Here is a great recipe that is so simple to make. You will find that most of the ingredients are relatively inexpensive as well. Happy Eating!
Recipe:
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 C. Chopped Onions
4 Tbsp. Chopped Garlic
Sautee all of the above until onions start to turn a bit brown.
Add all of the following...
1/2 C. White Wine
Let simmer on medium heat for about 5 mins.
Add all of the following...
White Wine into a wine glass, and enjoy for yourself!
Add one of the following...
1 C. canned red sauce
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can chopped tomatoes
4 chopped fresh tomatoes
Let simmer for about 5 mins.
Add one of the following...
4 chicken quarters
4 chicken breasts
Add all of the following...
4 sprigs of Fresh rosemary (I leave them whole and remove once dish is completed)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Pleace in 400 degree oven & cook until chicken reaches an internal temp. of 180 degrees.
Add all of the following...
At this point, you should be ready for your second glass of wine! Enjoy!
Serve over a bed of pasta.
Garnish with parm.
Tips from Chef Bek:
* Wheat pasta can be substituted for white.
* Dried Rosemary can be substituted for fresh. (when using fresh herbs in a recipe, use 3 times as much as you would use of a dried herb)
* Chicken broth can be substituted for the white wine.
* Cooking spray can be substituted for the oil you sauté your vegetables with.
* Fish can be substituted for chicken.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bek_Davis
Monday, December 29, 2008
Looking For a Great Italian Meatball Recipe?
Looking for a great Italian meatball recipe? Wrap your lips around this one.
This recipe was given to my by my 105 year old Sicilian great-grandma. This is the real deal.
The Best Meatball Recipe
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
Ingredients
1 pound combined beef, veal, pork (must be fresh)
3 large eggs
1 cup grated Romano Locatelli Cheese
1 cup bread crumb
1 clove garlic - minced
1 teaspoon salt
Preparation
(All mixing is done be hand)
In a large bowl mix beef/veal/pork with eggs. Then add bread crumb, cheese, and salt. Finally add minced garlic in stages. Add a little garlic, then mix. Add some more, then mix. This way all the garlic does not end up in one meatball. Now, it's time to roll up the balls. Average size is roughly 2 inches in diameter. I usually get around 18 to 20
meatballs per pound.
IMPORTANT! Do not cook meatballs in your pasta sauce! Meatballs cooked in sauce loose their flavor. The real key to a tasty meatball is cooking the them in an oven. So, heat oven to 375. Place meatballs on a rack - then on a cookie tray.
Bake for 12 minutes on one side then 10 minutes for the other.
BEWARE If you choose to fry your meatballs make sure you are alone. The aroma is so overwhelming that anyone in smelling distance will be steal your meatballs right out of the frying pan.
I freeze the meatballs in plastic bags and take out what I need per dinner. I just drop the meatballs into the sauce as if heats up.
Buon Appetito!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Altobelli
This recipe was given to my by my 105 year old Sicilian great-grandma. This is the real deal.
The Best Meatball Recipe
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
Ingredients
1 pound combined beef, veal, pork (must be fresh)
3 large eggs
1 cup grated Romano Locatelli Cheese
1 cup bread crumb
1 clove garlic - minced
1 teaspoon salt
Preparation
(All mixing is done be hand)
In a large bowl mix beef/veal/pork with eggs. Then add bread crumb, cheese, and salt. Finally add minced garlic in stages. Add a little garlic, then mix. Add some more, then mix. This way all the garlic does not end up in one meatball. Now, it's time to roll up the balls. Average size is roughly 2 inches in diameter. I usually get around 18 to 20
meatballs per pound.
IMPORTANT! Do not cook meatballs in your pasta sauce! Meatballs cooked in sauce loose their flavor. The real key to a tasty meatball is cooking the them in an oven. So, heat oven to 375. Place meatballs on a rack - then on a cookie tray.
Bake for 12 minutes on one side then 10 minutes for the other.
BEWARE If you choose to fry your meatballs make sure you are alone. The aroma is so overwhelming that anyone in smelling distance will be steal your meatballs right out of the frying pan.
I freeze the meatballs in plastic bags and take out what I need per dinner. I just drop the meatballs into the sauce as if heats up.
Buon Appetito!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Altobelli
Fire Cracker Italian Sausage Pasta
You will find that this recipe is very easy to make. And you can prep all of your ingredients in advance. Perfect for the busy mom on the go. Once you have all your troops ready for dinner, you can toss it all together in a matter of minutes.
