Let's Cook Italian by Anna Prandoni

 I was sent a lovely cookbook to review before Christmas, but what with having the shingles and everything else, I am only just now getting around to telling you about it!    Let's Cook Italian, by Anna Prandoni is a delightful cookbook which has been designed for parents and children to use together. Thirty simple and classic Italian recipes that appear in both English and Italian, offering an immersive cultural experience through language, cuisine, and ritual.



In addition to an extensive Introduction there are six delicious chapters including Starters, First Course, Vegetables, Second Course, Desserts and Snacks, with such taste tempting recipes on offer for Pizzas, Pasta Dishes,  scrumptious vegetable dishes, delicious Mains, an assortment of taste tempting desserts and some really fabulous sounding snacks!



There are also some very lovely Menu Suggestions at the end of the book to help get you started on your Italian Culinary Adventure!



Peppered throughout are fabulously colourful illustrations done by Emanuela Ligabue designed to catch your attention and your child's imagination!  This is a fun, interactive, bilingual cookbook for families that introduces the art and joy of Italian cooking. It also teaches better eating habits and the importance of culture, while providing quality family bonding time.

With an emphasis on fresh ingredients and hands-on preparation with family activities, dishes include traditional starters, main courses, and desserts. Your child's creativity will be sparked, as will your deeper connection with them.  This is the perfect excuse to get them in that kitchen and start playing chef. Who knows , you may even have the next great Italian cuisine Chef standing next to you!



I chose to cook the Stuffed Peaches recipe from the book.  It sounded delicious and is perfect for using those "ripen at home" peaches you find in the shops this time of year.   You're in for a real treat!

*Stuffed Peaches*

Serves 8

Printable Recipe 

Amaretti are Italian almond-flavoured macaroons usually made from the kernels of apricots and not almonds.  They are readily available in most cookie aisles.  If not, substitute crisp chocolate wafers or ginger snaps for a different flavour combination.

4 peaches (not too ripe)

50g sugar (1/4 cup)

100g of Amaretti, crushed ( 3 1/2 ounces)

1 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder

2 egg yolks

50g butter (1/4 cup)

powdered sugar

pinch ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 189*C/350*F. gas mark 4.  LIne a high sided baking pan with parchment.   Cut the peaches in half, remove the pits, and scoop out some of the flesh.  Place the flesh in a bowl and mash with a fork into a pulp.

Add the sugar, Amaretti, cocoa, and egg yolkss to the peach pulp.  Mash with a fork and mix to combine the filling.  Fill the peach halves with this.  Garnish each peach half with a butter curl.

Arrange the peaches in the prepared baking pan.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Remove the pan from the oven.  Let cool and dust with powdered sugar and the cinnamon.  Serve 1/2 peach to each person and serve warm.




ANNA PRANDONI is a writer and journalist who has been working with food and wine for over 15 years with particular interest in the history of nutrition and its influence on Italian Culture. In 2014, she was selected as Italian ambassador in the network WE-Women for Expo, which addresses global nutrition, sustainability and food related-traditions. She has worked as director of the cooking school, La Scuoladella Cucina Italiana and director and web editor of La Cucina Italiana magazine.

Very active in the digital community, she is the creative director of unaricettaalgiorno.it, Milano Secrets (milanosecrets.it), and the community gathering project for floral design, photography, and culinary art Potluck (mypotluck.it). In June 2015, she was appointed director of the Gualtiero Marchesi Cooking Academy in Milan which offers courses for both professional and amateur chefs.

  Lets Cook Italian
A family Cookbook
by  Anna Prandoni

• ISBN-13: 9781631590634
• Publisher: Quarry Books
• Imprint: Quarry Books
• Publication date: 17 Dec 2015
• Edition: Bilingual (English, Italian)