cover image Romantic Italian

Romantic Italian

Mary Cadogan, Books Ltd Octopus. HP Books, $4.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-89586-395-9

The 100 recipes in this latest volume of the ""Creative Cuisine'' series should be familiar to anyone who has cooked from regional Italian cookbooks, but that doesn't make them any less enticing, authentic or convenient. There are pasta bows in walnut-cheese sauce, risotto with chicken livers, braised fennel and beans with mortadellabut there are also such unusual delights as halibut with raisins and olives, robust baked peppers with anchovies and a fascinating cucumber salad with honey. The recipes have been scaled down to serve two people, but while the book is overtly aimed at feeding you and your amore, it is no less attractive for singles, either. The portions are large enough for leftovers and many of the dishes can be prepared in advance. Cadogan also offers suggestions on menu planning, Italian ingredients and appropriate wines. (February)