This is a recipe that is a huge hit with my entire family. Even my picky toddlers!
Fire Cracker Italian Sausage Pasta
Recipe
1 pound uncooked wheat pasta (be sure to use a fun shape)
1 large zucchini - sliced
1/2 cup red onion - sliced
3 T fresh garlic - chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
3 Italian sausage links - sliced
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup green onions
Salt and Pepper
Preparation
Pasta:
Cook pasta according to package. Drain. Set aside.
Italian Sausage:
Cook Italian Sausage until done. Set aside until it is cool enough to
touch. Slice into bite size pieces.
Herbs & Vegetables:
Zucchini - wash, slice into bit size pieces
Red Onion - peal, slice
Fresh Garlic - peal, chop
Frozen Peas - soak in warm water until no longer frozen, drain, set aside
Fresh Basil - wash, chiffonade (see tip below)
Green Onions - wash, slice into small pieces
Instructions
Heat a pan large enough for all of the above ingredients. I tend to use the stock pot I boiled my pasta in. Throw in 2 T. olive oil, zucchini, red onions, garlic, and Italian sausage. Sauté until zucchini is tender.
Once tender, toss in all of your herbs and vegetables, and the remaining olive oil.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Enjoy!
Tips from Chef Bek:
White pasta can be substituted for wheat.
Dried basil can be substituted for fresh. (when using fresh herbs in a recipe, use 3 times as much as you would use of a dried herb)
Chicken broth can be substituted for the oil which goes into the pasta once tossed.
Cooking spray can be substituted for the oil you sauté your vegetables with.
Turkey sausage is a great substitute for pork Italian sausage.
Basil Tip:Chiffonade - To slice an herb or leafy vegetable into thin strands. Best way to accomplish is by stacking herb directly on top of each other, then rolling the leaves and slicing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bek_Davis
This is a recipe that is a huge hit with my entire family. Even my picky toddlers!
Fire Cracker Italian Sausage Pasta
Recipe
1 pound uncooked wheat pasta (be sure to use a fun shape)
1 large zucchini - sliced
1/2 cup red onion - sliced
3 T fresh garlic - chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
3 Italian sausage links - sliced
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup green onions
Salt and Pepper
Preparation
Pasta:
Cook pasta according to package. Drain. Set aside.
Italian Sausage:
Cook Italian Sausage until done. Set aside until it is cool enough to
touch. Slice into bite size pieces.
Herbs & Vegetables:
Zucchini - wash, slice into bit size pieces
Red Onion - peal, slice
Fresh Garlic - peal, chop
Frozen Peas - soak in warm water until no longer frozen, drain, set aside
Fresh Basil - wash, chiffonade (see tip below)
Green Onions - wash, slice into small pieces
Instructions
Heat a pan large enough for all of the above ingredients. I tend to use the stock pot I boiled my pasta in. Throw in 2 T. olive oil, zucchini, red onions, garlic, and Italian sausage. Sauté until zucchini is tender.
Once tender, toss in all of your herbs and vegetables, and the remaining olive oil.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Enjoy!
Tips from Chef Bek:
White pasta can be substituted for wheat.
Dried basil can be substituted for fresh. (when using fresh herbs in a recipe, use 3 times as much as you would use of a dried herb)
Chicken broth can be substituted for the oil which goes into the pasta once tossed.
Cooking spray can be substituted for the oil you sauté your vegetables with.
Turkey sausage is a great substitute for pork Italian sausage.
Basil Tip:Chiffonade - To slice an herb or leafy vegetable into thin strands. Best way to accomplish is by stacking herb directly on top of each other, then rolling the leaves and slicing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bek_Davis
Friday, December 5, 2008
Natural Healing Milk Substitutes
Milk and associated dairy products (like cheese) are widely promoted as good sources of protein and calcium. In fact, every one - 8 oz. glass of generic cow’s milk has 300 mg of calcium and 7 grams of protein.
This is why growing up, most people are taught milk products are an essential part of your diet – so you can have healthy bones.
However, in recent years, there have also been developments in the way milk is produced. To get more milk, farmers in cooperation with the chemical industry have introduced many practices that are not healthy.
For example, a mere fifty years ago cows produced 2000 pounds of milk per year. Today, some cows are capable of producing 50,000 pounds!
