Cookery Project: Italian

This year I am focussing my cookery projects on one cookbook at a time and making as much as possible from it. My current book is 'Gastronomy of Italy' by Anna del Conde, which was I think a gift from the awesome Maria, queen of Italian food. A classic book on Italian food which is also an encyclopedia of recipes and ingredients.

I gravitate to easy recipes which are either quick (for weekdays) or slow cooker friendly (for sundays). I am trying to follow the recipes closely, with the right ingredients and no shortcuts, which is unlike me...

So far I have made: 

Potato and lamb stew 

Spaghetti alla Amatriciana (tomato and bacon)

Beef with vegetables and Lombardy spices

Pollo alla Cacciatora

Tagliatelle with speck sauce( cream and ham)

Beef stew with paprika and sage

Potato gnocchi

Tagliatelle with lemon and herbs

Aubergine parmigiana

Pumpkin gnocchi.

So far the standouts for me have been gnocchi making (fun), the speck sauce (unhealthy but insanely delicious) the spaghetti (super tasty) and the beef stew with paprika and sage ( interesting new flavour combo). I plan to complete the gnocchi classic trio with ricotta and spinach next.