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Skinny Italian: Eat It and Enjoy It – Live La Bella Vita and Look Great, Too!

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Eat Spaghetti and Still Fit Into Your Skinny Jeans To many of us, "diet" is a four-letter word. And rightfully so. Starving yourself thin or keeping track of each bite like pennies in your checkbook is no way to live. So what's a girl with skinny jean dreams supposed to do Teresa Giudice has the answer. In fact, she was born with it. The first-generation Italian-American mom of four and svelte star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey credits her knockout figure to her Old World upbringing. And now, in her fun, encouraging, and budget-friendly cookbook, she skewers the myth that looking fabulous has to be a chore. In Skinny Italian, she reveals how substitute tedious meal plans with simple, flavorful recipeschoose fresh, flavorful ingredients instead of counting caloriesslow down and enjoy a faster metabolismreplace starvation with celebration by adopting an Italian attitude to cooking, eating, and entertaininglove food, love eating, and still love your body afterward Teresa shows how anyone can master the cornerstones of Italian cuisine. Learn how to make six different tomato sauces from scratch, how to choose and use the right olive oil, and how to prepare over sixty Giudice family recipes straight from Salerno. From Gorgeous Garlic Shrimp to Beautiful Biscotti, you'll want to make these sumptuous recipes again and again. Discover how easy and economical wholesome, homemade cooking can be. Skinny Italian is not a diet book. It's an "eat it and enjoy it" book. Join Teresa and discover how gorgeous can be a sumptuous side effect to living la bella vita .

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2010

63 people are currently reading
456 people want to read

About the author

Teresa Giudice

8 books74 followers
Teresa Giudice is an American reality television cast-member, known for starring in The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She is the daughter of Italian immigrants, grew up speaking Italian, attended Catholic school and is a graduate Berkeley College. Teresa is married to businessman Joe Giudice and they have four daughters together. In 2014, Teresa and Joe entered a guilty plea to several counts of financial fraud. Teresa was sentenced to 15-months in a federal prison.

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5 stars
244 (31%)
4 stars
219 (28%)
3 stars
180 (23%)
2 stars
84 (10%)
1 star
49 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Profile Image for Ken.
162 reviews5 followers
Read
July 13, 2017
EDITORIAL REVIEW:

**Eat Spaghetti and Still Fit Into Your Skinny Jeans **

To many of us, "diet" is a four-letter word. And rightfully so. Starving yourself thin or keeping track of each bite like pennies in your checkbook is no way to live. So what's a girl with skinny jean dreams supposed to do?

Teresa Giudice has the answer. In fact, she was born with it. The first-generation Italian-American mom of four and svelte star of *The Real Housewives of New Jersey* credits her knockout figure to her Old World upbringing. And now, in her fun, encouraging, and budget-friendly cookbook, she skewers the myth that looking fabulous has to be a chore.

In Skinny Italian, she reveals how to: substitute tedious meal plans with simple, flavorful recipes choose fresh, flavorful ingredients instead of counting calories slow down and enjoy a faster metabolism replace starvation with celebration by adopting an Italian attitude to cooking, eating, and entertaining love food, love eating, and still love your body afterward

Teresa shows how anyone can master the cornerstones of Italian cuisine. Learn how to make six different tomato sauces from scratch, how to choose and use the right olive oil, and how to prepare over sixty Giudice family recipes straight from Salerno. From Gorgeous Garlic Shrimp to Beautiful Biscotti, you'll want to make these sumptuous recipes again and again. Discover how easy and economical wholesome, homemade cooking can be.

