Since I love an easy meal and have a penchant for Italian flavours, when I was offered a copy of Ciao Italia Five-Ingredient Favorites: Quick and Delicious Recipes from an Italian Kitchen to review I agreed immediately. Ciao Italia is the latest cookbook from Mary Ann Esposito who hosts the long running PBS series of the same name.
The book focuses on using just five ingredients to create delicious Italian recipes. To be honest after flipping through the cookbook a few times I wasn’t very inspired. The book does contain more than a dozen pictures and 75 recipes but it was not laid out in a way that enticed me to cook anything. Furthermore I found a few typos, as well as some unclear instructions. On a more positive note, all the ingredients are easy to find and many are probably in your pantry already.
I chose to make two dishes, the Fried Shrimp and the Lemon Sauce. Like all of the recipes the fried shrimp was quite simple to prepare. The shrimp are lightly breaded in flour, salt, pepper and then egg, before being fried in butter with lots of parsley. Although I enjoyed the shrimp, if I make it again I will omit the egg breading which was truly too eggy for my taste. Shrimp are so delicate they don’t need much fussing over. That said, I really enjoyed the shrimp with the fried parsley and would also add a squeeze of lemon next time.
I enjoyed the Lemon Sauce recipe which I served with asparagus. First I roasted some asparagus in the sauce as well as some in just olive oil. Once cooked, I topped the plain asparagus with some of the remaining sauce. I enjoyed both. As a marinade it gave the vegetable a lovely and subtle flavour, while the raw sauce produced an asparagus dish similar to my cold asparagus salad recipe.
In general I don’t see myself cooking from this book frequently. I like picking up a cookbook and really wanting to cook everything in it. I probably would not purchase this for myself, but what about you? Do you like Italian food? Are you a fan of Ciao Italia? I am giving away a copy of this cookbook to a reader.
To enter you can do any of the following, each option will give you an entry:
1. Leave a comment and tell me what simple recipe is your favorite!
2. Tweet about the contest and link back to this post then leave me a comment saying you did.
3. Sign Up to Receive my Recipes by Email and leave a comment saying you did.
To enter you must be a resident of the US or Canada. This contest will be open until 6pm PST Friday March 19th and I will draw a random winner.
This contest is now closed, I will announce a winner shortly. Good Luck to everyone who entered.
Kat, there’s always room for another cookbook…sign me up!
We have a really simple picatta recipe that’s a big hit, and adaptable to either chicken or shrimp.
Lemon juice, white wine, some herbs and the meat over small pasta with green peas.
i love anything that’s simple. in fact, it’s probably all i cook ha
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My favorite simple recipe is pesto!! Takes 5 minutes & goes well on pasta, chicken & even pizza. All you need is basil, pine nuts (or walnuts), olive oil, salt & pepper.
Just RT it & signed up for daily emails. Looking forward to daily recipes!!
Hmm simple recipe— spicy popcorn. Really easy to throw together and its always a crowd pleaser!
A few yrs ago I found a Tiramisu Recipe from Cooking Light. It is easy and oh so good.
I echo the vote for pesto. Everytime I have leftover fresh herbs I make a batch. And even my fussy kids love when I use pesto in simple quesadillas for a quick dinner.
Pancakes are probably my favourite simple recipe!
Frittatas! Eggs are the perfect protein and so filling and no matter what I put into them, they always taste good. Even the not great ones are great after the addition of salsa or ketchup!
My simple recipes always involve the slow cooker. I have even done a wonderfully simple pasta in it!
I love all things Italian, so I would adore this cookbook! Thanks!
I love to marinate chicken in equal parts extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice, seasoned with garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Throw it on the grill- sooo good. For Latin American flavor I substitute lime juices for the lemon, and cumin for the thyme.
I can’t wait to try that lemon sauce, it looks heavenly!
My favorite simple recipe, which isn’t even really a recipe, are toasted bagel sandwiches! Everything bagels toasted and topped with cream cheese, spinach, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. YUM!
The easiest recipe I’ve been using a lot (and surprised me at how good it is!) is just sauteing some shredded chicken with some onions and a good salsa. The salsa adds a great flavor, and it can be served over rice, beans, salad, whatever! I just pick up a rotisserie chicken at Costco for $5 and go to town.
As someone who is on a serious budget, this book might be great for reining in my weekly grocery bill!
