Culinary School - Italian Cooking

Posted by Unknown Jumat, 04 Januari 2013 0 komentar
Italians are good cooks just like the French. If its richness and diversity you want then the Italian cuisine is the way to go! Italians take their cooking seriously as well as has been one of the country's main cultural exports. The Italian cooking has long history which could even be traced back to the 4th century BC to which after the crusades the spice trade has made a huge influence on this which improved its flavor and food preservation. Due to their love for cooking there are a lot of Italian cook books that have scattered all over the world which you could easily acquire at any local bookstore!
Italian cuisine is also unique and has variations. An example would be regional variations to which could be furthermore explained by this; in northern Italy butter is commonly preferred than olive oil and so does rice and corn are more common than pasta, which may not be in accordance to the other parts of Italy. Also just like the French Cuisine, Italian Cooking also has its own meal structures which could very well satisfy your dining experience may it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The main ingredients in Italian Cuisine are those that you could find in your local grocery store such as Olive oil, garlic, basil, oregano, mozzarella, ricotta, parmigiana, capers, tomatoes, sausage, and also different kinds of pasta that you could use in a variety of ways to conjure the perfect Italian dish!
Have you ever heard that Italian diet that is comprised of pasta and pizza is healthy? Well, it is! And this you could find out when enrolled in a culinary school that specializes or rather has a focus on the Italian Cuisine. Furthermore, other than reading an Italian cookbook (which If I may add, is also useful before getting in to culinary school) being enrolled in a culinary school is far better due to the fact that professional chef or cooks supervise you in the kitchen while cooking your dish which makes the learning process more effective.
Start your education on Italian Cuisine today! May it be for business or for your personal use in the kitchen Italian Cuisine could definitely be of use. To add; there is another cuisine which is based on Italian Cuisine and that is "Italian-American" cooking which also has its own variations and unique recipes.

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Cooking Italian Sausage - Sealing In The Juices For Delicious Flavor

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Italian sausage is made of pork and usually contains anise or fennel. There must be less than 35% fat and more than 85% meat. It can be hot, sweet (which is often flavored with basil) or mild and is usually grilled and enjoyed with vegetables. There is also kielbasa, which is white, and this comes raw and unsmoked. It is boiled or cooked and similar in flavor to the Italian variety.
Italian sausage needs to be kept in the refrigerator until you need it and then you should prick it a few times using a fork before cooking, else the sausages might explode in the heat. Cook them until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F to ensure they are safe to eat. This ingredient should be pink and fleshy without sliminess or odor.
The best way to seal in the juices is to make sure the sausages do not cook for too long. They do have to be 160 degrees F inside but you can choose from various cooking methods. Either cook them dry and fast or cook them slowly in liquid for the best results.
Different Cooking Methods
Grilling is a great way to cook this ingredient and you can put them in a pot with water, chicken bouillon granules, beer, and a bay leaf and bring the mixture to a simmer. Once the water starts to simmer transfer the sausages to the grill and cook them for a couple of minutes per side or until they are done.
If you want to bake them, you can cut them in half lengthwise when they are frozen (or when thawed but this is trickier), then pierce them and brown them on each side. Put them in a dish with marinara sauce and some grated mozzarella, then bake for twenty minutes at 375 degrees F or until they are cooked through. Sprinkle parsley over the top and serve.
You can braise Italian sausages in a crockpot too. Put a pound of halved links in a crockpot with quarter of a cup of sherry, a tablespoon of soy sauce, two cups of beer or water, a bay leaf and two cloves of garlic in your crockpot, then cook on high for two hours. Turn the heat down to low and cook them until they are done.
To braise them, saute them in an ovenproof pot or skillet, and then add a sliced fennel bulb, a sliced onion, and a bay leaf. Use half a cup each of chicken broth and red wine to deglaze the pot, then cover it and bake for half an hour at 375 degrees F or until the sausages are done.
If you prefer to fry your Italian sausages, prick them and cut them in half. Fry them in hot oil for about five minutes or until they are golden brown, then drain them on paper towels and serve with cheese, onions, bacon, and whatever else you like, on hoagie rolls or hot dog buns.
Italian sausage is an interesting ingredient to use in your pizza recipes. If you are going for a meat feast type pizza why not add Italian sausage to the toppings and use a tomato-enriched pizza sauce recipe to make it extra tasty?

