Italian is my favorite kind of food so im always looking for cookbooks but definitely like the easier recipes so I had to read this book and its definitely on my level. I cant wait to try more recipes and use the stuff I learned from this book

I found all of my favorite Italian recipes and then some! My favorite section is the dessert section! Lots to choose from and they couldn’t be easier to do.

This cookbook has lots of traditional Italian recipes, but also has added little twists that make them unique. For instance, the Bruschetta with Honey Ricotta and Prosciutto or Spaghetti Cupcake Frittatas. I'm also intrigued by the Amalfi Lemony Tuna Capellini. Recipes are easy to follow and also include suggested pairings with other recipes in the book. There are a few more photos than the average cookbook published these days, and I say the more the better! The visuals are what make the recipes worth trying!

Italian cookbooks are a dime a dozen; almost every cook owns at least one. However, “good” Italian cookbooks aren’t easy to find, and with today’s busy lifestyles, finding an Italian cookbook with doable recipes that most of want to cook is pretty tricky. The Easy Italian Cookbook: 100 Quick and Authentic Recipes is an exception. Paulette Licitra, who grew up in an Italian family in New York and studied in Italy, knows what modern cooks want, and she delivers. This isn’t a cookbook with all of the familiar dishes we are used to. Although there are recipes for perennial favorites, there are unique, mouthwatering dishes that un-Italians may not have ever heard of.

One thing that is important in any cookbook is personal notes, vignettes, and explanation of the dishes; this cookbook has them, and Licitra is an excellent writer who makes readers feel like they know her or want to be her neighbor. It’s so much more fun to prepare a dish when we know where it came from or that it is a favorite in someone’s family. The first dish I tried was Soft and Cheesy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms because it was midnight and I had all the ingredients. I always prepare my polenta overnight in my slow cooker, so I knew it would be ready and waiting in the morning ready to make it into a quick lunch. For dinner that night, I couldn’t resist the Linguine with Fra Diavolo Shrimp Sauce – Yum! One thing that is helpful is that Licitra suggests accompaniments with every recipe. Those who aren’t Italian (actually and those who are) will be very appreciative.

This cookbook is great because Licitra has used minimal ingredients to make authentic dishes. There is no need to go out searching for special ingredients – most are in our freezers, fridges, or pantry shelves. The instructions are easy-to-follow, and anyone, whether beginning or experienced in the kitchen, can turn out picture-perfect dishes. Unfortunately, this publisher doesn’t think photographs are as important as most of us do, and there are very few. The ones included are nice, but most cooks want more.

This is one cookbook that will actually get used over and over; it is highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

The pictures in this book grabbed me right away. As a fan of Italian cuisine, my mouth was watering at the various pasta dishes. Usually I gloss over desserts, as I am not a big dessert maker, but even I had to pause at the tiramisu. The book also featured one of my favorite cocktails, the Negroni.

I liked the way the recipes were categorized:

Essentials
Aperitivi and apps
Soups and salads
Polenta, risotto and frittatas
Pasta and sauces
Pizza, breads and Focaccia
Veggies and legumes
Poultry and meat
Fish and seafood
Pastries and desserts

I love when a cookbook covers the basic ingredients and gives a little background. This book did it perfectly. The book also included prep and cook time which is helpful, especially to new chefs unfamiliar with how long things take. Lastly, you can easily tell if a recipe is vegetarian, dairy free or gluten free, a huge plus for those on special diets

Overall, this is a great cookbook, a book with some classics as well as some new takes on Italian cuisine. A perfect book for someone living on their own learning to cook. It would be even better if it had more pictures.

Thank you Callisto Media and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Easy Italian Cookbook by Paulette Licitra is just that, easy AND wonderful. The recipes are easy to read and easy to follow. In this book, you will learn Italian Essentials such as herbs, cheeses, meats, and spices. Even if you are not new to Italian cooking this book has wonderful and useful information.

The chapters/sections of this cookbook include: Aperitivi and Appetizers, Soups and Salads, polenta, Risottos and Fritattas, Pastas and Sauces, Pizza, Breads and Focaccia, Vegetables and Legumes, Poultry and Meats, Fish and Seafood and Pastries and Desserts.
There is something for everyone found between the covers of this book.

