De Laurentiis - Giadas Family Dinners

ALSO BY GIADA DE LAURENTIIS
Everyday Italian

Copyright 2006 by Giada De Laurentiis
Photographs copyright 2006 by Victoria Pearson

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.clarksonpotter.com

Clarkson N. Potter is a trademark and Potter and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
De Laurentiis, Giada.
Giadas family dinners/Giada De Laurentiis; photographs by Victoria Pearson.1st ed.
Includes index. 1. Cookery, Italian. 2. FamilyNutrition. 3. Quick and easy cookery. I. Title: Family dinners. II. Title.
TX723.D326 2006
641.5945dc22 2005021630

eISBN: 978-0-307-48546-5

v3.1

To my family,
for giving me the courage, spirit,
knowledge, and passion to do what I love!

Welcome to my family, where life is shared in the kitchen and around the table over recipes that have been handed down through generations. Where we stay close and take time to be with one another. Where we define ourselves by the food we eat and the stories we tell, as we pass plates and bowls around the table.

This is the kind of unpretentious, authentic, down-home Italian cooking that my family loves. It represents an unbroken line from my grandfather (who gave me my love of food), to Italy (where I was born), to my extended familys life today in America. There is a lot of tradition in this book, and a lot of love.

Some of these recipes are special-occasion dishes in my household, but you shouldnt wait for a special occasion to entertain. A family-style meal is all about sharing. Its not about getting dressed up, or serving food so fancy that people are afraid to stick a fork into it. Its a chance to take a step back from everyday worries and focus on what really matters.

This is accessible and uncomplicated home-style cooking. With many of the recipes, it doesnt matter if youre cooking for four or fifteen; changing the quantities is easy. The recipes are flexible and nearly foolproof, so you dont have to worry about making everything perfect.

In my opinionone colored by my familys rich culinary traditionsanytime you invite someone into your home and cook for them, you are making them part of your family. So dont worry about finishing all your preparations before the guests arrive. Invite everyone into the kitchen to help make the meal youll share together. Personally, I am honored when someone asks me to help in the kitchen. Thats when I know theyre really letting me into their life.

So thats why Ive chosen to gather my favorite family-style recipes, those that are a bit more casual both to make and to serve. Its fun food, nothing too fancy, but its all deeply satisfying. After all, youre also inviting me into your home by making these dishes; I want you to be proud when you serve them.

Traditions help us understand who we are and where we come from. Sharing a meal helps define who we are as a family. Hopefully in this book youll find heaping portions of tradition and culture, of good food and family togetherness. And perhaps it will inspire you to create new traditions of your own.

Soups and sandwiches are both simple and economical. In Italy they are traditionally created from whatever is on hand, so theyre a great way to use up leftovers. Soups are easy: most of them start with the traditional sofrito of onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. You saut them together, add the rest of your ingredients and some liquid, then walk away.

Here in America (and in Italy, too) soup is thought of primarily as lunch food, but when I was growing up it was often what we ate at dinnertimeespecially on those nights when my mother was too tired to cook something more elaborate. What I love about making soup for dinner is that there are always leftovers for the next day and the flavor only improves overnight.

Sandwiches are considered more of a snack than a meal in Italy, so those youll find in this chapter are really Italian-American creations. And my recipes are just suggestions; more than almost any other dish, a sandwich leaves room for improvisation. Experiment, and have fun.