Vitale - Laura in the kitchen: favorite Italian-American recipes made easy

Copyright 2015 by Vitale Productions LLC

Photographs copyright 2015 by Lucy Schaeffer

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

www.clarksonpotter.com

www.crownpublishing.com

CLARKSON POTTER is a trademark and POTTER with colophon is a registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Vitale, Laura, 1986

Laura in the kitchen : favorite Italian-American recipes made easy / Laura Vitale ; photographs by Lucy Schaffer. First edition.

pages cm

Includes index.

1. Cooking, Italian. 2. Cooking, American. I. Title.

TX723.V565 2015

641.5945dc23 2015009570

ISBN9780804187138

eBook ISBN9780804187145

eBook design adapted from printed book design and cover design by La Tricia Watford

Cover photography by Lucy Schaeffer

v4.1

a

FOR MY NONNA , who is my biggest
inspiration, both in and out of the kitchen

W as it the aroma of garlic and tomatoes that tempted you here? On the weekend I do like to have a pot of marinara simmering on the stove. Join me for an espresso. The lemon almond biscotti will be out of the oven and ready for dunking, presto!

If its Sunday, Im doing what I love to do bestfilling my home with food for family and friends, and for the week ahead. Come Monday, my routine changes. Between work and family, Im on the go all week, so I need dishes that are ready in a flash. But dont worry: Ill let you in on all of my secrets in this book, including how a girl from a small town in Italy started her own cooking show on YouTube.

I grew up in southern Italy, near Naples, cooking alongside my nonnamy grandmother. When I moved to the United States at age twelve to live with my father, I was desperately homesick. My nonna told me to stop feeling sorry for myself. Cook a pot of sauce, she advised. So I did. And I felt a little better. On the phone, she talked me through all the recipes we used to prepare together so that I could cook them in New Jersey and make this new place feel a bit more like home. Ever since then, even though my nonna remains an ocean away, Ive sensed her by my side at the stove.

Ive been cooking almost as long as Ive been eating, from those early days in Italy to working in my fathers pizzeria beginning in my teens. In fact, when his restaurants closed suddenly, I found myself not only without a job, but also without a purpose. Joe and I were engaged at the time, and so, thankfully, I started working at his familys business, a succulent-plant distributor. I became a cactus expert! I filled orders, packed them, arranged the tractor-trailers to deliver them, and became the bookkeeper. I was happy to have a job, but I knew deep down that I really wanted to be cooking instead. And I really wanted to write a cookbook.

Just as my nonna told me to make a pot of sauce, Joe told me to start my own cooking show. If people liked it, then maybe I could write a cookbook. He even volunteered to help, and in 2009 we turned our empty basement into a little studio that I could cook in. Laura in the Kitchen was born.

Now, with hundreds of recipes shared first on YouTube and now also on my Cooking Channel program, I continue to do what I love and love what I do. The most rewarding part has been hearing from fans, that I helped them get over their fear of the kitchen and become passionate about feeding their loved ones. My aim has never been to teach my viewers how to be perfect chefs because, lets face it, Im no perfect chef! Instead, its about sharing my love for the kitchen and the pure joy and pleasure it can bring. I hope to inspire you to feel the same way.

And now, finally, Ive done what I was waiting to do all along: write a cookbook. Here are recipes that combine the influence of my southern Italian homered sauces, oregano, basil, garlic, sweet and hot peppers, lemons, ricotta, and lots of pastawith my American palate. I like to put an Italian spin on so many American and international specialties, including meat loaf, fattoush salad, chili, Greek meatballs, enchiladas and quesadillas, quiche, and more.

This book is a chance to put my most cherished recipes in print so that you can easily cook along with me at home. Almost all of the recipes are new and cant be found elsewhere, though I have included a handful of absolute favorites from my website to keep everyone happy. (Yes, my red velvet cupcakes are in here.)

While work, family, errands, laundry, and a list of chores as long as your arm can make cooking on a weeknight seem like a distant priority, it doesnt have to be. In fact, I find its on the hectic days that I most need the comfort of a home-cooked meal. Other than the occasional night when were invited out or when Im traveling, youll find me in my kitchen preparing dinner for Joe and me. Thats when I turn to my recipes for Quick-Fix Suppers, like Calamari Puttanesca and Ciabatta Steak Sandwich with Arugula. I know I can get a good, from-scratch meal on the table with little time and effort, and that the time we take together to eat will help us both unwind.

When the weekend rolls around, I follow my Italian tradition of relaxing at home with family and friends. Its a time to slow down in the kitchen, too, putting platter after platter of family-style dishes like Tagliatelle with Mushroom Rag and Garlic-Stuffed Pork Loin on the table for those I love. My Leisurely Entres take a bit more time to develop their deep, soulful flavors, but theyre not at all difficult. Plus, unless youre feeding a crowd, most will leave you with leftovers to enjoy for lunches or dinners throughout the week.

With a hearty entre made fast or slow, all you need is a quick bit of color and contrastlike Cumin-Roasted Carrots or Sauted Garlic & Lemon Zucchinito round out your meal. Super-Simple Salads & Sides give you everything you need to transform a simple main dish into a full dinner. Some, like Panzanella Salad, can even be served as a light meal on their own.

My nonna taught me that no self-respecting Italian would serve a meal without dessert. Turn to Irresistible Desserts when you want to make any meal feel like a special occasion. This chapter includes family favorites, such as a Stunning Pavlova mounded with whipped cream and berries and a deeply decadent Devilishly Good Devils Food Cake that has a devoted following on my website. For sweets that are ready when friends drop by, look no further than the humble Cookie Jar. Here, youll find treats like Fig Jam Cookies and Fudgy Brownies to have on hand for guestsor when your own sweet tooth strikes.