While I might be biased as I love to cook italian, I can relate to this author as I share an almost identical heritage to her and my parents also grew up in Brooklyn. I also had a myriad of relatives to learn from and I am always looking for traditional recipes that are a slight variation on some of my favorites. I bookmarked a lot of recipes that I will definitely be trying. Some of the added benefits of this books is that the author gives you tips for each recipe and what to pair the recipe with. It also includes whether a recipe is dairy and/or gluten free; vegan or vegetarian.

Italian food is huge in my family and this author promises great tasting Italian made recipes in an easy way. I myself was really impressed with the amount of information and the abundance of how versatile and helpful the contents are.

The only downside I honestly found (I really had to look) is that I would have preferred to have seen more pictures of the cooked recipes. There is only one or two photographs per section and I would have loved to have seen more.

This is an awesome cookbook. Kudos to the author for a job well done.
I would like to thank the Publisher, author and NetGaley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I can’t wait to see what you do next!

I love to cook, but don't like following complicated recipes. I often make up my own based on the ingredients I have at home! This cookbook really fits the bill for me. The recipes are easy to follow without excessive instructions. The language is simple and easy to understand--the author does not throw around a bunch of terminology that people cooking at home might not know.

The book opens with a note from the author and some tips on particular ingredients that are important in Italian cooking. Most of the recipes do not require an excessive amount of ingredients and they are easily found at the grocery store. I love how the author provides different tips throughout the book as well--time saving tips, ingredient tips, dietary tips, and so on. She also provides tips on pairings with other dishes!

My mouth is watering from reading through these recipes. I can't wait to try a few of them that I might have been hesitant to try before!

Great addition to my cookbook collection. It had a nice selection of classic Italian dishes, presented in an easy to follow and execute manner. Definitely user friendly and suitable for both a kitchen novice or anyone looking for a few new ideas for dinner.

I learned how to make a delicious Italian meal after reading this book! Good but not many photos. Simple recipes mixed with tips and pairing techniques. I will be using this book for quick and easy classic dinners.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Media/Rockridge Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a cook book. I loved the recipes but they remind me that I love on an island in a developing nation! Many of the ingredients are not found here and I can not even grow them. Oh but I can dream. Seemed well done. There are a few I can do so am excited! 4 stars

The rest of the book is filled with mouthwatering photos with delicious recipes that are easy to follow. I love how the recipes even suggest with what to pair with (appetizer and entree or etc). I loved this cookbook and recommend for any beginner or anyone who loves cooking.

The Easy Italian Cookbook by Paulette Licitra is just that, easy. The recipes are easy to read and easy to follow. The ingredients are fresh for the most part.
In this book, you will learn Italian Essentials such as herbs, cheeses, meats, and spices.
The sections include Aperitivi and Appetizers, Soups and Salads, polenta, Risottos and Fritattas, Pastas and Sauces, Pizza, Breads and Focaccia, Vegetables and Legumes, Poultry and Meats, Fish and Seafood and Pastries and Desserts.
Something for everyone, I am a fan of pasta of any kind and as I was looking through the cookbook, I saw a lot of recipes that I will definitely be trying. What I liked were the tips for each recipe and what to pair the recipe with.

Right now I am very much enjoying exploring cookbooks.  Since it is not possible to travel or go out to eat, I love having other ways to think about (and make) good food.  This cookbook which features 100 Italian recipes is a delight.  If the photos don't make you salivate, I will be surprised. 


Start with an Aperol Spritz, move on to crispy artichoke hearts with aioli dip and then have some tortellini in brodo with spinach or maybe a panzanella salad with cucumbers. A few of the other recipes include spaghetti cupcake frittatas, lemony risotto with asparagus or pasta with 30 minute meat sauce, and of course, pizza. Then after fish or poultry or other proteins, don't forget desserts including raspberry mascarpone mini hand pies and Sicilian almost orange cookies among others. 


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this culinary treat.  All opinions are my own.

A nice collection of classic Italian recipes; unfortunately there are very few photos. I've received a complaint along those lines before, so will not be purchasing this one.

All too often I feel like I’ve been deceived by cookbooks who promise simple, delicious recipes made from easy-to-obtain ingredients, and proceed to give instructions for complex kitchen procedures I don’t have the time or equipment for while demanding ingredients that I can’t afford or can’t even find.

