The Pasta Queen A just gorgeous cookbook : 100+ recipes and stories

TikTok star Munno, whose Italian ancestors were dried pasta makers as far back as the 1880s, shares a mix of go-to classics and family recipes in her luscious debut. Before getting to the recipes, Munno provides a brief history of pasta and lays out some helpful cooking tips ("Treat the recommended cooking time on a box of dried pasta as a guide, not law, to tell you when the pasta is al dente"), and novices will appreciate the detailed directions for making from-scratch pasta (the explanation for how to shape tortellini runs to multiple paragraphs). Classic recipes include spicy penne all'arrabbiata, and spaghetti all'amatriciana with guanciale and Pecorino Romano. Easy everyday recipes make use of leftover pasta, such as timballo di pasta (baked pasta) with salami, ham, or sausage. The American-inspired recipes--silky mac and cheese, penne with creamy salmon--offer nourishing comfort food. Those who want to put their skills to the test can try their hands at one of the recipes that encourage experimentation, such as a lemony pesto that calls for lemon, mint, and pistachios, the proportions of which can be changed based on flavor preferences and what one has on hand. Thorough and infectiously jubilant, this spirited celebration of Italy's most famous food is a winner. Agent: Brandi Bowles, UTA. (Nov.)

Munno brings vast inherited knowledge, and years as an Italian food blogger, to her first cookbook. There is much here to enjoy. An extensive ingredient and tool glossary is accompanied by a nice vignette of entertaining the Italian way. "Gorgeous Tips" include helpful hints for time savers, make-ahead, and flavor alternatives, and many recipes include QR codes to videos demonstrating how to make the dish. Photos are luxuriant but are as likely to be of Munno as of the food, but this is nothing new to fans of the blog and new readers likely won't mind a bit as her style is quite reminiscent of Giada De Laurentiis and Nigella Lawson. Cookbook readers will delight in turning the pages filled with plenty of family and recipe origin stories. True to the style of her blog, Munno delivers ingredient-forward recipes that encourage the use of fresh pasta, but she's not against subbing in dried pasta for quick weeknight meals. VERDICT This "just gorgeous" cookbook is truly that, and its assortment of recipes will please a variety of readers looking for bona fide Italian food for all occasions.--Sarah Tansley