but I went out of my way to find black-mission figs, and because I opted for the tawny port (based on the online reviews) that was a $20 bottle that I used. (There was only a small amount left for drinking afterwards.) It just was a lot of trouble and expense, and I didn't feel that the end result was really worth it--although it was kind of fun to make. The sauce is a very nice color.

  • PQPantry on November 01, 2018

    Excellent recipe good for entertaining.

• Chicken spezzatino

  • whitewoods on August 01, 2023

    This was very easy and yummy and utilizes some ingredients that you may already have on hand. I certainly didn't need to add more than 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. That was more than enough pepper, as this recipe barely served 4. Also, the sauce wasn't really reduced enough after 30 minutes, but I wouldn't worry about it too much--because I continued cooking the stew for a while, but then the beans got overcooked, and in the end it did have a stew-like consistency. It'll probably be fine once you chop up the chicken and re-add it to the stew.

  • kaityblueeyes on August 31, 2022

    Very simple and tasty. Great way to use up fridge and pantry staples for a quick healthy dinner.

• Veal Marsala

  • jay.moe on February 10, 2022

    I substituted chicken cutlets for the veal. It's not very different from other marsala recipes with the exception of rosemary. I have always sprinkled chopped parsley on top. The sauce had a nice balance and isn't overly sweet, like I have found with some recipes. It was a quick weeknight meal with minimal prep work. I will use this recipe again.

• Spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes (Aglio, olio, e pepperoncino)

  • jay.moe on July 09, 2022

    Added parmesan cheese to the finished dish. Tasted good - a quick summer meal.

• Orecchiette with spicy sausage and broccoli rabe

  • jay.moe on February 08, 2022

    This was a quick and easy dinner to pull together with a side of garlic bread. I substituted regular broccoli for the broccoli rabe. The recipe was well written, easy to follow and tasted very good.

  • kaityblueeyes on September 19, 2023

    This was pretty good. The store didn’t have broccoli rabe so used regular broccoli crowns.

• Fettuccine Alfredo

  • jay.moe on October 17, 2021

    Although the Alfredo smelled very lemony, it did not overpower the dish. Sprinkled the finished dish with a bit of fresh parsley for some added color and added grilled chicken. Quick, easy recipe...my favorite kind!

• Ziti with asparagus, smoked mozzerella, and prosciutto

  • passthegelato on December 26, 2021

    Tastes surprisingly good for something thrown together from ingredients on hand. Subbed broccoli for asparagus because that was in the fridge. I sauteed the garlic in a small pan and returned everything to the pasta pot, rather than get the big skillet dirty. This is salty due to the prosciutto.

  • kaityblueeyes on August 28, 2023

    This was pretty good, simple, quick and easy.

• Easy osso buco

  • Shelmar on September 06, 2019

    "It tastes good" a repeated winter meal.

• Italian egg sandwich

  • ginger2212 on October 27, 2021

    This is DELICIOUS! Great if you have leftover marinara or eggs or bread to use up.

• Milanese sandwich

  • kaityblueeyes on November 14, 2023

    This was a delicious way to use leftover pork chops! Ate with a carrot ginger soup as a filling lunch.

• Roasted chicken with balsamic vinaigrette

  • kaityblueeyes on July 26, 2022

    Really tasty marinade but cook time a little long for one chicken. Came out a bit dry.

• Aunt Raffy's turkey stuffing

  • kaityblueeyes on November 24, 2023

    Interesting take on stuffing! Like a whole meal in itself. Omitted the chestnuts. Was good!

• Chocolate amaretti cake

  • kaityblueeyes on September 09, 2023

    Quite a tasty cake. Almost like a brownie!

• Pine nut cookies

  • kaityblueeyes on October 25, 2023

    Pretty, subtle cookies! Definitely a pantry staple recipe, delicious with coffee and tea.

• Roasted baby potatoes with herbs and garlic

  • kaityblueeyes on September 12, 2023

    Delicious way to make potatoes. Loved the mix of sizes that all turned out great!

• Farro salad with tomatoes and herbs

  • kaityblueeyes on August 08, 2023

    So simple and delicious. Would probably be good with some mozzarella. I used barley because I couldn’t find farro but recipe worked exactly the same.

• Caprese salad

  • kaityblueeyes on July 26, 2022

    Simple tasty caprese preparation

• Marinated olives

  • kaityblueeyes on July 18, 2022

    I am not an olive fan but I made as a part of a mezze spread and my olive loving guests really enjoyed it!

• Fried calamari

  • kaityblueeyes on June 18, 2023

    Solid fried calamari recipe

• Vodka sauce

  • kaityblueeyes on November 24, 2022

    This is very vodka forward! I may not have cooked it down enough, also didn’t have enough heavy cream so substituted some almond milk which could have been the issue.

• Turkey meatballs in tomato sauce

  • kaityblueeyes on June 18, 2023

    Very delicious, with the marinara sauce from the same book. Classic, wholesome, tasty.

• Orecchiette with toasted bread crumbs

  • kaityblueeyes on October 29, 2023

    Simple and yummy. She has the best pantry-type pasta recipes.

• Grilled jumbo shrimp

  • kaityblueeyes on September 01, 2023

    Served with the arugula pesto and spaghetti. Used shrimp without shells so was more like 1.5 mins per side on a grill pan. Perfect way to make shrimp!

• Scampi on couscous

  • kaityblueeyes on August 05, 2022

    This is delicious! A unique take on shrimp scampi, my favorite version I have tried. I used pearl couscous because it was what I had. Not too labor intensive. Definitely a keeper!

• Arugula pesto

  • kaityblueeyes on September 01, 2023

    Added lemon to the pesto with spaghetti and 1/4c pasta water. Ended up being quite delicious! Needed quite a bit of salt once with the pasta though tasted really salty alone. Super easy, quick and cheap.

  • karliekramer on March 21, 2023

    Lovely way to use up that abundance of arugula in the garden in spring, with a few small adjustments. - I cut the oil in half, as my olive oil has a pretty strong flavor that I didn't want to overwhelm the pesto - I threw in a few walnuts to give it extra body

• Kitchn

  She hits the Italian-American classics, with plenty of pasta, meat, and a deeply satisfying sauce chapter, with seven recipes for red sauce, and five for pesto.

  Full review