What is Italian cooking? Is it more of the food, the preparation, or is it simply a trademark? Generally speaking, Italian cooking is associated with spaghetti and pizzas. And many people even think that Italian cooking is the same all throughout. While that maybe true, Italian cooking can also be diverse and wide-ranging.
The Italian cuisine is referred to as a simple and natural way of cooking. And it just so happens that Italians have a penchant for pastas and cooking them. The result is a multiplicity of pasta recipes served for all occasions. But pastas aren’t all Italian cooking is all about, although their love of sauces, cheeses, and noodles can’t be overlooked.
Italian cooking is the basis of the popular Mediterranean diet. Studies show that the people residing in the Mediterranean area live longer and healthier than others. And so what these people eat on a daily basis was researched. It was found that Italians, and the rest of the Mediterranean people for that matter, eat great quantities of fruits and vegetables. They also use olive oil in their cooking. All these are the backbone of a Mediterranean diet.
Here are the most celebrated Italian cooking delights that everyone loves:
1. Tomato Pizza. Whoever said that pizzas need tons of ingredients in the form of meat, vegetables, and spices for it to taste good? Italians have a way of making the plainest of pizzas look and taste better than you could have ever imagined. Tomato pizzas consist of nothing more than fresh plum tomatoes topped with mozzarella cheese.
2. Macaroni and Cheese. This is yet another simple recipe that has been a household favorite since time memorial. Every American home must have a pack of macaroni and cheese lying somewhere in the cabinet. The main ingredients of this Italian meal are boiled macaroni, cheese, and cream. Meat is optional. But it’s tasty just the same. Kids love it too.
3. Lasagna. If you love spaghetti and macaroni, lasagna can easily be another favorite. There are different variations of lasagna and all of them taste wonderful. Basically, lasagna is distinguished from one recipe to another merely by its main ingredients. There are bologna lasagna, beef lasagna, and chicken lasagna, among many others. Remember Garfield, the lazy cartoon cat on TV? Well, this is his favorite meal.
If you haven’t tasted real Italian cooking, you are missing out. Grab a plate today and realize how succulent it is to eat Italian meals!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
How to Properly Execute Solar Cooking
Several conservation techniques produced solar materials. In the food realm mothers can now save electricity and not worry about burning their foods with the advent of the solar cooking technique. This cost efficient and accident free way of cooking has been the interest of food lovers in recent years, but do you know how to properly be involved in solar cooking?
Well, an important tip to consider in solar cooking is that some meat burns faster than greens. Vegetables, bread and red meats take three to four hours before being cooked; while legumes, eggs, fish, chickens and rice take one to two hours of cooking.
To cook your food faster, remember to place the cooker in the direction of the suns angle. This will lessen the cooking time. Also, bear in mind that the cloud covering affects solar cooking. The more clouds there are, the longer you will have to wait before everything is done.
You must also take note that the cooker size, pots size and color, food size and quantity, air temperature, and water content all affect solar cooking. It may be difficult at first to watch all of these things at the same time, but doing so will save you a lot of money.
Know how to make the right cooker. You need to make short and shallow boxes so as to conserve heat. Making a box otherwise will produce a worthless solar cooker. However, if you created the perfect cooker but used a thick, light-colored and huge pot, you can’t continue in doing your solar cooking experience.
Pots must be black to absorb heat. They must also be small and thin so that foods are easily cooked. Yes, the smaller the better! In solar cooking everything must be as small as possible especially the foods. You have to chop the food into small portions because they will cook faster this way.
Remember, although air temperature isn’t considered an important factor in solar cooking you should still consider it. Even if there is sun exposure for you to use in generating heat in your cooker, if the air temperature is so low, food will be uncooked. Lastly, take a closer look at your water content as much as possible boil with small amounts of water.
Perhaps solar cooking to some seems pretty laborious. Well, it is indeed troubling and can only cook food in small amounts but the benefits of cost-efficiency and safety can assure more positive reviews than negative ones. The art of solar cooking is the future of cooking. Next thing we know giant solar cookers will replace ovens.
