-selling author--her favorite recipes for flavorful, no-fuss Italian food that use just one pot or pan (or two!). The companion cookbook to the upcoming public-television series Lidia's Kitchen: Home Cooking.

Lidia Bastianich--"doyenne of Italian cooking" (Chicago Times)--makes Italian cooking easy for everyone with this new, beautifully designed, easy-to-use cookbook. Here are more than 100 homey, simple-to-prepare recipes that require fewer steps and fewer ingredients (not to mention fewer dirty pots and pans!), without sacrificing any of their flavor.

These are just a few of the delectable dishes that fill this essential book of recipes:

Spinach, Bread, and Ricotta Frittata

One-Pan Chicken and Eggplant Parmigiana

Roasted Squash and Carrot Salad with Chickpeas and Almonds

Penne with Cauliflower and Green Olive Pesto

Balsamic Chicken Stir-Fry

Skillet Lasagna

Braised Calamari with Olives and Peppers

Beer-Braised Beef Short Ribs

Apple Cranberry Crumble

Some of them are old favorites, others are Lidia's new creations, but every one represents Italian food at its most essential--guaranteed to transport home cooks to Italy with a minimum of fuss and muss. "Tutti a tavola a mangiare!"