Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites
Book DescriptionShe's taught us every facet of Italian cooking--from traditional and regional to seasonal and contemporary. She even made us fall in love   with pasta again by opening us up to lighter, healthier versions that don’t weigh us down. Now the Food Network star and bestselling author   ofEveryday Pasta, Giada De Laurentiis, takes us down a new path, sharing her love of food with clean, vibrant, simple flavors and   bursts of bright colors that look as beautiful on the plate as they are delicious.Yes, you will still find those fabulous recipes she remembers so fondly from family meals, but you'll also find updated twists on classic   trattoria favorites--California-inflected, hearty but not overwhelming, and with the perfect balance of healthfulness and terrific flavor.   Wouldn’t you love a faster, lighter take on osso buco (here made with turkey instead of veal), a salad with real substance (like one of   cantaloupe, red onion, and walnuts), and fish that gets an Italian makeover by way of lots of fresh veggies and accents such as fennel and   grapefruit salsa? And let’s not forget dessert. After all, what’s not to adore about little doughnuts dipped in chocolate sauce?Ranging from soups and snacks to easy entres and elegant dinner-party fare, Giada's recipes are perfect for any day of the week. And for   the first time, she includes a full section of dishes that the little ones will love making as much as they love eating (like mini chicken   meatballs). With something to please everyone at your table, Giada’s Kitchen deliciously demonstrates why Giada De Laurentiis has become   America's best-loved Italian cook.Italy meets California in Giada De Laurentiis’s collection of 100 new recipes. She focuses on fresh ingredients, simple preparation, and   bright flavors. Anyone who wants to indulge in the pleasures of Italian food without feeling weighed down will find inspiration for   delicious, hearty yet healthy weekday meals. Giada’s recipes satisfy both our desire to eat with gusto and to feel good about what we   eat.Giada De Laurentiis's Whole-Wheat Linguine with Green Beans, Ricotta, and LemonNot all cream sauces are super-rich. This pasta gets its creamy sauce from a combination of part-skim ricotta and pasta water, which come   together to make a really easy, lighter cream sauce. Don't leave out the lemon zest; it brightens the flavor and adds a wonderful lemony aroma as well.--Giada De LaurentiisWhole-Wheat Linguine with Green Beans, Ricotta, and Lemon(4-6 servings)1 pound whole-wheat linguine1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese3 tablespoons olive oil1/2 pound French green beans (haricots verts), trimmed and halved lengthwise1 garlic clove, chopped1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 cup halved cherry tomatoesZest of 1 lemonBring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring   occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving  1 cup of the cooking water. Transfer the hot pasta to a large heat-proof bowl and add the ricotta. Toss to combine.Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, warm  the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the green beans, garlic, salt, and pepper and sauté for 4 minutes. Add the reserved pasta cooking   liquid and continue cooking until the beans are tender, about 4 more minutes. Add the ricotta-coated pasta to the pan with the green beans   and toss to combine. Add the tomatoes and toss gently. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with the lemon zest. Serve.Giada De Laurentiisis the star of Food Network'sEveryday Italian,Giada's Weekend Getaways, andGiada in  Paradise. She attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and worked at Wolfgang Puck's Spago restaurant in Los Angeles. This is her fourth book.