I think my favorite simple recipe is pasta with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella. Simple and satisfying.
I’ve got a bunch of cookbooks that I rarely/never cook from. What’s one more? My go-too speedy simple recipe is cannellini beans & broccoli rabe.
The lemon sauce & asparagus looks delish. And i signed up for recipes!
The lemon sauce looked amazing! I signed up for the emails and I also tweeted.
I’ve never seen the show, but I am intrigued by 5 ingredients or less. I’m all about simple, just about everything I make is pretty simple. My go-to, though, would probably be just pasta with butter and cheese!
shrimp cooked in a little olive oil w/ some basil and lemon juice and topped w/ a little cheese. goes great w/ some pasta, rice or a simple salad. or even just a piece of good bread.
I signed up to get your recipes by email!!!
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Thank you…
Am making the lemon sauce tomorrow…
julia
Cookbook sounds interesting!! Breaded shrimp doesn’t sound interesting…unless you like that taste of breading, etc. I like the taste of garlic, leek or onion, butter/oil and white wine. The fatser the better…….over cooked shrimp is no guda!
one of my favorites is linguine with clam sauce……
I cannot recall which cookbook I found this in, but it’s a simple sauce made from grape or cherry tomatoes, halved, cooked with thinly sliced garlic in a little olive oil until they ‘burst. Before serving, add thin slices of basil to wilt. Serve over pasta with a little parm
Cheesy Stuffed Meatballs appeal to me. Great giveaway, I love her.
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I like a mexican casserole I make that is just hamburger, seasoning, refried beans, salsa and cheese.
I do a very simple, but truly delicious turkey chili.
Thanks to the blender in my kitchen, Pesto Spaghetti is my super easy meal dish.
My fast and easy recipe is home made waffles.
My favorite simple recipe is for Black Bean Soup. It is always better the next day!
I signed up to receive your recipes by email!
My favorite is spaghetti carbonara which I’ll probably make tonight!!
My go-to dish is always veal scallopini – so easy, and yet so good!
My favorite simple meal is baked broccoli. Broccoli, a little oil, salt and garlic. Tossed and baked.
thats a spicey meatball
I love to make spaghetti and meatballs.
Caramelized red onions and mushrooms are easy and make anything delicious!!
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My favorite simple recipe is super simple- grilled cheese and tomato soup! Also nice is the breakfast for dinner option which was a big hit at my house growing up.
Love to make pesto
I love to make pasta sauce with wine, onion, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and a little butter all thrown together and put it on frozen ravioli. Its so quick and so good.
One bowl brownies = amazing!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love to make fresh pesto. Last fall a friend and I made it and poured it into ice cube trays. What a fantastic way to have single servings.
This is a great…great giveaway! Thanks!
I posted and linked your giveaway. It is on the left side of my blog where my readers look daily for new giveaways. Thanks again,this is a wonderful giveaway.
I signed up to get your emails. Off to check out your squash/basil dish….yuummmmm.
Pasta Marinara is really the only Italian dish I can cook – the simplest of all!
My favorite easy recipe is taco soup. It is so good.
My fave simple recipe is wheat pasta topped with sauteed olives.
We love to make some basic sushi, with just whatever veggies we have around, even lettuce! Once you get used to rolling it up, its not that much work, and makes a nice change, especially in hot weather.
My favorite simple recipe is taco salad.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
My favorite simple recipe: eggs cooked on a bed of spicy tomatoes and onions.
Try pasta tossed with garlic, olive oil fresh asparagus and grated cheese to end.
I love roasted lamb shoulder with red wine, garlic and rosemary.
My favorite is baked zita
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my simple recipe is pizza – well it can be simple or complex, but it’s always yummy!
Love chicken and dumplins!
My favorite easy recipe is baked pasta.
pasta with tuna,olive oil and garlic!
bellivas@yahoo.gr
My favorite simple recipe is chicken pasta. It is so good and everyone gets full
The best recipe is throw some pasta in with tomato paste and spices
Fettucini alfred is easy to make.
My favorite simple recipe is black beans and batsmati rice topped with soy sauce and Sriracha sauce. Quick, easy, and REALLY REALLY delicious!
My favorite easy recipe is chicken quesadillas (my husband’s favorite too)
My easy recipe is angel hair tossed in olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper, spinach and shrimp. Yum!
