Picking just one? Wow, that's tough.

Some principles in Italian cooking (and really, any good cooking) are to use the freshest ingredients, unless they're meant to be aged. That will make the dish burst with flavor.

One of the cheapest, best things you can do is bruschetta:

Start your grill or wood fire.

Crush a garlic clove and put it in about 1/2 cup of very good olive oil (see note below).

Chop up some ripe plum tomatoes.

Snip into the bowl some fresh basil, or a few spoons of pesto sauce (I grow basil, so that's my cheap option).

Crush an olive clove into it (or use crushed from a jar).

Pour in just a little olive oil, but make sure it's a really flavorful one. I use Trader Joe's Kalamata.

You can also add some chopped up olives, onion (just a tad), artichoke hearts, etc. and/or a squirt of lemon juice.

Cut a long loaf of Italian bread like you're going to make a giant sub, and then put it back together and cut it into slices about 1- 1 1/2" thick.

Brush each slice with the olive oil that's been steeping with garlic in it. Place bread on grill, cut side down.

When the bread starts to get toasty, flip it.

Serve topped with the tomato mixture.

Italian recipes are enjoyed all over the world. Here are some outstanding Italian recipes:

· Torta Barozzi: A delicious cake from the little town of Emilia-Romagna made with dark chocolate, Italian coffee, almonds and rum.

· Lardo di Colonnata: A delicious raw lard matured inside moulds of Carrara marble using only natural herbs.

· Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena: This is considered the most precious gastronomic product in the world. It’s a natural nectar aged at least 25 years that provides an incredible flavor to everything you use.

· Nocino: An Italian thick and sweet aromatic spirit made from walnuts. Italians drink it to cheer up or as a digestive after meals.

· Limoncello: An Italian flavor icon and a refreshing spirit from southern Italy, made of just lemons, water, alcohol and sugar.

Source: http://www.discoveritalianfood.com/italian-food-products.html

Regional:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5856973_make-sardinian-soup.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5892955_make-fried-rosemary-polenta.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5277934_make-tomato-sauce-naples-style.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_6194820_prepare-norma_s-sauce-pasta.html (one of my faves too)

http://www.ehow.com/how_4543617_make-ragu.html

My Faves:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4574694_pasta-alla-puttanesca.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4593724_spaghetti-clam-sauce.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4561006_make-amatriciana-sauce.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4534182_spaghetti-aglioolio-e-peperoncino.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4561013_make-arrabbiata-sauce.html

other:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6043970_make-tagliatelle-primavera.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2256338_make-pasta-salad.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_6041587_make-oven-baked-ziti.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4722200_make-struffoli.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_6013128_make-pasta-raw-tomato-sauce.html

This is my favorite Italian recipes :- World's Best Lasagna

Ingredients

* 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
* 3/4 pound lean ground beef
* 1/2 cup minced onion
* 2 cloves garlic, crushed
* 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
* 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
* 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
* 1/2 cup water
* 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
* 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
* 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
* 1 tablespoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
* 12 lasagna noodles
* 16 ounces ricotta cheese
* 1 egg
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
* 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

I refer this site to make italian recipes:-
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/world-cuisine/europe/italy/top.aspx