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Why Are Italian Shoes Expensive?

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If you are into fashion like me then there is no way you have not come across Italian fashion item. And if you are a woman like me then there is no way you don't give importance to your shoes. If it is the case then Italian shoes should be your choice. But there are people who think these shoes are way over priced. Even I, a shoes addict, sometimes feel that they are pricey. But there is no way it can be judged only based on its price. Everyone knows that Italy is the hub of fashion and it bears it own aroma. As you read on, you will agree with that too!
Whenever it comes to the question of your footwear, the first thing comes to your mind is comfort. You need something which will give you protection with ultimate comfort. The material used in making the shoes is the one and only solution to fulfill this need of yours. And Italian shoes got the best material that can ever be used in footwear. It is not some synthetic materials which is normally used in less expensive shoes. Italian made shoes are made of leather and suede. Always materials of highest quality are used in these amazing shoes. It ensures that you get what you need and in return you end up paying the huge extra amount. Now it all depends on your own view. Which of the two do you prioritize? Is it comfort of your feet or comfort of your credit card?
You must know Italian shoes are not made in factories. That's one of the reasons you cannot find Italian made shoes in the shop at the next street. They are mainly available in expensive boutiques. Designs for these shoes are made exclusively the experts in the field and then they are manufactured by experts by hand. This handmade characteristic is another important reason behind the cost of these shoes. It takes time and skill to make one shoe like an Italian shoe. So manufacturing these shoes in factories is out of question and so are these shoes being cheap.
Now that you know the main reasons behind the cost of Italian shoes, so you can easily decide is an Italian shoe really the one want? But just don't go with the vibe. Take a moment to check your bank account balance and then head towards an expensive boutique.

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Learn Italian Online

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I have had a crush on Italy and the Italian language ever since I visited Sicily for the first time in the late 1970's. The view from the window in my modest "pensione" was breathtaking beautiful, and the scent of perfume in the air, from the overwhelming amount of flowers in Taormina in the spring, had an unforgettable impact on my senses.
However what really knocked me out was the Italian language: The words caressed me like a lover's touch - even though I did not understand Italian. The reason I am telling you this is to illustrate that in order to learn a language: you need a drive. And what better drive is there than being attracted?
So far so good! Now you need a method to achieve your goal. In my opinion, as a trained language teacher, you have two choices: you can do it the hard way or you can have fun while you're doing it. No need to ask me, what I would choose!
By doing it "the hard way" I am referring to formal school training using textbooks that makes you yawn, and are loaded with grammar rules. "Research has proven that less than 5 percent of language students are able to endure the stressful nature of formal school training to continue studying the language for more than two years" (Asher, James. 1982. Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. New York: Pergamon Press, 9-32).
Having fun while you are learning Italian can be achieved in several ways. The absolute most perfect way is undoubtedly to travel to Italy and interact in real life with Italian people. The second best way to learn to speak Italian is with an interactive audio course combined with entertaining learning games.
By listening to native Italians speaking an up-to-date Italian, you will be able to understand the spoken word in a very short time, and the learning games will help you expand your vocabulary and learn and memorize the Italian verbs. A huge advance with the games is that they are great fun, and you can do them whenever it is convenient for you.

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Grilled Marinated Calamari - Italian Recipe

