Bleeding Espresso

26 November 2007

dolce italiano contest

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!

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.

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.

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.

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Technorati Tags: dolce italiano, contests, gina depalma, mario batali, babbo, cookbooks, baking, desserts, italian desserts, nablopomo, 30 days of thanks

25 beans of wisdom »

25 beans of wisdom to “dolce italiano contest”

Jeni on 26 Nov 2007 at 10:51 am #

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!
sognatrice on 26 Nov 2007 at 10:59 am #

*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
Judith in Umbria on 26 Nov 2007 at 12:44 pm #

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…
My Melange on 26 Nov 2007 at 1:33 pm #

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 Kinda discouraged me from trying it again. Maybe this one will inspire me!!!
sognatrice on 26 Nov 2007 at 4:02 pm #

*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)

*Robin, give it a try again! Practice makes perfect they say
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 26 Nov 2007 at 4:09 pm #

Looking forward to seeing what you have “cooked” up on Wednesday.
sognatrice on 26 Nov 2007 at 4:15 pm #

*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
Ilva on 26 Nov 2007 at 5:04 pm #

Oh, I’m really looking forward to see your post! I’m working on mine right now!
cheeky on 26 Nov 2007 at 5:47 pm #

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
sognatrice on 26 Nov 2007 at 7:24 pm #

*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?
Britt-Arnhild on 26 Nov 2007 at 10:03 pm #

How great.
I’ll follow
Jen of A2eatwrite on 26 Nov 2007 at 10:05 pm #

It’s a cold snowy day… perfect for thinking about making desserts!
Bonggamom on 26 Nov 2007 at 10:45 pm #

What a great contest! I’ll be back on Wednesday to put my entry on your site
african vanielje on 26 Nov 2007 at 11:09 pm #

great idea, I’ll be popping over to visit each of the posts. thankyou
Gil on 27 Nov 2007 at 12:26 am #

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.
Shameless on 27 Nov 2007 at 1:21 am #

Oh, mama’s cooking … no wonder they never leave home!
Karen Cole on 27 Nov 2007 at 2:49 am #

Thanks for the contest!!! Italians know how to have a good time…dessert and you win something mmmmm.
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen on 27 Nov 2007 at 3:48 am #

Isn’t this just sooooo much fun! I am loving it!
SabineM on 27 Nov 2007 at 4:09 am #

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!
Anali on 27 Nov 2007 at 6:48 am #

Great idea! Now I have to get over there and comment too!
The Passionate Palate on 27 Nov 2007 at 7:42 pm #

This is a terrific event you all are doing! I will try to post something about it on my site.
sognatrice on 27 Nov 2007 at 8:04 pm #

*Britt-Arnhild, woohoo!

*Jen, two weeks of desserts–yeah!

*Bonggamom, I look forward to seeing you

*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

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

*Karen, excellent point. Best of luck!

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

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

*Anali, comment away!
sognatrice on 27 Nov 2007 at 8:05 pm #

*Jeni, oops, left you out…I’m sure you’re going to enjoy all these wonderful recipes
plongstocking on 05 Dec 2007 at 3:07 am #

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.
sognatrice on 05 Dec 2007 at 11:07 am #

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