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michellebookaddict's Reviews (822)
2013
Italian Country Cooking: The Secrets of Cucina Povera by Loukie Werle. 5★♥
cucina povera, according to the author, it's pronounced koo-CHEE-nah POH-veh-rah. And that there isn't an exact translation, but "the poor cook" and "country cook" is a good description. And that it's all "about the real food of Italy." Well the recipes she has on here sounds good. My mom and I are tempted to try some. But alas, this book is for my aunt (who's mother is 100% Italian). But we are tempted to buying this book after the Christmas holidays are over.
Each recipe has a very nice picture of the cooked item. My mom thinks the ingredients and instructions looks simple enough to cook. It even has a nice added commentary for each recipe. Loukie adds either the origin or some comment about the food. Like the...
'Orecchiette with cauliflower and anchovies
Orecchiette con cavolfiore e acciughe
Always make sure the oil your anchovies are preserved in is clean-smelling and not rancid. Many a perfectly executed dish has been spoiled with rancid oil - what a waste!"
The Table of Contents is a predictable one, and yet helpful because you know what to expect and where to look.
"Introductions": nice intro read
"Pasta": lots of good varieties, and that includes the many various seasoning and additions (meats & veggies) too. Dish that looks the best: "Penne with meatballs in the oven".
"Rice & Grains": just as said in the title... all things rice (and other stuff). Interesting dish: "Rice salad with sausage, fennel and grapes" - looks good too.
"Beans & Legumes": one thing we noticed throughout the book is that Lentil is popular. Tempting dish: "Tuscan minestrone" - looks and is described a bit like the soup my Italian grandma used to make.
"Salads & Vegetables": lots of various salads and some popular veggies. Dish: "Baked sweet potatoes with taleggio" looks good.
"Eggs & Cheese": I'm not a breakfast eggs person and this section is just mostly that. Though this looks good: "Frittata with scramorza."
"Fish & Seafood": fish, fish and some other sea creature stuff but they look good. Dish: "Fish fillets with beans and tomatoes."
"Poultry": chicken, chicken and... well they all look good. Tried and tested old family dish that I've had before and liked: "Chicken wrapped in pancetta" (pancetta is a bit like bacon). My aunt made this last year. It's delicious!
"Meat & Offal": some good various meat plates. Dish: "Tuscan meatloaf" - difference might be the 1 pound ground pork or veal and the 1 pound ground beef. And 1/4 pound prosciutto or pancetta, chopped.
"Bread & Pizza": now it doesn't tell you how to.make the famous Italian garlic cheese bread, but it does have flatbreads, and how to make big, fluffy or dried breadcrumbs. And 3 different types of pizzas (the thin crest type). Tempting dish: "Bread, potato and arugula soup" - the bread is in the soup. Looks good.
"Sweet Things": a good edition. Tried, tested in the part, my sister makes this for our Christmas Eve traditional Italian family dinner: Tiramisù!!!!
"Index": an index.
She says, once you've read her book, that "quite possibly you'll eat better than you've ever done in your life." I don't think that's a reference to her foods being a healthy choice. But it is when you compare it to Fast Foods like she is. And in this case, I think she means, that if you cook the food yourself rather than buying the food at a Fast Food joint... well I do and don't agree because there's some people who don't understand what a healthy serving size is. Like my mom, who thinks she knows the correct amount, but she really over does it. Loukie doesn't mention recommended serving sizes in her introductions. But the recipes each have a recommended serving size (the majority for 4-6 people). She does add this after, "As a Roman proverb says: Piü se spenne pejo se magna… the more you spend, the worse you eat."
What else is nice, is that every now and then, there is a couple pages describing Loukie Werle's trip to Italy. And it has various comment about some foods, people and such. There is also some pictures of country Italian life besides the pictures of foods.
In all a really good Italian cookbook. I know my aunt will love this, as the book is a Christmas gift for her. Still looks new despite my mom and I looking through it.
Italian Country Cooking: The Secrets of Cucina Povera by Loukie Werle. 5★♥
cucina povera, according to the author, it's pronounced koo-CHEE-nah POH-veh-rah. And that there isn't an exact translation, but "the poor cook" and "country cook" is a good description. And that it's all "about the real food of Italy." Well the recipes she has on here sounds good. My mom and I are tempted to try some. But alas, this book is for my aunt (who's mother is 100% Italian). But we are tempted to buying this book after the Christmas holidays are over.