*Skinny Italian* is not a diet book. It's an "eat it and enjoy it" book. Join Teresa and discover how gorgeous can be a sumptuous side effect to living *la bella vita*.
Profile Image for Debbie.
106 reviews6 followers
May 22, 2012
"Skinny Italian" was a delightful surprise. I expected a typical celebrity cookbook - recipes I had seen before accompanied by a few lines of text. But this was so much more. Ms. Guidice has written a book that is instructional and fun. She packs in a lot of useful information among her good and simple recipes. As a fan of Italy (and food), I found much of what she wrote - the history of spices and dishes, a bit about Italy, traditions, her own personal anecdotes - to be very interesting. She doesn't just tell you the "what" - She tells you the "why". I love actually reading a cookbook, and not merely flipping through pages of categorized recipes, and this book is a perfect example of a cookbook that can be read. Her husband Joe pops in every now and then with his own observations, and provides a laugh or two. Ms. Guidice has an easy, fun style, and it does have the feel of hanging out with a girlfriend, which is what she intended. But it's not overdone. You don't have to be a fan of "Real Housewives of NJ" to enjoy this book. It's a really good cookbook for anyone who is interested in good food.
Profile Image for Jessica.
70 reviews1 follower
June 12, 2011
Just got this in the mail tonight and I can't put it down. I'm so excited to try some of the simple and fresh recipes. I am addicted to Real Housewives (all of them), yes it's a guilty pleasure.

So far I'm loving all the healthy tips Tersa gives and the nutritional information that's packed into every page. I read Bethany Frankel's Skinny whatever cookbook and thought it sent the wrong message about health and how to be skinny. I'm glad to see Teresa goes about it in a healthy, 'all things in moderation' manner.

Stay tuned for what I think of the actual recipes. :)

Oh and she's inspired me to get my herb pots going again, I can't grown an actual garden right now but I can definitely use fresh herbs.

***Now that I've actually finished the book, let me just make it clear that the 4 stars are for the cooking content and healthy tips, not for the cussing, sexual references (it is a cookbook!), or the lack of class Teresa shows by bashing Daniel & Bethany in it. I love the emphasis she puts on family and Old World Italian values, buth the above mentioned was a bit much for a cookbook. However, you have to consider the source, lol. :)
Profile Image for Jennilee Autry.
92 reviews4 followers
September 12, 2011
I, surprisingly, loved this book. If it were not for a few things (below), this book would have gotten 5 stars.

IF you're looking for a book jam packed full of recipes you can just pick out and make without reading the book, this book is not for you. This book has, what appears to be, carefully hand-selected recipes that are mixed in with the stories behind their history and why they were chosen for this book. You must read this book in order to understand the recipes and why things are done a certain way. You must, MUST, must!

Also, this book is not all about pasta. I am a Paleo eater so I primarily eat meats, tons of vegetables, fruit, healthy oils, healthy fats (olives, coconut, nuts, etc). I can eat dang near every recipe in this book without even altering it. This was amazing news to me after reading this book!

One down side to the book (and Theresa's lack of other's viewpoints) is that she tells you to do things like go to your local supermarket and just ask the produce person for the best Italian canning tomatoes. And that farmer's markets always have TONS of tomatoes ready in August just waiting on all the Italians to come and buy them up for canning season. Hi Theresa, newsflash! We do not all live in the heavily Italian populated northeast and our farmers markets are not overflowing waiting for us to come and can 150 cans of tomatoes for the year. A major improvement would be to add a section on "If this isn't available in your area, here's an alternative."

She really did change my opinion about Italian food and Italian eating. I'm really happy I read it and now I have to go buy my own copy (I borrowed this one!) so I can go through and write, highlight and mark my favorites!

Pros:
Great recipes that are actually GOOD!
She gives a wonderful history of REAL Italian food and the history behind Italian eating. She gives lots of tidbits about her family and how they celebrate and use food.
Compares what is really Italian to what America has called Italian.
You can tell she wrote this book. Within 2 pages you realize very quickly that she didn't pay someone to write this for her. It is obviously her own words and her own wording! And you can take this as a good or a bad thing but its pretty obvious no one even went in and checked for proper grammar. (i call this a good thing. its more genuine.)
The pictures of food are amazing!
There is a HUGE section dedicated to just seasonings and spices!! Heaven! and SO so SO much great information about how, when and in what style to use each type of spice. I implemented the suggestions immediately in my own cooking and haven't looked back!
There is also a section dedicated to canning. She outlines the canning process in a very simple, non-scary way for first time cooks or first time canners (me!).
An entire chapter dedicated to olive oil!! 'Nuff said!

