Barilla has teamed up with celebrity pasta lovers and renowned chefs Mario Batali and Giada De Laurentiis, to create a new, free cookbook benefiting America’s Second Harvest —the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. For a limited time, from February 1-28, 2007, “The Celebrity Pasta Lovers’ Cookbook” will be available online- free of charge- at www.CelebrityPastaLovers.com. For every person who goes to the site and downloads the cookbook, Barilla will donate $1 to America’s Second Harvest.

“Today in America more than 38 million people — 14 million of whom are children — have limited access to food due to financial difficulties, according to America’s Second Harvest,” said Kirk Trofholz, President of Barilla America. “Barilla is pleased to step up its involvement and support of America’s Second Harvest with the Celebrity Pasta Lovers’ Cookbook, which blends our passion for pasta and authentic Italian cuisine with a highly worthwhile cause that will help put food on the tables of people in need.” Their maximum goal is to have 100,000 people download the cookbook, for a total donation of $100,000.

Ten notable celebrities from film, television and fashion shared their favorite pasta dishes for the cookbook, which served as the inspiration for the cookbook’s delicious new recipes created by guest editors Mario Batali and Giada De Laurentiis, best-selling cookbook author and host of Everyday Italian and Behind the Bash on The Food Network. All recipes are accompanied by personal stories and anecdotes from the celebrities, along with pasta preparation tips from Barilla, Batali and De Laurentiis. Some of the mouthwatering recipes include Pumpkin Sage Butter Tortellini, inspired by Ashley Judd; Vegetable Orzo Primavera, inspired by Pierce Brosnan; Linguine with Eggplant and Sun-Dried Tomatoes, inspired by Sela Ward; and Spaghetti with Spicy Tomato Sauce, inspired by Harrison Ford. A $90,000 donation was made by Barilla in the celebrities’ names for participation in the project.

Download the cookbook this month and know that while you’re feeding your own family, you’ll also be helping to feed a hungry family in need: www.CelebrityPastaLovers.com.