Ciao Italia

Mary Ann teams up with PBS celebrity chef Jacques Pepin to prepare some of the quickest, easiest fish dishes you've ever seen. Jacques' Slow-cooked Tuna Steaks with Tomato Relish takes only minutes to make. Mary Ann's Stuffed Fish with Nuts and Spinach is just as easy, but Jacques' Scallope Seviche is the hands-down winner.

Mary Ann travels north of Cortona, Italy to visit American cookbook author and food columnist Nancy Harmon Jenkins. Working in Nancy's cozy kitchen in her restored country farmhouse, Mary Ann and she create Pane Toscano (Tuscan Bread) then fry up some crunchy crostini, for three terrific toppings: Tomato/Basil/Garlic, Chicken Liver and Sage, and Tuna Fish and Caper treat. Buon appetito!

World-renowned pastry chef Nick Malgieri rolls up his sleeves nella cucina as he and Mary Ann exchange stories, tease each other, and have an entertaining time creating two masterpieces; Torta al Taglierini a pie-shaped, pastry noodle-topped chocolate cake and Torta Neri con le Noci (Chocolate Cake with Nuts) a classic Bolognese treat that's rich as Midas but light as a cloud.

Mary Ann visits good friend Lorenza Iori at her home in Reggio Emilia for Sunday dinner. But they have to make it first, including a hearty Risotto and Maiale al Latte (Pork in Milk). What to have for dessert is solved by a surprise visit from Cristiana Magnani who creates her signature Torta al Cioccolato, Chocolate Cake.

Mary Ann travels to the Robert Pepi Winery in Napa, California to visit vintner, Marco Di Giulio who shows her how they make San Giovese wine just like they do in Italy. Mary Ann goes nella cucina to a braised beef dish in red wine called Brasato, from Lombardy, and the other a delicate chicken stuffed with spinach and Fontina cheese, cooked - in what else? White wine, of course.

Peter Scognamillo is one great baker and he's just a kid! When Mary Ann invites him to stop by nella cucina to make cookies, Peter brings his recipe for Maddalena Raspberry Cookies; two buttery, crisp wafers filled with raspberry jam. Then it's Mary Ann's turn, and she shows Peter how to make Almond Crisps. Open up that cookie jar!