Each recipe has a very nice picture of the cooked item. My mom thinks the ingredients and instructions looks simple enough to cook. It even has a nice added commentary for each recipe. Loukie adds either the origin or some comment about the food. Like the...
'Orecchiette with cauliflower and anchovies
Orecchiette con cavolfiore e acciughe
Always make sure the oil your anchovies are preserved in is clean-smelling and not rancid. Many a perfectly executed dish has been spoiled with rancid oil - what a waste!"
The Table of Contents is a predictable one, and yet helpful because you know what to expect and where to look.
"Introductions": nice intro read
"Pasta": lots of good varieties, and that includes the many various seasoning and additions (meats & veggies) too. Dish that looks the best: "Penne with meatballs in the oven".
"Rice & Grains": just as said in the title... all things rice (and other stuff). Interesting dish: "Rice salad with sausage, fennel and grapes" - looks good too.
"Beans & Legumes": one thing we noticed throughout the book is that Lentil is popular. Tempting dish: "Tuscan minestrone" - looks and is described a bit like the soup my Italian grandma used to make.
"Salads & Vegetables": lots of various salads and some popular veggies. Dish: "Baked sweet potatoes with taleggio" looks good.
"Eggs & Cheese": I'm not a breakfast eggs person and this section is just mostly that. Though this looks good: "Frittata with scramorza."
"Fish & Seafood": fish, fish and some other sea creature stuff but they look good. Dish: "Fish fillets with beans and tomatoes."
"Poultry": chicken, chicken and... well they all look good. Tried and tested old family dish that I've had before and liked: "Chicken wrapped in pancetta" (pancetta is a bit like bacon). My aunt made this last year. It's delicious!
"Meat & Offal": some good various meat plates. Dish: "Tuscan meatloaf" - difference might be the 1 pound ground pork or veal and the 1 pound ground beef. And 1/4 pound prosciutto or pancetta, chopped.
"Bread & Pizza": now it doesn't tell you how to.make the famous Italian garlic cheese bread, but it does have flatbreads, and how to make big, fluffy or dried breadcrumbs. And 3 different types of pizzas (the thin crest type). Tempting dish: "Bread, potato and arugula soup" - the bread is in the soup. Looks good.
"Sweet Things": a good edition. Tried, tested in the part, my sister makes this for our Christmas Eve traditional Italian family dinner: Tiramisù!!!!
"Index": an index.
She says, once you've read her book, that "quite possibly you'll eat better than you've ever done in your life." I don't think that's a reference to her foods being a healthy choice. But it is when you compare it to Fast Foods like she is. And in this case, I think she means, that if you cook the food yourself rather than buying the food at a Fast Food joint... well I do and don't agree because there's some people who don't understand what a healthy serving size is. Like my mom, who thinks she knows the correct amount, but she really over does it. Loukie doesn't mention recommended serving sizes in her introductions. But the recipes each have a recommended serving size (the majority for 4-6 people). She does add this after, "As a Roman proverb says: Piü se spenne pejo se magna… the more you spend, the worse you eat."
What else is nice, is that every now and then, there is a couple pages describing Loukie Werle's trip to Italy. And it has various comment about some foods, people and such. There is also some pictures of country Italian life besides the pictures of foods.
In all a really good Italian cookbook. I know my aunt will love this, as the book is a Christmas gift for her. Still looks new despite my mom and I looking through it.
5⭐️
This book was good and not what I was expecting. I really liked the references on art of all forms, from paintings to theaters, to Lord Henry’s poetic way of talking. The beginning and ending was really good. The middle unfortunately was slow, especially chapter 11. It was just a long chapter (maybe the longest in the book) that described all of Dorian Gray’s obsessions. It was interesting to read about the various Kings and rulers, or the history and myths about each precious stone and gem he collected, it was just very detailed. This might be a re-read for me during the Halloween holidays.
This book was good and not what I was expecting. I really liked the references on art of all forms, from paintings to theaters, to Lord Henry’s poetic way of talking. The beginning and ending was really good. The middle unfortunately was slow, especially chapter 11. It was just a long chapter (maybe the longest in the book) that described all of Dorian Gray’s obsessions. It was interesting to read about the various Kings and rulers, or the history and myths about each precious stone and gem he collected, it was just very detailed. This might be a re-read for me during the Halloween holidays.