This book is an homage to traditional and classic Italian home cooking, and to the kitchens of the Italian people who have developed Italian cooking through the centuries and across oceans to new worlds. In America, we call it comfort food. The Italians call it cucina casalinga, home cuisine. In Italy, comfort food is a highly evolved art form, and this book includes recipes from the author's own family of devoted cooks-from appetizers and soups, to salads and meats, from pastas to desserts and even food for children.