"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."Albert Camus
|
| |
Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.6 of 12 - Turkey and Mango Curry
Christmas recipe serves: 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Calories per serving: 640 Not suitable for freezing. Christmas recipe ingredients * Onion, 175 g (6 oz) * Green pepper, 125 g (4 oz) * Garlic clove, 1 * Turkey, cooked 225 g ...
How to Become a Freelance Chef
When you think about chefs, what do you think of first? Which aspects of chefs are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge. Becoming a freelance chef does not mean that just knowing how to cook ...
Twinkie Trivia
Did you know that Twinkies were introduced during the Depression in Chicago. This little yellow snack cake filled with a mere 160 calories and delicious vanilla cream is enjoyed around the world. Chicago is still the number one Twinkie eating city in the ...
|
|
|
| |
Go to any family restaurant with Italian dining in mind and you are likely to order chicken parmesan, pasta alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, or maybe a pizza. It is easy to think that some pasta, some marinara sauce, a crust of Italian bread and a glass of wine is the beginning and end of Italian cuisine, especially if you grew up in the United States.There is much more than red sauce and starch on the agenda for most Italian regional cuisines, and with all of the various regions and cultures in the boot on the ocean, Italian regional cuisines have as much range as your average New York City block.
There is the tourist region of Tuscany, on the northwestern coast of Italy. Tuscany is sought out for its simple but delicious dishes, seasoned sparingly with basil, parsley, and thyme. Tuscan bread and a little bit of olive oil is a big part of the seafood dishes of the Tuscan region.
Abruzzo, a little known treasure in the middle eastern section of the boot mixes chili peppers into almost all of their dishes. Like many other regions in Italy, there is a mixture of mountain and seafood dishes. Pasta is very often a first course, instead of a part of a stew or entrée. Most of the chefs in the Abruzzo region are skilled at hand rolling their own stuffed pastas, and crepes are used in meat dishes, rolled in savory sauces or put in to broths. Polenta is enjoyed with hearty sausages and rich, meaty sauces.
Sardinia, an island off of the western coast of Italy is home to a rich fishing tradition as well as a beautiful mountainous inland landscape. This, in addition to a rich heritage of not only Italians, but also Arabs, French, Greeks, and Spaniards, has made the island home to a diverse culture of seafood and meat dishes spiced with fennel and saffron. Stews and rich, hearty pastas make up a large part of the local cuisine in Sardinia, as well as sheep milk's cheese.
Emilia-Romagna is perhaps the most sought out region of Italy in terms of local cuisine. It is often called the market basket of Italy. Located in northern Italy, Emilia-Romagna is home to many of Italy's most renowned dishes, like Prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar. Chefs in the Emilia Romagna region have a penchant for gregarious presentation and rich spices.
Much like the American idea of Chinese food, the American idea of Italian food is only the tip of the iceberg. Italian regional cuisine is marked by the country's locality to northern Africa and other Mediterranean countries, as well as a diverse local landscape, ranging from mountains to oceans. Sheppards, shopkeepers, farmers, and fisherman all contribute to one of the most diverse cultural cuisines in the world. Next time you are in the mood for Italian food, try something a little bit different than your usual spaghetti and meatballs, maybe a saffron seafood stew or a polenta. Rest assured, you won't think of the words "Italian cuisine" the same again.
About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a food and nutrition expert specializing the Mexican, Chinese, and Italian food. Visit http://www.food-and-nutrition.com/ for more information on cooking delicious and healthy meals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Bittman builds your cooking skills a recipe at a timeChicago Tribune"How to Cook Everything. The Basics: All You Need to Make Great Food — With 1000 Photos" By Mark Bittman; Wiley, $35 What it is: "Everything" is a bold boast, but obviously longtime New York Times food writer Mark Bittman is not going to teach you how ... |
|
Looking for Love in China? Get CookingWall Street Journal (blog)By Kristiano Ang A new survey suggests that in China and other parts of Asia, knowing how to cook may help you win the heart of a potential mate. Property ownership is often seen as a prerequisite to getting hitched in China, but if you're single and ... |
Boston Globe |
'How To Cook Like a Man' by Daniel DuaneBoston GlobeBy Ted Weesner Jr. Page through Daniel Duane's “How to Cook Like a Man” and you will fast wonder what havoc celebrity chef culture has wrought upon present-day notions of masculinity. It's as if the blazing klieg lights of the Food Network, et al., ... |
|
Artichokes 101: Tips for selection and cookingSacramento BeeCooked artichokes keep for a week, also, and can be heated up on the grill or in the oven just before serving. Freezing: Cooked hearts and blanched smaller artichokes can be frozen. To blanch, remove the outer petals (or bracts) so only the pale inner ...and more » |
|