Cons:
There are not enough pictures of the recipes. I like pictures of every recipe. This provides many but not all.
There is too much profanity (IMHO) for a cookbook. Much of the profanity could have been eliminated and the same point could have been made.
For as much as she hates Danielle, Danielle is mentioned no less than 10 times in this book. If I despised a person with that much force, I wouldn't give them two letters in my book!
Many of "Joes Juicy Bits" leave you thinking..."Um...and what did that have to do with....cooking?" For instance, one mentioned Danielle and Steve getting it on in a recliner in their Shore home. HUH???
She takes a lot of jabs and insults a lot of other reality stars (as well as her family and friends!) in this book. It really makes one lose even more respect for her.
There's a pretty big section on ... fashion? huh?
Profile Image for Lennie.
330 reviews16 followers
December 30, 2010
I have a confession to make; I can’t cook nor do I know my way around the kitchen. I’m the type of person who has a menu from every take-out joint in a 5-mile radius of my home. This is the first cookbook that I actually took the time to pore over from cover to cover. It was lent to me by my Italian next door neighbor who is quite a cook herself and who often brings me over dishes of spaghetti and meatballs. (I think my neighbor feels sorry for me and probably thinks I never have a decent homemade meal.)

The cookbook is filled with lots of recipes that focus on healthy, authentic Italian dishes and not the fat-filled ones you would eat when dining at say Olive Garden Restaurant. And the pictures of the dishes are mouth-watering!

The author reveals that she didn’t learn to cook until she was an adult, calling her mom on the phone crying soon after she was married. (Her mom talked her through it.) So I guess there is hope for me after all! Had this been written by a professional chef or a graduate of a culinary arts school I probably would have been intimidated.

While I know that my first attempt at trying to cook these dishes won’t look exactly like the pictures in the cookbook, at least it has encouraged me to get in the kitchen. I mean how hard is it to screw up pasta? (As I shrug my shoulders).
Profile Image for Sandi.
196 reviews
January 27, 2013
Not quite a cookbook, but some pretty decent recipes nonetheless. I've never watched her TV show, but this book was so...well, I'm thinking egotistical is the word I want. I know that's a strange complaint, but I just wanted recipes and for her to stop talking about herself, talking about how she's more Italian than anyone else, to stop putting down anyone that isn't her or her family and to stop hearing from her husband (whom I've never heard of) and his tips!

For the recipes, I'd give it 2 1/2 to 3 stars. For her endless written chatter, I'd give it 1/2 to 1 star.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,546 reviews
February 14, 2011
Since this is more book than cookbook, I have to fess up to reading it. DON'T READ THIS BOOK. She doesn't know much about food; many of the recipes are not low-fat, and pretty much everything she says is based on her limited personal experience. She does take a few funny pot-shots at the other Housewives, especially Danielle, but I really can't see any reason for reading this book. Please spend your time elsewhere.
Profile Image for Monica Montez-.
7 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2010
This has been my favorite cookbook so far. I'm a beginner, and this is a great stepping stone. The recipes are easy to follow, require few ingredients and are delicious. I have made several dishes several times and my family loves them!! Beautiful book, Great Recipes, a must have!
Profile Image for Cathy L.
26 reviews
March 16, 2016
I love this cookbook, the recipes are easy and taste delicious I use it all the time and my family loves it to. All of her cook books are great.
12 reviews
December 11, 2015
Ok so I know she was a "real housewife" and she & her hubby have gotten themselves into quite a bit of trouble,recently, but this book was rather entertaining! Perhaps my fondness stems from the fact that I grew up in an Italian American household in New Jersey around the same time she did and much of what she talks about in this book is reminiscent of my childhood. But alot of what she said makes sense, when it comes to eating fresh healthy food cooked at home using ingredients like olive oil and fresh herbs. I've made several of the dishes in this book. They are easy to make, they came out great, and they are now family favorites for a new generation of New Jersey Italian Americans. Some of it seems a little self-serving and we probably could have done without the commentary from her husband, but all in all it was a fun read and contains some good recipies. I keep it on top of the fridge!
Profile Image for Cassandra.
1,390 reviews27 followers
March 13, 2011
First of all, I have no idea who or what the Real Housewives of New Jersey are. A tv show? I haven't watched prime time television in several years so I have no idea what's currently popular.

