Pasta

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library

by Chuck Williams

Williams-Sonoma, purveyor of choice gourmet products and kitchenware, has also created a collection of succinct yet comprehensive cookbooks. Part of the series, Pasta offers 40 all-occasion recipes that reflect the company's signature good taste. From classics like Spaghetti alla Carbonara and Fettuccine Alfredo to quick-supper specialties such as Green Farfelle with Tomato Sauce and elegant dishes including Crab Ravioli with Crème Fraîche and Basil, the book offers a wide range of astutely chosen recipes. Formulas for seasonal pastas, such as Penne with Lamb Ragù and Mint, and hearty vegetarian pastas, like Roasted Eggplant Lasagna, are also included.

Accompanied by color photos that show the pastas in all their glory, the Italian-rooted recipes are completely doable, and will appeal to a wide range of cooks. Throughout, sidebars (like "Cooking with Spirits") offer useful information on techniques and ingredients; a glossary and basics section are also helpful. Though small in size, the book provides an inclusive store of superior recipes and instruction. --Arthur Boehm

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

108 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Chuck Williams

Charles Edward Williams (October 2, 1915 – December 5, 2015) was the American founder of Williams Sonoma and author and editor of more than 100 books on the subject of cooking. Williams is credited for playing a major role in introducing French cookware into American kitchens through his retail and mail-order business. He became a centenarian in October 2015 and died two months later on December 5, 2015, in San Francisco, California.

In 1947, Chuck Williams settled in Sonoma, California, and opened his first shop as a hardware store. In 1953, Williams took his first trip to France, where he quickly fell in love with French kitchenware such as copper cookware, and is quoted as saying, "I knew this was something that wasn't found in America, but thought people would want." Shortly after returning home, he formulated a plan to import French cooking and serving equipment into America and eventually converted his store into a cookware shop in 1956. Thus, Williams Sonoma was founded, selling professional and restaurant-quality kitchenware for home use, leading to founder Chuck Williams being recognized as one of the titans of the American food revolution.

source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This recipe book for Pasta Sauces underwhelmed me. I was anticipating a book that offered more tantalizing options, but mostly, these were just run-of-the-mill platters of pasta. I can't put my finger on it, but I didn't see one recipe that excited me to try it out. The upside is that I picked it up at a Goodwill store, so my investment was nominal.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this before, and I'm pretty sure that I own a copy. I really ♥ this series.

There are photos for each & every recipe & they are not that ugly unappetizing yellow/orange tint either, the paper is glossy, Instructions are easy to follow, ingredients are easy to find (you even have a choice of making your own pasta or not), and the font is easy to read. Each recipe has a short paragraph introducing the dish.

Contents include: Introduction; Equipment; Dried pasta shapes; making fresh pasta; making filled pasta; Cooking & storing pasta; 4 recipe sections; Glossary; Acknowledgements; and Index.

Recipe sections are & include:

Dried Pasta: Fettuccine w/ roasted garlic & chili; Rigatoni w/ white beans & tomatoes; Fusilli salad w/ sweet peppers & mozzarella; Linguini w/ basil sauce; Farfalle w/ walnuts & lemon zest; and Penne w/ asparagus.

Fresh Pasta: Curry flavored fettuccini; Fresh basil pappardelle; Tagliatelle w/ smoked salmon & fennel; Taglierini w/ sauteed scallops; and Fettuccine w/ shrimp & broccoli.

Filled Pasta: Chicken ravioli w/ Parmesan; Mezzelune (half moons) stuffed w/ eggplant; Tortelloni stuffed w/ herbs & potato; and Cannelloni stuffed w/ spinach & ricotta.

Molded Pasta (Casseroles which I will pass on): Baked spaghetti w/ eggplant; Linguini & shrimp tart; Rigatoni & scallop ring; and Fresh taglierini ring w/ tomato & mozzarella.

Such a lovely little book with easy to prepare recipes.....