My favorite simple recipe is tuna burgers. 5 ingredients and it cooks in 5 minutes. Great for kids and my hubby and I like them too!
fettucine alfredo – quick, easy, and I love it
When we are pressed for time or just don’t know what to make our go to meal is always taco soup. All the ingredients are pantry items we usually have and you just throw them all together. Delicious!
We’d toast buttered bread with tomato paste and top it with tomato slices, mushrooms, bits of bacon, slices of cucumber and layer everything with melted cheese. It tastes just like a mini pizza in a fraction of the time!
My favorite simple recicpe is tacos! And any kind will do: chicken, beef, fish!
Love tacos!
roasted chicken with potatoes and carrots
It’s impossible to choose just one. I have a million I want to try, but I have to say I’m very fond of the Ham and Mushroom Lasagna.
My favorite simple recipes is grilled chicken.
luckycat1818(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like the recipe for Tortine di Gianduja e Banana
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My favorite is beef stew.
I love BBQ chicken for an easy recipe.
My favorite simple recipe is a loaded baked potato. Thank you!
I like to make spinach lasagna. If you use the no-boil noodles, it’s very simple. Thanks.
My favorite simple recipe is frittata.
I like pasta, some fresh tomatoes, olive oil and fresh herbs, garlic and cheese. Great!
spaghetti and meatballs
My favorite simple recipe is roasted asparagus with lemon and fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
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My favorite is pasta with zuccini, mushrooms, olive oil, & parmesan- a quick fix at any time!
love to make grilled sandwiches with cheese, turkey, then topped with hummus, lettuce and pickles!
My favorite simple recipe is macaroni with mushroom sauce and tuna, thanks.
I signed up to receive your recipes.
my favorite is steak and veggie kabobs!
My favorite simple recipe is spicy slow cooker sloppy joes
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
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Sausage Rigatoni in a Marinara sauce!
emeri49@aol.com
My favorite simple reciple is chicken fajitas. Grill the chicken and put it on a fajita with lettuce tomato and ranch salad dressing.
chicken parm & spaghetti
Rosemary lemon chicken
My favorite simple recipe is homemade pizza. Yum!
Grilled Cheese!
My favorite simple recipe is spaghetti with meat sauce….hearty, easy and quick.
Pasta Carbonara is a deliscious simple dish
rhondastruthers atyahoo dot ca
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My favorite simple recipe is our family marinated crab. You marinate cold crab in a mixture of olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and red onion. So easy and so yummy!
I signed up to receive your recipes via email.
Thanks!
I looooove spagetti!!!!!!
hope i win thanks!
corpesa14@yahoo.com
http://twitter.com/corpesa14/status/10708102809
I tweeted!
corpesa14@yahoo.com
Omelettes are super simple!
I would actually love to try that lemon-sauce recipe….I have been looking for a new way to serve asparagus.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Tortellini Recipe with Mushrooms, Ham, Red Peppers and Cream sounds extraordinary!
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net
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digicat{at}sbcglobal{dot}net
The Chinese Orange Chicken sounds soooo good!
HobartsMama {AT} aol.com
Oops, please DELETE the above comment. I didn’t think the first one went thru!
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HobartsMama {AT} aol.com
My favorite recipe is roasted chicken with roasted vegetables – easy as 1-2-3 and for some reason, everyone ooohhhss over it like I spent hours in the kitchen.
Tweet: http://twitter.com/AsTheNight/status/10728287250.
I signed up to get your recipes by email.
I like the The Chinese Orange Chicken.
My boyfriend and I just discovered a Thai Peanut Chicken recipe that’s soon to be a favorite!
I’ve subscribed to receive recipes!
I tweeted about this giveaway!
My favorite simple recipe is stir fried veggies with chunks of leftover cooked chicken.
Pastina with butter and parmesan is my quick favorite
My favorite and delicious simple recipe would be buttermilk fried chicken
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I would love to win this Thank You for this great giveaway fancyfeet45@earthlink.net
Meat Loaf
I like english muffin pizzas
Nothing is easier than Aglio e Olio.
I have a lasagna recipe that takes about 15-20 minutes to prepare but is delicious. Thanks for this opportunity to win.
I love spaghetti and meatballs!
I signed up to receive your updates by email.
Pioneer Woman cooks spicy orange garlic shrimp! To die for!
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