However, this book was on the New Books shelf at my library. I thumbed through it, unsure if it would be a good book for vegans. The pictures were scrumptious! I've now made three of the recipes and have plans to make several more. The recipe for a basic pasta sauce is now my go-to when we have Italian dinners. The Penne with Portobello Mushroom Sauce is heavenly. We just leave out the cheese. Yum!

The writing style is entertaining, the pictures are drool worthy, and the recipes we've tried thus far are delicious. The only thing I wish is that there were more vegan/vegetarian recipes. Despite that, this book is a keeper!
Profile Image for Amanda Hannon.
71 reviews6 followers
September 1, 2013
Where to start with this book? Well I've been a fan of real housewives of New Jersey since the beginning. I never was a fan of Teresa until about the third season. I never really paid attention to her cook books because she is from a different part of Italy. I finally broke down and got this book for my kindle. Let's just say this is not your ordinary cook book. Although I gave this book a three stars, it could have been a bit different. I don't understand why she must make remark about people in a cook book. The reason why I gave it a three stars is because the recipes are decent and well Teresa is just being Teresa. For anyone wanting to learn Italian food, this is the book for you. Already know Italian? Skip the book. Unless of course you're into drama.
Profile Image for Dawn Culbertson.
33 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2010
This is such a girly yet hearty cookbook. I'm sure she had help writing this book but it's written exactly like she speaks on Real Housewives. She even explains certain things about herself which made me like her a little more - quite endearing and entertaining. Makes her a little more real. I've tried one of the recipes & it was great - can't wait to try more. After all I bought his book b/c e every time I would see her cooking on the show I wanted what she was making! If you love food and want legit old school Italian American recipes get this book.
Profile Image for Hood.
17 reviews8 followers
June 1, 2010
Adorable book! This is not a standard cookbook filled only with recipes and cook times. Skinny Italian covers a number of topics, including; Italian translations, origins of various sauces, how to can your own red sauce, and more.

I appreciated the simplicity of the recipes as well as Giudice's insistence on using fresh, locally grown produce to enhance the reader's health. Her belief that family comes first is evident throughout.

Great gift for Real Housewives fans!
Profile Image for Bunny .
2,396 reviews116 followers
July 28, 2010
I picked this up because it's an Italian cookbook. Imagine my horror to realize it's one of the idiots from Real Housewives of New Jersey who gives strong Italian women a bad name.

The recipes in this book are phenomenal. The techniques are phenomenal. However, if we removed the bullshit personal items she stuffed the pages with, it would be SO much better. And thinner.

Quite a few amazing recipes, though. I look forward to making pizza. Mmmm, pizza.
Profile Image for Shanna.
15 reviews4 followers
June 9, 2011
I actually learned a ton from this book. Enjoyed all the details about classic Italian cooking vs. American Italian. Learned a lot about olive oil. Good, basic, true Italian recipes.

