These family dishes are easy to make and delicious - their bold flavors will excite the palate while their simplicity will delight the cook! Author Cliff Wright understands hectic schedules, hungry stomachs, and the passion for homey Italian fare, and he proves that if you can turn on the stove, you can prepare a satisfying meal in no time.There are recipes for every part of the meal - enticing antipasti (like Ricotta and Hazelnut Fritters), deliciously filling meat and fish dishes (Sear-Crusted Thyme and White Pepper Steak; Grilled Salmon with Artichoke, Oyster, and Rosemary Sauce; Chicken with Three Onions), vegetables that are delightfully done (Panfried Yellow Peppers and Mushrooms) and refreshingly satisfying fruit desserts (Ripe Peaches in Rose Water Syrup). Then, of course, there's pasta - more than 65 recipes for pasta with vegetables (Spaghetti with Spinach, Raisins, and Pine Nuts), pasta with cheese (Cavatelli with Creamy Cheese Fondue), pasta with meat (Penne with Roasted Chestnuts and Grilled Sausage), and pasta with seafood (Linguine with Garlicky Fried Oysters).But that's not all - Cliff lets you know what to stock in your pantry and what to look for in ingredients, and how to cook it all the Italian way. With just a little planning, a meal of Fettuccine with Ham and Warm Goat Cheese, Roasted Country Bread, and Broccoli and Roasted Red Bell Peppers can be on the table in no time. From Lentil Minestrone to Flank Steak with Walnut Pesto, from Grilled Tuna and Salsa Verde to Spinach and Fresh Ricotta Gratinate, Italian Pure and Simple emphasizes fresh ingredients, quick preparation, and lots of taste.If you love Italian food but don't think you have the time it takes to prepare it, grab the pasta, crush some garlic, steam those vegetables, and jump into this book. It's that simple. Read Less