Cesare Casella, Italian chef extraordinaire, is out to prove that this food can be both simple to prepare and surprisingly healthy. Italian mothers and grandmothers wouldn't have it any other way! In Casella's previous culinary creation, Diary of a Tuscan Chef, we joined the author on a food pilgrimage to Tuscany. Now, in Italian Cooking for Dummies, the trek explores every region and its associated dishes. Casella and coauthor Jack Bishop embrace us as close friends with whom they have eaten pasta for years. One step at a time, the authors lovingly explain how to make Italian food at home, discussing ingredients and techniques. Scattered within each of the eight chapters are recipes for 29 pasta dishes, 7 risottos, 22 heavenly desserts--in fact, 150 delicious dishes altogether. In traditional For Dummies style, life is made easier by icons alerting you to timesaving tips or potentially disastrous situations--like leaving risotto unattended, which can lead to a big sticky vat of goo! There is something here for every taste: meats, fish, pizzas, and vegetarian dishes, as well as desserts and salads. Pasta Wheels with Walnut Sauce makes a nutty alternative to pasta dishes made with tomato-based sauces. The Spinach Gnocchi are surprisingly simple to create and will be gobbled down in no time. Calzone with Mixed Vegetables is a healthy alternative to pepperoni pizza. Desserts are very well represented--here is traditional Creme Caramel, and a delightful Pink Grapefruit Granita. So enjoy life and eat like the Italians do; Italian Cooking for Dummies shows you how. --Naomi Gesinger