BUT

All of the Real Housewives insults and digs were a real turn-off. Just share your knowledge and leave the rest of it behind. Ugh. In 5 years people aren't going to have the slightest clue the drama you're referring to when they pick up this book. Stick to the food.
1 review
July 19, 2010
Great, easy read! If you like Teresa (which I do) you'll like this book. I've already tried a few recipes and they're great! This book made me change the way I think about eating and dieting. I love to eat and hate to diet so this book helped me get back into the mindset of eating wholesome, fresh ingredients rather than highly processed "diet" foods!
89 reviews
September 8, 2010
I loved this book. It was written in a fun, welcome to my family kind of way and her hubbiy's comments made me laugh. The Old World Pizza dough is great and for once when the recipe says it freezes well, it really does. There were a couple others we liked okay and a few more that I'm going to try.
Profile Image for Yvettee.
46 reviews
October 3, 2010
I really enjoyed this book! I was surprised at how informative it was. She goes into detail on all the basics for real Italian cooking. She has cute stories and at times rags on other housewives from the other shows. I cant wait to try out a lot of the recipes....,especially making our own tomato sauce!
Profile Image for Randie D. Camp, M.S..
1,197 reviews
June 23, 2011
I was thrilled to see how much information and background there was about the ingredients and cooking techniques. I especially liked the comparisons of real Italian food vs American Italian food. I'm not much of a cook but I keep buying cookbooks in hopes that I will be someday :).

That being said, there could have been more recipes included in the book.
Profile Image for Sarah Cawlfield.
Author 1 book8 followers
January 7, 2016
Yeah, this chick is kind of crazy. Yeah, she's in prison right now for tax evasion and other stuff. But this book is excellent.

If you're Italian or experienced in Italian cooking, you probably won't find much in here for you. There aren't really THAT many recipes in the book, but it's kind of an intro to Italian food and Italian ingredients. I thought it was great.
Profile Image for Holli.
383 reviews61 followers
August 27, 2010
MUCH more than a cookbook. If you love love love Teresa from the NJ Housewives you will really like this book. Very fun!

If you haven't seen the show... wonderful true Italian recipes and tricks for creating fantastic dishes.
Profile Image for Amber.
97 reviews
June 29, 2010
I know, I know. . .but the recipes look REALLY good, and simple to make. She also has a section on how to can tomatoes, and calorie count for all the recipes in the back. The only off-putting thing were the insults to various Housewives sprinkled throughout the book.
Profile Image for Gina.
52 reviews2 followers
July 24, 2010
Surprisingly informative and entertaining. The text was fun and lighthearted. The recipes were easy to follow and ofter included many things I already had on hand. Amazing to see there is another way to do Italian (i.e. minus the cheese, cream, butter, etc) and not sacrifice taste.
3 reviews
July 12, 2011
I Love Love Love this cookbook! Not only does it have great recipes, but she educates you on the ingredients, how to find the best and what to look for. Was a surprise to me, but I definitely recommend!
Profile Image for Deuce Bigelow.
95 reviews
August 23, 2016
Not bad, haven't tried any of the recipes yet but I plan on it. I don't understand why she has to throw so much shade throughout the book though. Be confident in your own recipes and don't worry about anyone else is the message missing from this book.
Profile Image for Lisa.
154 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2012
Too much chatter, too much drama, and all in all, I'm unimpressed. And sadly, I know she had help with this in terms of putting it together. YIKES! Unless you're a fan, you can take a pass on this one.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,025 reviews
March 3, 2016
I didn't know Teresa until I saw her on Celebrity Apprentice. She didn't really fit in with the "sharks" on that show, but....
She seems to be a pretty nice person, all in all, very family oriented.
I enjoyed the recipes she gave in the book.
Profile Image for Jennifer Hughes.
875 reviews36 followers
September 9, 2016
I don't know anything about this author but my husband gave me this book as a gift. I haven't tried too many of the recipes but I do like the author's cooking and shopping tips for authentic Italian cooking.
Profile Image for Christine.
721 reviews
July 20, 2016
Love this book. I have never seen any of the Housewives shows so did not know the author at all. This is a fun, sassy book that gives you what you need to know without boring you or talking down to you. I'm definitely going to look for her other books now.
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