SAPORI is a cookbook that includes my most favorite dishes, from soups to pasta, chicken and to fish dinners. Growing up in an Italian household, I have included many Italian main dishes; pasta, polenta, and pizza, but you will also find other recipes such as quiche, gratin, and vegetarian cuisine from other cultures. Since I have always had a sweet tooth, and I love to bake, I have included a selection of desserts that always please guests at the end of a meal.

Cooking for me is a creative endeavor that inspires me to think about color, texture, and the mix of flavors. I love the inventive aspect of cooking that is the stimulus to prepare delicious meals for family and friends knowing that good food, wine, and conversation bring people together.

The recipes in SAPORI are healthy and wholesome, following in the Mediterranean tradition. The recipes call for the freshest ingredients. Since none of us has the time to search for exotic ingredients – the recipes in this cookbook call for items that are staples in your pantry and can be found in local grocery stores. I hope you will find them neither complicated nor exacting to make – and that they are healthy, delicious, and elegant enough for a dinner party.

I took the photos in SAPORI on many spectacular trips to villages and cities in Italy. Since 1997 my husband, and I have taken an annual bike trip in Italy with a group of biking friends. Along the way I took photos of the countryside, towns and the people we met on those visits and have shared them in this book.

I hope you enjoy creating your own variations using some of the recipes in this cookbook. Most important, I hope you relish the meals you prepare for your family and friends. One of life's small pleasures is sitting down with family and friends to share a meal you have prepared for them with love.