Recipes and Dreams from an Italian Life

Experience Italy in this inspired collection of simple and practical recipes from the author of Provence to Pondicherry.

No one does beautiful cookbooks like Tessa Kiros, and her track record speaks for itself. In Recipes for an Italian Life, the beloved author celebrates the heritage of the country she has chosen to call home. This whimsically feminine book is a tribute to the women in our lives–mothers, mothers-in-law, grandmothers–and the important lessons we learn from them. With accessible, delicious recipes ranging from robust family dishes to quirky cakes and old-fashioned sauces and preserves, this book is a precious heirloom for today. The chapters are based on rooms and items in the home, such as the bread oven; vegetable patch; snack box; pasta pot; meat, fish, and chicken in the dining room; and the ice box. Some of the recipes include: Basil Liqueur, Sweet Pizza, Artichoke and Herb Soup, Potato and Truffle Purses, Roast Rabbit with Grapes, Chickpeas with Prawns, Marmalade Cake, and Cappuccino Ice Cream.

Praise for Recipes and Dreams from an Italian Life

“Hundreds of cookbooks are published each year but only a handful of them truly transport the reader into another time and place. Here Kiros…does just that, whisking readers off to Italy, where they’re welcomed into the kitchens of a number of Italian matriarchs to discuss life, love, and cooking. . . . Those looking for reliable, time-tested recipes for the classics will find this to be a treasure trove. Kiros has created the literary equivalent of an exuberant Italian mother-in-law, and though it’s sure to find a welcome place on many a bookshelf, it won’t likely remain shelved for long.” —Publishers Weekly

“Masterfully designed and photographed, Recipes and Dreams from an Italian Life is an authentic Italian keepsake.” —Foreword Reviews