Lidia's Commonsense Italian Cooking: 150 Delicious and Simple Recipes Anyone Can Master: A Cookbook

I enjoyed cooking several recipes from the book, and the family loved the results! Ingredients were easy to find which is always nice.

Lidia Bastianich is one of my favorite chefs and in her new cookbook, she has put together a wonderful collection of simple and satisfying recipes. The book is divided up into sections including appetizers, soups, salads, vegetables, pastas, fish, meats and desserts, and in each section she merges the old with the new. Some delicious highlights include a country lentil salad, a semolina and escarole soup, baked fennel with sage, mafalde florentine style, and citrus roasted veal. She teaches you how to make marinara sauce (we call it gravy in my household), fresh pasta and risotto. One after the next, the recipes are beautiful and appear delicious.On a personal note, I credit Lidia with teaching me how to make risotto on her television show in the early 1990s. Her instructions are simple, her recipes are easy to follow, and her enthusiasm for food and family are infectious. If you want to know what it's like to be part of an Italian family, this is it.On another note, if you want to try some of Lidia's cooking without breaking out this wonderful book, visit one of her fabulous restaurants. I have eaten at 3 of them, and the food there still ranks among the best Italian food I have ever eaten.This book is well worth the money you spend on it. You will enjoy it for years to come. Thank you Lidia!!!

This book accompanies "Lidia's Kitchen" now on the GPB Create.com channel. I was so impressed with the first two programs that I immediately purchased this book. I watch each program at least two times, sometimes three. Then I review the program's recipes found in this book. I have learned so much from both the TV programs and especially from this book. I have made huge changes in the way I cook. Lidia she loves vegetables and so do I. But now I am trying new vegetables, like fennel, swiss chard, kale, and other greens that my husband and I have never enjoyed before. I am also trying new ways of cooking: I love all the one pot meals. I am using fresh and best canned roma tomatoes. Lidia emphasizes adapting recipes to what is on hand, testing our own ideas, and I am doing just that! I learn something new from every TV program. Then I open my book and cook what I am reading while recalling what I have learned from "Lidia's Kitchen." Even after the TV programs are over, I will have this easy-to-read book that has not only recipes but also pearls of 'wisdom' about pasta, fish, meat, and more. ALL enjoyable and useful.

I love Lidia and this is the second of her books that I have purchased. I was watching a recent episode and she made the Pappardelle with Turkey Rolls. DBF requested that we serve this for Thanksgiving (it looked absolutely delicious). I could have printed up the recipe for free, but I prefer to have the cookbook in front of me. I also like to have the cookbook and follow along as I am watching the show because I can make notes in the book (I do this when I alter a recipe). There is a good assortment of recipes and I look forward to cooking several of them. I found what I call an unusual number of recipes containing anchovies and I HATE ANCHOVIES! I'll have to figure out a replacement for them or just leave them out. It's a good book with fantastic pictures in it. It will fit nicely in your cookbook collection and I do recommend it (even with the anchovies).

I'm an accomplished cook, but I still purchased this book because sometimes you just want a terrific meal that doesn't require a million ingredients & all day to prepare! Lydia's recipes are similar to my dad's (Sicilian), uncomplicated & just plain good to eat & enjoy. If you consider yourself a chef, this book may be too simple - but give yourself a break & make one of these recipes & enjoy your extra free time. For a beginner cook - this book will teach you how to prepare a fine, hearty meal. I have all of Lydia's cookbooks and added this one to my collection. This could possibly be my 2014 go-to cookbook because of the time these recipes will save me. Like the title says, 'Commonsense'. It really is. Besides, now that my dad has passed, these meals bring back lots of wonderful memories of his cooking. You will love this cookbook if you grew up on Italian food.

I love Lydia but this book was a disappointment. Many recipes for foods that aren't found in my rural area. Not menu basic recipes.

Just ordered this book after looking at the preview. Looking at the preview, every recipe shown was one I would love - easy, with ingredients I either always have on hand or are easy to find at the local store. Then I looked at the index and I was sold. Thanks to the preview recipes I can try a couple of these while I wait for the book to arrive. The first one I'll do it the deviled eggs with anchovies. My husband loves anything with anchovies and he's definitely an egg slut, so he is going to love these eggs. The cold beef salad is definitely a warm weather "must try". Thanks again Lidia for another great work; and thanks for your shows. I feel like I'm in your kitchen or traveling with you whether you are in Umbria or the many other great places you visited. It has made me stretch my own repertoire of Italian dishes.

I remember watching one of Lidia's cooking shows on PBS and I found this book.I just had to read it and found some tasty food that I would like to try. Lovethis book. Thank you. Must read for anyone who loves Italian food.

the best thing about this book and Lidia's books and cook shows is that they teach you how to cook and how to teach yourself. Lidia does Italian but really she's honest. she could just give recipes but with her and her books/shows, she primarily teaches. she enjoys herself, so will you.

Excellent book in great condition, the delivery was very good, would recommend this seller.

I'm picky about the cookbooks I put on my shelf, and I wanted this cook book for a long time. I Love Lidia's home-style Italian cooking! Love how she crushes those canned San Marzano tomatoes with her hands! I bought a used version for a very good price. It has joined a place on my kitchen cook book shelf...when I'm not enjoying reading it or making some of the great recipes!

You can't go wrong with a Lidia cookbook in your collection. Great book with old school recipes.

Great book & recipe's, not too many pictures. I am not a fan of anchovies or capers and was surpassed (and disappointed) with how many recipes in this book contain one or the other ingredient. For this I gave a 3, otherwise it is definitely more than a 4 star book.