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Squid:
The word for squid in Italian is calamari (plural) which has all but replaced the use of squid in culinary recipes in English. Actually in English, calamari is used primarily to refer to the rings cut from the tube of the squid. The rings are frequently breaded and fried.
The Napoli connection:
While I was in Napoli this past summer (2009), I leaned how to prepare freshly caught squid (and octopus) and marinate it to make the texture less rubbery and the taste very zesty. I have picked up several recipes over the years, but by far and away, my favorite is the grilled marinated calamari presented here. I strongly suggest that you not make the recipe below unless you can get fresh squid. Younger squid tends to have less of a rubbery texture than larger older squid. However, I like the rubbery texture and enjoy both young and fully grown squid. Most parts of squid are edible but you will typically find it sold fresh with the tube, flaps, and the tentacles prepared. If you do buy it whole, simply remove the head, gut (make sure you remove the quill - these are transparent cartilage inside), and remove the skin and flaps. You will be left with the tube which needs to be washed thoroughly. Cut the tentacles away from the head and wash them along with the flaps.
Ingredients (serves 5):
  • 1 and 1/2 pounds - cleaned and prepared squid (tentacles, tube, and flaps)
  • 1/2 cup - extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons - lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons - fresh oregano leaves, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon - fresh basil, chopped
  • 12 cloves - garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoon - pepper
  • 1 tablespoon - salt
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons - red pepper flakes
  • Lemon wedges
Preparation:Cut the tubes of the squid so they open and lie flat and add them along with the tentacles and flaps to a Ziploc f reezer bag along with the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, basil, garlic, pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes. Seal the bag, shake to coat well, and marinate for 24 hours.
Once the squid has marinated, set the grill to high heat. Grill the squid until they are just cooked through (opaque) turning once (about 2 to 3 minutes). Remove from the grill and cut the squid if desired. Serve with lemon wedges as an appetizer.

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All-Time Favorite Italian Sparkling Wines

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Sparklers tend to be the sleeper secrets of Italy. These wonderful liquids are turning into the fastest increasing segment in the Italian adult beverage business. When most persons imagine of Italian wine, they imagine from the lush, robust reds in the Tuscany or even the delicate whites of Piedmont. They do not commonly believe of gleaming wines, but they really should. Italy produces far more diverse types of sparkling wines than any other country from the globe. Actually, they have been crafting spumantes (actually, sparkling wines) because Roman times, long before Dom Perignon popped his 1st cork. Through the light off dry Proseccos, towards the classic Franciacortas, Italian sparklers are varied, tasty, and often very cost-effective.
Most of Italy's sparklers are produced inside cooler regions of northern Italy, particularly Piedmont, Veneto, and Lombardy. As opposed to Champagne, most Italian sparklers are built utilizing the Charmat method. Employing this technique, the wine's second fermentation is done inside a tank instead of from the bottles, and the resulting wine is bottled youthful. This process is especially suited to crisp, lower alcohol drinks, including Asti and Moscato d'Asti. Typically, sparklers produced this way are greatest consumed when youthful and have little staying power.
Franciacorta is Italy's glowing wine star. Unlike most other Italian sparklers, Franciacorta is made using the Champagne approach. That is, it truly is fermented from the bottles, in lieu of a vat. This leads to smaller, additional plentiful bubbles along with a more subtle taste. Franciacorta is usually a title of a spot -- a region inside Lombardy Lake District. The Franciacorta is produced applying a mixture of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero grapes. It is a dry, somewhat complex product, with hints of almond, vanilla, and yellow ripe fruit. Based on Italian law, Franciacorta need to be aged for a minimum of 18 months, old-fashioned Franciacorta have to be aged for no less than 18 months, old-fashioned Franciacorta for 30 months. Drink Franciacorta with risottos, seafood, white meat, and baked fish.
Asti creates a considerable quantity of exceptional glowing wines. Asti is a spot name, a beautiful town, set inside gently rolling hills of Piedmont, inside the north of Italy. The craggy, limestone soil there is ideal for increasing grapes. In addition towards the eponymous sparkler, the wine area of Asti also produces the light and crisp Moscato d'Asti too as a red sparkler, known as Brachetto. Asti carries a light, slightly off dry, vaguely peachy flavor, produced from 100% Moscato grapes. It has higher acidity, which helps to balance its sweetness.
Asti is a non-vintage wine, and since it truly is very best when consumed inside of one to three years of bottling, it is a good concept to buy Asti from a wine store that turns its inventory often. Asti is ideal paired with Gorgonzola cheese and by itself as an aperitif.