I am happy to say that "The Easy Italian Cookbook" is exactly none of those things. It delivers all that it promises, and then some. There is a lovely variety of meals here that cover everything from appetizers to dessert, all built upon simple ingredients that I can easily obtain at any one of my local supermarkets. Not only that, but the ease with which all these recipes can be tossed together makes this book a welcome addition for anyone’s kitchen, from the first-time cook to those who just want a collection of quick, tasty go-tos for busy nights. To top it all off, author Paulette Licitra gives each and every recipe a suggested pairing, which is honestly a thoughtful feature that I personally haven’t seen too much of, and is great for anyone who wants to go a little further while cooking up a speedy taste of Italy.

It’s really just a lovely little recipe collection all around. It’s not just what an Italian cookbook should be, but honestly, it’s what I think every cookbook should be.

The cover is gorgeous! This book has lots of easy and yummy everyday recipes. I wish there were pictures so I could see how the dishes would look like. There are lots of recipes that I would personally make at home. I enjoyed reading about Italians lifestyle and I was impressed when I read that they eat pizza as a mid-morning snack, very interesting and I can't wait to visit Italy any time soon!

I got an advance reader's copy of this book complimentary from NetGallery in exchange of my honest review.

Thanks so much to Callisto Publishing for a copy to give my honest opinion. Italian food is huge in my family and this author promises great tasting Italian made recipes in an easy way. I myself was really impressed with the amount of information and the abundance of versatile and helpful information found between these covers.

What did I like? The book starts out with an excellent item list with descriptions and flavors that should be found in your kitchen to help make the majority of these recipes. The author gives out information on the style of meals from breakfast to aperitiv’s.... to appetizer’s and dinner. A wealth of information on how Italians buy their food daily to create the finest meals, or how the meals themselves follow through. Some of the tougher pronunciations of words like Bruschetta sound. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian recipes as well as gluten free. I also like how the author paired certain meals with a dessert...or an aperitivi with an appetizer. The only downside I can see is pictures of the foods. There is only one or two photo’s per section and I would love to have seen more.

Would I recommend or buy? Yes, the book had many favorites, from bruschetta to crab cakes. I thought the cook book was well charted and the recipes very easy and fun to follow. The book also had some factual information that was eye opening and stuff I had no idea. Like Caesar dressing is made with anchovies.... and I love the dressing but did not know that. So fascinating of a cookbook!

Thoughts for the author? Congratulations on your new release! Really a great cookbook. The author also boasts a blog so hopefully her blog will have more pictures and maybe some videos. This author also regularly travels to Italy. I hope her friends and family are safe from this tragedy of the virus. Loved the cookbook!

I really like how this breaks down Vegetarian, gluten-free, how long to make. Really helpful. Excited to see the recipe for Aperol Spritz. Will reference the cookbook a lot.

Not So Authentic

I'm surprised that Rockridge Press is releasing two very similar Italian cookbooks so close to the other. I've received them for review in the past month, and, as a result, it is too easy to compare them. In that comparison, this book rates lower.

Paulette Licitra is not a particularly good writer and Rockridge editors weren't as attentive as they might have been. Some of the writing is awkward and some is odd. Why say "to al dente" (no italics) when conventional food writing just says "al dente" (often with italics)? She refers to "eaters" a word I find crude when "people" would have done just as well. Many pages of my review copy are marked up with suggestions for more graceful sentences. At least one of the photos is printed upside down, that is, the photograph is printed at a different angle from the way it was snapped, inducing a tiny bit of vertigo. One of the "Time Saving Tips" begins, "To save time…" Lemons do not grow on vines. The "organic vs inorganic" block is underinformed.

Aside from my aesthetic preferences, the book is not very exciting. There is no map of Italy to help us put dishes into geographic perspective, and BTW, Long Island, the locale for some recipes, is not part of Italy. There is a nice vegetable section but nothing about the delicious and ubiquitous sautéed spinach or cold marinated eggplant preparations that are in every Italian deli.

Some good bits are sweet fruit pizza which I remember from a summer spent in Majorca (which is Spain, I know). There are some nice anecdotes about the origins of some recipes.

My biggest question is why Rockridge put the tag "100 Quick and Authentic Recipes" on this book. Quick enough, I guess, but not so authentic. While Ms Licitra had toured Italy and taken many courses from experts, her origins are New York and the American-ness of these recipes shines through. She acknowledges this on the crab cake recipe. It is perfectly OK to have a fusion cookbook or to have a book of Italian-American favorites or to write a cookbook of family favorites. But this is miles away from authenticity. Rockridge's fault here, I think.

I can't really recommend this book to you. You will find similar stuff free online.