Italian

These braised short ribs from Mario Batali's restaurant Babbo are one of David's favorite things. One taste and you'll understand why.

Linguine pasta, clams, mussels, langoustines, and shrimp are tossed in a light tomato-garlic sauce spiked with pepper flakes. A simple quick dinner.

Bread crumbs. Garlic. Parsley. Olive oil. And a damn hot oven. You can understand why it's a classic.

A sort of inside-out take on tortellini filled with spinach and ricotta, this quick weeknight pasta supper boasts a rich spinach and ricotta sauce.

Simple, classic Italian coffee fare. Nothing is quite as satisfying as a good cup of cappuccino first thing in the morning. And second thing. And third...

This recipe for a frozen terrine, called semifreddo, is an ideal dessert to make ahead and pull out, slice, and serve. A great ending to an outdoor meal.

Pizza, pizza. Here it's topped with mushrooms, pepperoni, and fresh mozzarella cheese then tossed on the grill—yes, the grill— until crisp.

A stunner of a side dish, this luxuriantly smooth, creamy carrot and Parmigiano-Reggiano tart is certain to win friends and influence people.

This spit-roasted duck by Mario Batali is slathered in orange marmalade, orange juice, and balsamic vinegar, then spun until mahogany brown.

It may be a tad boring looking from the outside, but wait 'til you see what this eggplant timbale is filled with on the inside.

A hearty and healthy weeknight dinner solution that's made memorable with pancetta, sausage, AND bacon. And leftovers reheat magnificently.

A riff on the classic sausage and broccoli rabe pairing, this mixes it up with a little more healthfulness and the intriguing shape of cavatelli (though to be honest, any pasta will do).

Serve this red onion and rosemary pizza as an appetizer or in a buffet. Your guests will appreciate the easy to make homemade Italian pizza dough.

Pancetta is simply unsmoked bacon—aka pork belly—cured with salt and seasonings. And now you can DIY it.

Tangy, hot, sweet, silky. That's what we think of this citrus-scented risotto with sautéed shrimp that melds healthy with satsifying.

Jumble together pasta, tomatoes, eggplant, ooey gooey mozzarella, and a splash of cream in just 35 minutes. Jamie Oliver's quick pasta dinner also makes a mean casserole.

The classic Italian dessert, made the old fashioned way with crisp pastry shells, sweetened ricotta, and chocolate chips.

A tidy package of indulgent loveliness, a calzone is sorta like a slice of pizza with double the crust. Comfort in carbs, anyone?

Panettone, which makes its traditional Italian Christmas appearance, is gussied up here with any dried fruit you fancy. An ever so slight twist on a classic.

Dinner doesn't get any easier or more elegant than pasta tossed with butter, olive oil, Parmesan and pecorino Romano cheeses, and dusted with lots of black pepper.