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Essential Ingredients For Great Italian Cooking

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There is arguably no food as great smelling and great tasting as Italian. From spaghetti, to garlic bread and Italian salad dressings, the mouth simply waters when thinking about a great Italian meal.
Coming from an Italian family of great cooks, I learned through my father and his relatives how to make great Italian food. Here, I'd like to share some of that knowledge.
First, you should know that you DON'T have to use a recipe to make some great tasting Italian meals. Know which ingredients to pair together will allow you to create some great tasting food, as well as make meals that are relatively quick and easy.
There are many ingredients that go into great Italian food:
TOMATOES: Whether using whole or cut up tomatoes for salads or other recipes, or using stewed tomatoes for spaghetti sauce, there's one thing I've learned: "ALL TOMATOES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL."
Without going into the brand specifics, quality tomatoes are key. If you think about it, tomatoes could be picked at any time during growing and ripening. Different brands may do it differently. In addition, stewing and canning methods vary. Although I don't know this to be absolutely true, what I do know is different brands of tomatoes taste different. The best way to judge is to try different brands and pick the ones you like.
My family's favorite brand, and therefore, the ones I use for making spaghetti sauce is "74/40 Tomato Filets." They're not available in supermarkets - only specialty stores. You can find them if you search online.
PASTA: Of course, pasta is the main ingredient of may Italian dishes. Looking in your grocery aisle, you'll find a wide array of pasts shapes and sizes, from regular spaghetti, to fettuccine (wide noodles), angel hair (thin noodles), to shells, bow-ties, macaroni, farfalle, and more. Each has its own uses and tastes.
Of course, regular spaghetti is most often served with tomato sauce and fettuccine with alfredo (white cheese) sauce, but these are only the most common uses. Your own creative ideas can turn these pastas into unique meals.
BASIL: A very common spice in Italian cooking, basil has a sweet taste, which accounts for it being referred to as "sweet basil."
It comes dried in your spice aisle, but BY FAR, the best use is picked fresh.
Basil it extremely easy to grow in gardens or in pots, taking no care at all except watering. Just look for seeds or plants in your local garden center, plant according to the directions, and you'll be enjoying the fresh taste of basil in your own recipes.
Use basil in pasta dishes, in tomato sauces, in meatloaf, over steak, and more. I LOVE IT. I can't get enough during the growing season.
A wonderful dish is combining fresh tomato slices, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, salt, pepper, and basil into a salad mixture. Yummy!
GARLIC: It's no secret that garlic is a staple of Italian cooking. If I have a choice, I'll always use fresh over bottled. Here's a little story.
For years, I would purchase bottled minced garlic and use it in dishes because it's definitely easier than using fresh and I didn't want the hassle. Just use approximately 1 tsp. minced for each clove.
One day I decided to purchase some fresh garlic instead. I was blown away by the difference! The aroma! The taste! There really is no comparison! Just get a good quality garlic press and try using fresh garlic. I don't think you'll be disappointed. You may not want to go back.
OREGANO: Another necessary ingredient of Italian dishes is oregano. Next to garlic, it's probably the most common. Adding garlic and oregano to dishes is the quickest and easiest way to add an Italian flavor.
Although I've grown fresh oregano and used it in dishes, I find the dried spice has a more pungent flavor and I do prefer it over the fresh. Try both and decide for yourself.
OLIVE OIL: Olive oil is used my many Italian cooks to saute ingredients, add to salad dressings and add to pasta dishes.
If you want that true Italian flavor, do not use vegetable oil at all. Olive oil is the way to go! Besides giving a great flavor, olive oil is MUCH healthier than other oils, containing the "good" fats that can contribute to a heart-healthy diet.
So, purchase the best olive oil you can afford and use it in all your cooking in place of other oils. You'll be better for it. (As a side note, olive oil should not be used for deep-frying.)
Here's a simple recipe for homemade Italian dressing. Combine 2 parts olive oil to one part red wine vinegar, add salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder to taste. Mix and pour over salad.
ROMANO CHEESE: If you ask a lot of people what type of cheese goes into Italian cooking, they would say Parmesan. However, that answer would NOT be correct. The correct answer is Romano. This cheese has a stronger and more pungent flavor than Parmesan. Sprinkle it over salads, pasta, and garlic bread for a great tasting Italian cheese flavor.
Buy the grated Romano in your local supermarket, and make sure the jar says 100% Romano, no fillers or other cheeses mixed in. It's not always easy to find, but look hard because it's essential for a great Italian dish.
With the ingredients above and a little creativity, you should be able to cook some great Italian meals. Try some soon.

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