Are you a fan of the TLC show "Cake Boss"? Ever wonder what Buddy Valastro, owner of the New Jersey bakery featured in that show, cooks when he's not making cakes? You're in luck.
Out now is a new celebrity cookbook full of Cake Boss recipes from him. Called Cooking Italian with the Cake Boss, this Cake Boss cookbook is filled with what Buddy Valastro describes as 100 of his delicious, essential Italian-American recipes—from his grandmother's secret dishes, including Sunday gravy (aka tomato sauce) to his personal specialties he makes for his own children—with signature touches that make everyday meals into memorable family events.
Free Press, a division of Simon and Schuster, and the publisher of this cookbook, sent me a complimentary copy of the cookbook to review. It is a follow up to two others he's penned—Cake Boss and Baking with the Cake Boss. I liked what I read.
I'm married to an Italian American man so I feel I have a pretty good appreciation of Italian recipes and how someone who was brought up, as Buddy says, where food is love, works in the kitchen. In addition to great recipes, this cookbook has a terrific section on stocking your pantry. Any cook knows that this is the key to being able to whip up delicious meals at a moment's notice. I mean for our first date my husband made a homemade from scratch puttanesca sauce over pasta, and I knew he was a keeper!
So even if you can't get to all the Cake Boss recipes in the cookbook, you'll at least come away with a better appreciation of an Italian American-approved pantry—trust me, I have one just like that at my house. Plus, who can deny advice to keep Nutella on hands as Buddy Valastro does on page 19.
Have you tried any of the Cake Boss recipes in Buddy Valastro's cookbook? Share your experience in the comments section below.
