Simple Italian Snacks: More Recipes from America’s Favorite Panini Bar

The authors of Simple Italian Sandwiches return in Simple Italian Snacks with delicious, elegant, easy-to-prepare bites for entertaining, lite dining, and more.

The European culinary tradition of small plates have become a staple of American dining and have helped usher in a new way to eat, a relaxed way of socializing and a chic way of entertaining. Lively, fun, sophisticated, Simple Italian Snacks by Jason Denton and Kathryn Kellinger includes recipes and tasting combinations perfect for this style of dining.

Here are easy, do-ahead recipes for any event—an afternoon by the pool, a fireside grill with friends, dinner for two, a meal for a crowd—all that can start as hors d’oeuvres or be built into a meal. Versatility, variety and great taste are the essential ingredients of such dishes as:

• Artichoke Gratin with Pecorino
• Sweet Fennel Sausage Panini
• Rice Balls
• Chocolate Biscotti
• Shallow Fried Soft Shell Crab with Red Pepper Mayonnaise and Arugula
• Porotobello and Pancetta Bruschetta
• and Shrimp, Celery, and Sweet Onions Spiedini

Fun, simple, and wonderfully delicious, the dishes in Simple Italian Snacks are sure to inspire and delight every palate.

Americans are embracing the small plate craze. They are serving bite-size mini meals—tapas, bar snacks, antipasti, skewered vegetables—whenever they entertain. Simple Italian Snacks shows how to plan a menu for any gathering in the informal yet chic way that Italians have mastered. Here are recipes appropriate for an afternoon by the pool, a fireside get-together with friends, an intimate dinner for two, or a party for a crowd. The dishes, which can be served as hors d'oeuvres or presented as a meal, are easy to prepare, and many can be made ahead of time.

The authors of the wildly successful Simple Italian Sandwiches include all-new bruschetta, tramezzini, and panini as well as classic Italian snacks such as Baked Eggs in Tomato Sauce and Rice Balls. They show us how to make any party an event and even include sparkly cocktails. The recipes in Simple Italian Snacks are quick yet incredibly sophisticated and, as always, delicious.

“[They] put the pleasures of an Italian Tradition within the reach of every American home cook.” - Publishers Weekly on Simple Italian Sandwiches

“The recipes in SIMPLE ITALIAN SNACKS are easy to make, fun, and produce deliciousness of the highest order. Jason Denton and Kathryn Kellinger show all of us how elementally simple and satisfying Italian food can be.” - Ed Levine, Author of NEW YORK EATS and A SLICE OF HEAVEN and the founder of Seriouseats.com, named one of the fifty top websites of 2008 by Time.com

“Filled with pertinent information on ingredients and serving suggestions, and paired cocktail recipes make nice additions. Include(s) delicious musts such as the classic dish of arancini (rice balls). Its handy trim size and well-shot, full-page color photos make this an appealing gift title, ideal for housewarmings.” - Publishers Weekly

“Any one of these 80 inventive and flavorful little bites--some quite elegant--will make your next party the talk of the neighborhood.” - Newark Star Ledger