An extraordinary course in real Italian cooking, from basic Stepping-Stone recipes to more complex dishes for special occasions. Grace Pilato was born in a Sicilian mountain village. From her close knit family, she learned to make the homey, traditional dishes of her mother country-- and the joys of preparing and eating them together. Now a popular cooking instructor and an accomplished potter, Grace brings her talents, knowledge, and love of Italian cooking to this unusually useful, friendly cookbook. Starting with Stepping-Stone recipes for basics you'll use again and again, both on their own and in more complex recipes later in the book,Cooking with Graceprogresses to intermediate and more advanced dishes, always taking care to fully explain each technique, as well as inform about the ingredients and special traditions that are essential to great Italian food. Recipes include * Magnificent Stuffed Artichokes * Sunday Tomato Sauce with Meatballs * Lentil and Pumpkin Soup * Onion, Garlic, and Cheese Focaccia * Stuffed Pork Tenderloin * Mama Rosa's Roast Chicken with honey, oranges, and lemon * Lemon Ricotta Drop Cookies * Graziella's Decadent Cake The recipes are complemented by stunning photography featuring artwork by remarkable American craftspeople. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a lifelong Italian cook, this informative warmhearted book will help you celebrate the traditional foods and timeless pleasures of cooking with love and flair.