Taking the restaurant home

The Scotto family is one of those names that jumps to the fore of the American food scene. Italian Comfort Food, one of their earlier titles, is jammed with authentic, often rustic, food that would be found on an Italian kitchen table.

They've teamed up with Pepperidge farm and Prego to produce a new selection of restaurant-quality recipe ideas that can be bought at the grocery:

Featured are Marion, Elaina, Anthony Jr. and John Scotto, owners of Fresco by Scotto, NYC and frequent guests on NBC’s Today show, brings together the brands' core values of family, authenticity and tradition, in this exciting relationship.

The Scottos have created some delicious, yet simple, meal ideas using Prego Italian sauce and Pepperidge Farm frozen garlic bread.

“These are delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes; it’s like eating the meals we serve at the restaurant, only in the comfort of your home,” said Marion Scotto, owner of Fresco by Scotto Restaurant. “The recipe creation was simple, especially when we began with the flavorful varieties of hearty Prego Italian sauce and authentic, hot and crusty Pepperidge Farm garlic bread.

The Scottos have turned supper into a celebration by including garden vegetables, fresh herbs, savory sauces, plus the most essential ingredient: family. Armed with a collection of 15 recipes, the Scottos have created a plethora of new classics including, Prego Penne alla Fresco with Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast, Scottos Sunday Sauce with Meatballs; and Prego Chicken Italiano with Pepperidge Farm Garlic Bread, just to name a few.

“The Scottos have been great partners. Their passion for food is truly inspiring and we are so pleased with the incredible recipes they have developed," said Jeff Davis, Brand Manager, Prego. Theresa Choh-Lee, Business Director, Pepperidge Farm added, "With growing economic concerns, families are ‘dining in’ more often to save money. The Scotto family's exclusive recipes deliver authentic, high-quality convenience to consumers without breaking the bank. We're thrilled to offer families a unique and affordable way to enjoy restaurant-quality meals at home."

In addition to the recipes created, the Scotto family shares restaurant secrets to enhance the home dining experience on myitaliantable.com. Tips include warming plates in the microwave before serving and when cooking with fresh herbs, add them at the last possible moment for optimal flavor. Also, one should tear, rather than cut, delicate herbs like basil.

Myitaliantable.com also offers a printable recipe booklet so consumers can reference them in their kitchens every day. The site features an interactive dining utility, a products section, and allows consumers a peek into the life of the Scotto family. Site visitors can also download and print a coupon for their next shopping trip.