3. Verdura — Vegetables Italian Style, by Viana La Place, © 1991
"Earthy, Inspired Recipes For A Fresh New Way To Cook From The Co-Author Of Cucina-Rustica"
This is one of the most beautiful, simple, awe-inspiring cookbooks I’ve ever seen. Everything in it is delicious. I got this cookbook in 1991 when it was first published. I loved the way it felt in my hands, and the way it looked inside the pages. And I love to use it when I want to try something new — a particular dish or a vegetable that I’ve never cooked before.
The first recipe I tried was "Baked Layered Potatoes and Wild Mushrooms" (on page 331) and I was struck by how such a simple dish (and procedure) could result in something that tasted so complex and delicious.
I learned how to cook my first traditional polenta from this book — and thanks to her recipe and instructions, cooking polenta has become easy and second-nature to me.
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