Cookbook of the Week: David Rocco's Made in Italy

There’s something about the “Made in Italy” label that summons an aura of luxury and indulgence. But when stamped on a cookbook, it means quite the opposite.

Italian cooking is a complete paradox to the rest of their culture. The “bella figura” as David Rocco says, are complete traditionalists when it comes to food. The Made in Italy stamp on a bag of pasta means homemade, fresh, and simple, and that’s exactly the philosophy that David Rocco’s cookbook takes on.

After only moments of flipping through the cookbook, what seems an endless memoir of sweeping Italian landscapes, adventure, and unconventionally mouthwatering food, I've already scouted out some dishes I can't wait to try out. This book will most certainly be keeping my family and I company at the kitchen table all winter long.

Paul Ferney Cakes

Beautiful oil paintings of cake by Paul Ferney. I picture these scattered on the walls of my future kitchen. There's something so humble about the simplicity of these cakes. Each painting is infused with the romance of Paris where Paul Ferney painted them to life.

Lucky Peach

The first indication that this magazine was going to be a big hit was the starkly plucked dead chicken on the front cover. The second was the blunt but honest caption on the first page next to a picture of takeout chopsticks: "Would you fucking learn how to do this already?". The third? Every 174 pages of delicious knowledge and subsequent surge of edible enlightenment. Momofuku's David Chang has succeeded indeed in his first issue of the quarterly publication, Lucky Peach. This first issue stars authentic Japanese ramen soup, and Chang travelled all the way to Japan to find the real deal. After lapping up every page, you'll probably know more about ramen than people who actually know how to use chopsticks. Available at Toronto's Type Books. The Fall issue is coming out soon - get it while it's hot!

Carven S/S 2012

Photo Credit: Style.com

My favourite looks from Carven Spring/Summer 2012. Guillaum Henry has created a line that is modern and forward-thinking. With stark colours and bold prints, the clothes are simple and tailored with playful details. Cheeky necklines, embelleshed collars and lots of leg complete the looks. Carven's girl is young, saucy, and professional with a bit of an edge. She's polished but not too perfect. Now that's my kinda gal.

Bubbie's Honey Cake with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

A symbol for a sweet year ahead, honey cake is traditionally made on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It is typically baked as a boring old loaf, but this year I decided to make dessert a little more interesting (and delicious). I didn't want to overpower the sweetness of the honey cake with too much frosting, so opted to bake a layer cake and slab a generous amount of icing in the middle.

The cake came out sweet and earthy, with a fluffy and moist crumb. The spiced cream cheese frosting was the perfect balance of tart and sweet. I love how the cake looks rustic and so appealing. To get this look, I carved off the edges of the cake and let the frosting seep down the sides a little. I think a natural cake like this is infinitely more appealing than a cake smothered in fondant and excess sugar. The deep honey brown colour and warm spices make this a beautiful cake for fall.

Bubbie's Honey Cake

4 eggs

1/4 cup oil

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup honey dissolved in 1 cup earl grey tea

3 cups flour

2.5 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

1 cup butter

1 cup cream cheese

2 cups icing sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

A Little Bit of Sparkle

Craving some serious sparkle as of late...Metallic smokey eye as imagined by Chanel is day or night appropriate this season

I adore this Rustic Diamond Leafside Ring by Cathy Waterman

Miu Miu Glitter Heels - a modern day take on Dorothy's magical red slippers

I love this Sparkle apricot nailpolish by Cupcakes and Cashmere. It's a subtle, more refined take on the somewhat kitchsy "nail art" trend