Well, an important tip to consider in solar cooking is that some meat burns faster than greens. Vegetables, bread and red meats take three to four hours before being cooked; while legumes, eggs, fish, chickens and rice take one to two hours of cooking.
To cook your food faster, remember to place the cooker in the direction of the suns angle. This will lessen the cooking time. Also, bear in mind that the cloud covering affects solar cooking. The more clouds there are, the longer you will have to wait before everything is done.
You must also take note that the cooker size, pots size and color, food size and quantity, air temperature, and water content all affect solar cooking. It may be difficult at first to watch all of these things at the same time, but doing so will save you a lot of money.
Know how to make the right cooker. You need to make short and shallow boxes so as to conserve heat. Making a box otherwise will produce a worthless solar cooker. However, if you created the perfect cooker but used a thick, light-colored and huge pot, you can’t continue in doing your solar cooking experience.
Pots must be black to absorb heat. They must also be small and thin so that foods are easily cooked. Yes, the smaller the better! In solar cooking everything must be as small as possible especially the foods. You have to chop the food into small portions because they will cook faster this way.
Remember, although air temperature isn’t considered an important factor in solar cooking you should still consider it. Even if there is sun exposure for you to use in generating heat in your cooker, if the air temperature is so low, food will be uncooked. Lastly, take a closer look at your water content as much as possible boil with small amounts of water.
Perhaps solar cooking to some seems pretty laborious. Well, it is indeed troubling and can only cook food in small amounts but the benefits of cost-efficiency and safety can assure more positive reviews than negative ones. The art of solar cooking is the future of cooking. Next thing we know giant solar cookers will replace ovens.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tips for Great Outdoor Cooking
Going camping is always exciting. And among the most thrilling part of the great outdoors is cooking in it. Nothing compares being able to commune with nature as you savor the earths gifts. It may seem tricky for some, but outdoor cooking is easier than most people think. After all, our human ancestors have done it for thousands of years. Here are some great tips for outdoor cooking:
Poke holes in those burgers To cook burgers on the grill perfectly, poke a hole the size of your pinky in the center of the patty. This will help cook the burger evenly. Don’t worry that you might end up with a meat donut, the hole will close up slowly as the meat cooks and you will end up with perfect burgers.
Marvel at the wonders of the Dutch oven Perhaps the most incomparable tool you have for outdoor cooking is the Dutch oven. This deep pot made of cast iron does wonders in the great outdoors and can create the most wonderful dishes you can have outside your kitchen. You can make stews, casseroles and other wonderful things with this beauty.
Be sure to keep covered It is important to cover your pots and pans while cooking outdoors. This helps prevent heat from escaping especially during those cold days and nights. It also keeps foreign objects from getting into your food. You don’t want crickets or grasshoppers in your stew, do you?
Make a garbage omelet on your last day camping To easily clean up your cooler or portable fridge, make an omelet on your last day. Put in all the leftovers from your previous camping days and you’ll end up with a clean cooler without wasting anything.
The foil is your best friend Aluminum foil plays a great role in outdoor cooking. You can use it to wrap food such as fish, potatoes, meat, and vegetables for nice and even cooking that helps keep delicious juices intact. You can use it to cover dishes so that you just have to peel instead of wash. You can also use a fist-sized ball of foil to clean the grill.
Outdoor cooking can be a thrilling experience with the right knowledge at hand. Try these tips in the great outdoors and see how good your cooking can be.
Poke holes in those burgers To cook burgers on the grill perfectly, poke a hole the size of your pinky in the center of the patty. This will help cook the burger evenly. Don’t worry that you might end up with a meat donut, the hole will close up slowly as the meat cooks and you will end up with perfect burgers.
Marvel at the wonders of the Dutch oven Perhaps the most incomparable tool you have for outdoor cooking is the Dutch oven. This deep pot made of cast iron does wonders in the great outdoors and can create the most wonderful dishes you can have outside your kitchen. You can make stews, casseroles and other wonderful things with this beauty.
Be sure to keep covered It is important to cover your pots and pans while cooking outdoors. This helps prevent heat from escaping especially during those cold days and nights. It also keeps foreign objects from getting into your food. You don’t want crickets or grasshoppers in your stew, do you?
Make a garbage omelet on your last day camping To easily clean up your cooler or portable fridge, make an omelet on your last day. Put in all the leftovers from your previous camping days and you’ll end up with a clean cooler without wasting anything.
The foil is your best friend Aluminum foil plays a great role in outdoor cooking. You can use it to wrap food such as fish, potatoes, meat, and vegetables for nice and even cooking that helps keep delicious juices intact. You can use it to cover dishes so that you just have to peel instead of wash. You can also use a fist-sized ball of foil to clean the grill.
Outdoor cooking can be a thrilling experience with the right knowledge at hand. Try these tips in the great outdoors and see how good your cooking can be.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tips on How to Cook Pasta
Pasta is a favorite all around the world. It comes in different shapes and lengths, everything that to suit the occasion or your own preferences. Cooking pasta is easy to do, but always be careful to get the best results.
Fill a pot with water. Pasta should be cooked in a lot of water. Set it to boil to cook the pasta. After the water begins boiling, add salt. It will take longer since salty water usually boils at a higher temperature. The salt that you will add will depends on your personal taste. Never forget to add salt, remember, Italians never forget this. Once the water starts to boil slowly add the pasta.
The pasta will start to soften in a few seconds. Use a long fork to push the pasta into the water. Make sure that it is fully submerged. At this time the water temperature has fallen.
Cover the pot with a lid and quickly boil the water again. It is important that the pot is covered since it boils fast. Do this to prevent the water from splashing out. Never leave the pot unattended, the splashing of water can douse out the gas and possibly start a fire.
Then continue cooking the pasta, this time uncovered. Stir with a long fork to separate each and every piece of pasta.
When it comes to how long the cooking time will be, read the manufacturers instructions, but to make sure, the best thing to do is to test a piece. The Italian expression, al dente, refers to the proper cooking of pasta or when it is soft yet still firm and not overcooked.
If you notice dots or thin white lines in the middle of the pasta, then it isn’t done yet, just test from time to time until the broken piece turns to a translucent yellow.
If the texture is translucent yellow, you can drain using a colander but make sure that it is in a secure position
Stop the cooking process by pouring cold tap water over it; remember that the pasta is continuously cooking even after it’s drained, this way it won’t be served extremely hot. But be careful not to overdo it, remember that you aren’t washing the pasta.
Gently shake the colander to drain the pasta. Lastly, you can now put the pasta in a bowl and serve. Put on the sauce, dressing or cheese, and enjoy.
Fill a pot with water. Pasta should be cooked in a lot of water. Set it to boil to cook the pasta. After the water begins boiling, add salt. It will take longer since salty water usually boils at a higher temperature. The salt that you will add will depends on your personal taste. Never forget to add salt, remember, Italians never forget this. Once the water starts to boil slowly add the pasta.
The pasta will start to soften in a few seconds. Use a long fork to push the pasta into the water. Make sure that it is fully submerged. At this time the water temperature has fallen.
Cover the pot with a lid and quickly boil the water again. It is important that the pot is covered since it boils fast. Do this to prevent the water from splashing out. Never leave the pot unattended, the splashing of water can douse out the gas and possibly start a fire.
Then continue cooking the pasta, this time uncovered. Stir with a long fork to separate each and every piece of pasta.
When it comes to how long the cooking time will be, read the manufacturers instructions, but to make sure, the best thing to do is to test a piece. The Italian expression, al dente, refers to the proper cooking of pasta or when it is soft yet still firm and not overcooked.
If you notice dots or thin white lines in the middle of the pasta, then it isn’t done yet, just test from time to time until the broken piece turns to a translucent yellow.
If the texture is translucent yellow, you can drain using a colander but make sure that it is in a secure position
Stop the cooking process by pouring cold tap water over it; remember that the pasta is continuously cooking even after it’s drained, this way it won’t be served extremely hot. But be careful not to overdo it, remember that you aren’t washing the pasta.
Gently shake the colander to drain the pasta. Lastly, you can now put the pasta in a bowl and serve. Put on the sauce, dressing or cheese, and enjoy.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
How to Incorporate Greek Cooking in Your Kitchen
You don't have to have a big fat Greek wedding to learn Greek cooking. Also, you don't have to go to Greece or be from Greece to cook Greek. There are surefire ways to be able to incorporate Greek cooking in your lifestyle. Amaze your friends and family with these techniques.
1. Seek advice from a native. No other person knows their menu best than the natives. Natives are often more than happy to help you as you learn more and promote their culture by means of cooking.
2. Harness all available resources in the form of books, recipes online, as well as offline. If you are able to get all the resources you have and apply them in your kitchen, you are bound for Greek cooking in no time.
3. Acquaint yourself with ingredients that are Greek.
4. Use lots of fresh vegetables in your menu. This is one of the trademarks of Greek cuisine.
5. Lamb, fish, or chicken; take your pick. These are the three top kinds of meat that Greek natives prefer to have in their meals.
6. Season your food with spices, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, bay leaves, oregano, and dill.
7. Capitalize on freshness, no matter what ingredient you use.
8. Make appetizers (mezethes) to complement the main course.
9. Use a casserole to present your meals. Taverns are popular in Greece and they usually serve their food in one whole casserole containing all the dishes that the cooks have prepared.
10. Make a spinach or cheese pie. Feta ice cream is used on top of a typical Grecian spinach pie.
11. Never smoke the food. Familiarize yourself with techniques such as frying, simmering, sautéing, braising, boiling, baking, stewing, poaching, roasting, pickling, and grilling. Mastery of these techniques will definitely lead you to a viable cooking career in Greece.
12. Have a combination of olives, bread and wine.
13. Whip up some salad.
14. Wrap it up. Greeks are notorious for wrapping their food.
15. Learn how to use the phyllo dough. This is readily available in most supermarkets.
16. Go healthy. Greeks are health-conscious individuals. Fill the menu with antioxidants and other cancer-fighting elements.
Learning how to cook in Greek style is something that not only takes time but also practice and determination. And while you are studying Greek cooking, you may eventually find a fascination with other cuisines which have influenced modern Greek cooking such as French and Turkish cuisines to complete your international repertoire of recipes.
1. Seek advice from a native. No other person knows their menu best than the natives. Natives are often more than happy to help you as you learn more and promote their culture by means of cooking.
2. Harness all available resources in the form of books, recipes online, as well as offline. If you are able to get all the resources you have and apply them in your kitchen, you are bound for Greek cooking in no time.
3. Acquaint yourself with ingredients that are Greek.
4. Use lots of fresh vegetables in your menu. This is one of the trademarks of Greek cuisine.
5. Lamb, fish, or chicken; take your pick. These are the three top kinds of meat that Greek natives prefer to have in their meals.
6. Season your food with spices, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, bay leaves, oregano, and dill.
7. Capitalize on freshness, no matter what ingredient you use.
8. Make appetizers (mezethes) to complement the main course.
9. Use a casserole to present your meals. Taverns are popular in Greece and they usually serve their food in one whole casserole containing all the dishes that the cooks have prepared.
10. Make a spinach or cheese pie. Feta ice cream is used on top of a typical Grecian spinach pie.
11. Never smoke the food. Familiarize yourself with techniques such as frying, simmering, sautéing, braising, boiling, baking, stewing, poaching, roasting, pickling, and grilling. Mastery of these techniques will definitely lead you to a viable cooking career in Greece.
12. Have a combination of olives, bread and wine.
13. Whip up some salad.
14. Wrap it up. Greeks are notorious for wrapping their food.
15. Learn how to use the phyllo dough. This is readily available in most supermarkets.
16. Go healthy. Greeks are health-conscious individuals. Fill the menu with antioxidants and other cancer-fighting elements.
Learning how to cook in Greek style is something that not only takes time but also practice and determination. And while you are studying Greek cooking, you may eventually find a fascination with other cuisines which have influenced modern Greek cooking such as French and Turkish cuisines to complete your international repertoire of recipes.
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