Delicious Memories: Recipes and Stories from the Chef Boyardee Family

Boiardi, granddaughter of one of the founders of the Boyardee food empire, celebrates family traditions in this warm and inviting book. While the name Chef Boyardee may conjure up images of canned ravioli and Beef-a-roni, the recipes she includes are authentic Italian comfort food suitable for everyday meals. She provides a useful "12 Essentials to Make 15 Dinners" section that lists essential items to keep on hand and the dishes that can be made solely from these ingredients. Chapters cover everything from antipasti and pasta to seafood, poultry, meats, and desserts. Familiar dishes such as minestrone soup, lasagna, and chicken cacciatore spark memories for Boiardi as she offers family tips and twists on recipe adaptations. For Italian staples such as risotto, she provides complete and separate recipes for numerous variations including parmesan cheese, asparagus, porcini mushrooms, and lobster. Aside from the classic fare, she includes some recipes for unexpected dishes such as potato salad Italian style, apple cider rosemary roast chicken, and baked cauliflower. Enhanced with striking full-color photos throughout, this loving paean to home-style Italian cooking and the culinary traditions of a family dynasty rooted in food offers just the right balance of nostalgia and appetizing recipes. (May)