Dolce Italiano Contest with Gina DePalma

If you also read Shelley’s At Home in Rome (and if you don’t, why don’t you?!), you probably already know this, but just in case, I’m letting you in on the big news:

We’re having a contest! And it involves desserts! And books!

Dolce Italiano

Brainstormed and organized by Shelley, the Dolce Italiano Contest centers on the book by the same name by Gina DePalma, Executive Pastry Chef at Mario Batali’s famous New York City restaurant Babbo.
Dolce Italiano
And this is no ordinary cookbook. It’s getting rave reviews all over the place and has been named the 3rd best Cooking, Food, & Wine book of 2007 on Amazon.com and one of Publishers Weekly’s best books of the year (Lifestyle).

So now, Shelley, three other bloggers that you know and love, and I are getting together to help one of you win your very own signed copy!

Starting today and for the next two weeks (Monday-Friday), one of us will feature a recipe from Dolce Italiano. If you leave a comment on a post, you’re entered to win the book. Only one comment per post counts toward the drawing, but if you comment on each of the 10 posts, that gives you 10 chances to win.

Comments on all 10 posts will be accepted for the drawing up until 11:59 PST on Friday, December 7.

And you and your family can have a very lovely holiday season with all these delicious Italian desserts.

So where do you need to go? Here’s the schedule:

Mondays: Sara’s Ms Adventures in Italy

Tuesdays: Ilva’s Lucullian Delights

Wednesdays: Right here baby!

Thursdays: Shelley’s At Home in Rome

Fridays: Jenn’s The Leftover Queen

Since it’s Monday, you need to head on over to Ms Adventures in Italy and see what Sara has made just for you today. And comment! Don’t forget to comment!

Please note that comments on this post (that you’re reading right now), although sincerely appreciated, do not count as entries in the contest; only comments on recipe posts will be entered into the drawing.

Also check out Shelley’s three-part interview with Ms DePalma here, here, and here.

30 days of thanks
Today I’m thankful for:

The opportunity to be a part of the Dolce Italiano Contest. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Yes, there are recipes for cookies, cakes, spoon desserts, tarts, ice creams, sorbets, semifreddos, fried treats, dishes with fruit, celebratory desserts, and savory goodies–but there’s also a whole lot of information on Italian baking in general, techniques, equipment, ingredients, and more.

Goodness my grandmother would’ve loved this. She *loved* Molto Mario.

If you’re a foodie, this is a book you’ll want to get all floury and sugary during the day and then curl up with at night. It’s an awesome gift for anyone who loves baking, so whether you win one or not, I highly recommend picking up a copy.

25 Beans of Wisdom to “Dolce Italiano Contest with Gina DePalma”
  1. Jeni
    11.26.2007

    I already checked out the first entry – cool recipe there for biscotti that looks super good. That’s an item though I have several recipes for it in various cookbooks, I have always chickened out when it came to trying to make them. I may have to break down now and give it a try!

  2. sognatrice
    11.26.2007

    *Jeni, would you know that I’ve never made biscotti either? They weren’t big in my house growing up and honestly, they aren’t very big around here either–sure they’re in packages, but I don’t think anyone has ever given me homemade. I think this Christmas just may be the time for us to jump into the biscotti mix, though πŸ˜‰

  3. Judith in Umbria
    11.26.2007

    I don’t make them, because I don’t really like them. But those look good even to me. I have strong fingernails to open the pistacchi…

  4. My Melange
    11.26.2007

    Thanks, just went over and it looks like a great recipe!!! I tried making them once and, well, they broke up all over when I tried to cut them πŸ™ Kinda discouraged me from trying it again. Maybe this one will inspire me!!!

  5. sognatrice
    11.26.2007

    *Judith, I’m not really crazy about biscotti either, but they’d make great gifts (and I agree, these do look tempting for me as well) πŸ™‚

    *Robin, give it a try again! Practice makes perfect they say πŸ˜‰

  6. nyc/caribbean ragazza
    11.26.2007

    Looking forward to seeing what you have “cooked” up on Wednesday. πŸ™‚

  7. sognatrice
    11.26.2007

    *NYC, I actually *just* took Wednesday’s recipe out of the oven and let me tell you–the smell in my house right now is AMAZING!

    I’ll give you a hint: it involves sugar and flour πŸ˜‰

  8. Ilva
    11.26.2007

    Oh, I’m really looking forward to see your post! I’m working on mine right now!

  9. cheeky
    11.26.2007

    Hey!
    I can’t wait to see what you are cooking, erm *baking* up.
    I love these organised, participant friendly contests.
    Any chance of getting a “scratch n sniff” widget on the blog so we can smell as well as see? Just a thought.
    xo

  10. sognatrice
    11.26.2007

    *Ilva, I’m so excited now that we’re finally ready to go! I just did my recipe this afternoon, and WOW!

    *Cheeky, you’re going to love it, I promise. Scratch and sniff *would* be fabulous, wouldn’t it?

  11. Britt-Arnhild
    11.26.2007

    How great.
    I’ll follow πŸ™‚

  12. Jen of A2eatwrite
    11.26.2007

    It’s a cold snowy day… perfect for thinking about making desserts!

  13. Bonggamom
    11.26.2007

    What a great contest! I’ll be back on Wednesday to put my entry on your site πŸ™‚

  14. african vanielje
    11.26.2007

    great idea, I’ll be popping over to visit each of the posts. thankyou

  15. Gil
    11.27.2007

    I could go for that slice of pinoli cake on the cover of Mario’s book. Strange biscotti weren’t a big item growing up in our Neoploitan/Sicilian family.

  16. Shameless
    11.27.2007

    Oh, mama’s cooking … no wonder they never leave home! πŸ™‚

  17. Karen Cole
    11.27.2007

    Thanks for the contest!!! Italians know how to have a good time…dessert and you win something mmmmm.

  18. JennDZ - The Leftover Queen
    11.27.2007

    Isn’t this just sooooo much fun! I am loving it! πŸ™‚

  19. SabineM
    11.27.2007

    what a fabulous idea and gorgeous book! I already checked out the first recipe. YUMMMM
    I made biscotti once before and it was easier then I had thought. This recipe LOOKS super YUMMY!

  20. Anali
    11.27.2007

    Great idea! Now I have to get over there and comment too!

  21. The Passionate Palate
    11.27.2007

    This is a terrific event you all are doing! I will try to post something about it on my site.

  22. sognatrice
    11.27.2007

    *Britt-Arnhild, woohoo!

    *Jen, two weeks of desserts–yeah!

    *Bonggamom, I look forward to seeing you πŸ™‚

    *AV, hope you enjoy the recipes!

    *Gil, same here on the biscotti, and my family is Calabrian/Napolitan. And yes, that cover photo is awesome πŸ™‚

    *Shameless, hah! You’re on to something….

    *Karen, excellent point. Best of luck!

    *Jenn, me too! Even more than I thought I would πŸ™‚

    *Sabine, you inspire me to finally make biscotti….

    *Anali, comment away!

  23. sognatrice
    11.27.2007

    *Jeni, oops, left you out…I’m sure you’re going to enjoy all these wonderful recipes πŸ™‚

  24. plongstocking
    12.05.2007

    I can’t believe I almost missed this contest. I love food. I would love to win Gina’s cookbook. Please enter my name in your contest.

  25. sognatrice
    12.05.2007

    *Plongstocking, I’m writing you now so you can comment on the correct post to be entered–only the recipe posts count!


Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake