Over 70 mouth-watering Italian recipes for classic starters, pasta, risottos, meat and vegetable dishes, and desserts. The fresh flavours, simplicity and comfort of Italian food, have made it one of the world's most popular cuisines. When Samantha Charlton moved to Rome in 1998, she fell in love with the city's vibrancy, beauty, history and sunshine - but also with the food. From thin-crust pizzas blasted in wood-fired ovens and Roman specialties like deep-fried zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella, to gusty pasta sauces and flavourful meat dishes - Rome's cuisine was the beginning of a long love affair for Samantha, and one that still continues. She spent a decade living and working in the Eternal City, as well as two years in Spoleto, Umbria. This recipe book is the culmination of years of exploration and experimentation with Italian cuisine. Upon returning to New Zealand, Samantha decided to bring a little of her Italian life back with her. From 2009 to 2012, she taught Italian cooking classes in Dunedin - a coastal city on New Zealand's South Island. Over the following three years, she taught a series of four-course meals; showing students how to make their own fresh egg pasta, intensely flavoured sauces, and a range of delicious starters and meat dishes. She introduced her students to cooking chicken, beef, lamb and fish Italian-style, and to taking a fresh approach to preparing vegetables. Her recipes are easy to follow and focus on fresh, seasonal produce and simple flavours. Students shared in preparing the meal around a table, while learning the tips and techniques of Italian cooking. Afterwards they enjoyed dining together and chatting about their efforts with a glass of wine. In this way, the students were able to enjoy the full Italian dining experience. Now you can too