Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A celebration of Italian food that is fresh, delicious, and unpretentious with 120 quick and easy recipes to elevate weeknight meals into no-fuss feasts.

Before she was a Food Network star and bestselling cookbook author, Nigella found her way to Florence, where she learned to cook like an Italian. With beautiful color photographs to inspire, Nigellissima has all the hallmarks of traditional Italian fare in its faithfulness to the freshest ingredients and simplest methods.

From pasta and meat to fish, vegetables, and, of course, dolci , there is something for every mood, season, and occasion: Curly-Edged Pasta with Lamb Ragu; Spaghettini with Lemon and Garlic Breadcrumbs; Meatzza, a meatball mixture pressed into a pan and finished with traditional Margherita ingredients; and Baby Eggplant with Oregano and Red Onion. Never an afterthought, Nigella's low-maintenance "sweet things" include Instant Chocolate-Orange Mousse; light, doughnut-like Sambuca Kisses; and One-Step No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream, to name just a few.

Nigella believes that every ingredient must earn its place in a recipe, and she gives tips and techniques for making the most of your time in the kitchen. She guides you to stocking your pantry with a few supermarket ingredients and shows you how to make the most of them for spontaneous meals that taste boldly Italian.

Nigellissima is a love letter to the pleasures of cooking--and eating--the way Italians do. With a nod to the traditional but in Nigella's trademark style, here are recipes that excite the imagination without stressing the cook.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Internationally best-selling author and television personality Lawson (Nigella Fresh) wants all her readers-from busy noncooks who pour their egg whites from a carton to picky eaters who can't bear the thought of anchovies-to enjoy carefree, casual cooking. Here she shows how they can use cupboard staples such as canned tuna and jarred peppers to create an "Italian-inspired" feast that will satisfy and impress. Dishes like Meatzza (a tomato- and cheese-topped meatball mixture that resembles pizza) and Chocolate Pasta with Pecans & Caramel are hardly traditional, but they aren't meant to be. VERDICT With its attractive design, cheerful narrative, straightforward instructions, and helpful notes on preparing food ahead of time and reheating, Lawson's latest will find a home in many kitchens. Expect demand. [See Q+A with Lawson on page 102.-Ed.] (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Americans trolling for something novel in Italian cookery need look no further than Lawson's latest book, which displays with vivid photographs her unique take on fast, simple dishes. Uncompromising purists may carp that these recipes are not authentic regional Italian; Lawson aims to modernize classic Italian cookery principles to better suit contemporary kitchens. Pastas range from a beautifully baroque yet quickly prepared lasagna to a simple toss of pasta, gorgonzola cheese, fresh spinach leaves, and pistachios. Italian Americans conversant with giambotta will recognize a cousin in Lawson's Italian Tray Bake, loaded with chicken, sausage, and potatoes. Lovely inspirations for vegetable side dishes include roasted brussels sprouts gently herbed and mock mashed potatoes made from semolina. To ensure family contentment, the author has made use of the palates of her own teenage children. A few recipes, such as a turkey breast stuffed with sausage and cranberries, make outstanding centerpieces at party buffet tables.--Knoblauch, Mark Copyright 2010 Booklist