From the heart of Italy directly to your table¿ Over 200 authentic regional recipes. Italian cuisine's abundance of flavor, high-quality ingredients, and regional diversity make it one of the most popular in the world. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking will help you make beloved dishes in your own kitchen with more than 200 authentic recipes from all over the country. Get a true taste of Italy with traditional recipes for appetizers and drinks, risottos and polentas, pastas and sauces, pizzas and breads, meat and seafood, and of course, desserts. From silky bowls of noodles and inventive pizzas to decadent classics like lasagna and canolis, Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking will have you tossing out your takeout menus and enjoying your best meals at home-just as the masters in the Old Country intended. In these pages, home cooks will discover: ¿ Minestrone alla Romagnola ¿ Tortelli Stuffed with Parsley and Ricotta ¿ Risotto with Clams ¿ Squid and Potatoes, Genoa Style ¿ Chicken Cacciatora ¿ Ossobuco in Bianco ¿ Meatballs and Tomatoes ¿ Artichoke Torta ¿ Crisp-Fried Zucchini blossoms ¿ Sunchoke and Spinach Salad ¿ Chestnuts Boiled in Red Wine, Romagna Style ¿ Polenta Shortcake with Raisins, Dried Figs, and Pine Nuts ¿ Zabaglione ¿ And much more As the generations of readers who have turned to it over the years know (and as their spattered and worn copies can attest), there is no more passionate and inspiring guide to the cuisine of Italy.