How’s this possible? The answer is that cows are given harmful drugs, antibiotics, growth hormones, and are force fed just to name a few techniques to beef up the bottom line.
Inside, the author Dr. Kradjian, reviews more than 500 scientific articles related to milk and concludes to himself, “How would I summarize the articles? They were only slightly less than horrifying.”
Of course, after reading this letter, you may be quite surprised if cows’ milk happens to be your favorite beverage every day. Any transition to a healthier substitute maybe difficult since you find dairy products in many processed food that are offered.
For some of you, the findings in these research studies may raise your curiosity. But deep down you’re telling yourself, “I could never give up my 3 glasses of milk every day, pizzas with lots of cheese, or smooth and delicious ice-cream or milkshakes on hot summer days.” It’s hard to argue with a delicious taste we have gotten used to that can make us feel better.
The choice is always yours to what extent you want to make plant-based substitutions for meat and dairy products in your diet. I personally choose not to stress over such choices, especially when I travel or have to eat out. But, you can be consciously more aware of what you are willing to contribute to creating your own healthy lifestyle.
Of course, you’re probably wondering how you get enough calcium? Well, what surprised me after looking into this topic is that there are countless other ways to easily get MORE calcium from other foods.
These include, soymilk with calcium, tahini (ground sesame seeds) and other plant based milks, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, collards, kale, any kind of leafy greens and stems, parsley, seaweed, nuts and especially sesame seeds (300mg of calcium per ounce of seeds), soybeans, all other beans and peas, sprouts and wheat grains.
Simply put, the idea that you must drink milk for calcium is a myth.
Even more, it’s not natural. A shocking fact is that more than 70 % of humans in this world do not drink milk. Why? Many get sick from drinking varying amounts of milk because they lack enzymes to digest the lactose or milk sugar for instance. You probably have heard about lactose intolerance.
This then leads to the question, how can you make great tasting foods without cow’s milk? After all, it’s in practically everything we cook.
Well, here’s some good news, there are plenty of healthy alternatives.
For milk, these include:
1. Almond Milk – You can make homemade milk from nuts, such as almonds. Even more, it’s easy and takes minutes to make.
2. Soy Milk – Many people who try soy milk for the first time don’t like the taste because it’s simply different than what your taste buds are used to. However, no matter what, you can add it to your cooking and there’s no way anybody can tell the difference.
You can make your own from soyflour or purchase soymilk from almost any regular grocery store. Personally, my favorite is organic unsweetened “Silk Soy Milk”. It contains more protein and calcium than almost any generic cows’ milk based on equal amounts. It’s naturally low fat and the fats it does have are good Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats.
It has almost no sugar, tons of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber. Because it comes from plants (soybeans), it has antioxidants, a protective force against cancer.
3. Tahini Milk - You can get tahini paste (ground sesame seeds) at any health-food or whole-foods store. It’s easy and takes minutes to make.
Additionally, what if you believe you really can’t or don’t want to reduce your consumption of cow’s milk? Then, you can buy USDA certified organic. This option helps you avoid milk with man-made problems. And, relating to this, you can use alternative milks in your cooking when they fit, instead of just using cows’ milk all of the time.
Now, what about cheese? It often seems like nobody can live without it.
A good solution to this problem is to use substitutes, such as:
1. Rice cheese or soy cheese – You can find these in health food stores.
2. Goat or Feta cheeses are found in Mediterranean diets. These taste great to sprinkle a little on salads or pasta dishes. Look for low fat varieties.
3. Lecithin – These are yellow granules that you can buy at your local health food store. This is a good solution to replace all or part of fatty cheeses in your homemade pizza for example. Then you use just a small amount of shredded low fat cheese to top your vegetable pizza.
You can also try new spices and herbs to flavor your food instead of relying mostly on the taste of cheese. Try eating food from India, Mediterranean dishes with little or no cheese, and other healthy dishes from around the world flavored in new and exciting ways.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
This is why growing up, most people are taught milk products are an essential part of your diet – so you can have healthy bones.
However, in recent years, there have also been developments in the way milk is produced. To get more milk, farmers in cooperation with the chemical industry have introduced many practices that are not healthy.
For example, a mere fifty years ago cows produced 2000 pounds of milk per year. Today, some cows are capable of producing 50,000 pounds!
How’s this possible? The answer is that cows are given harmful drugs, antibiotics, growth hormones, and are force fed just to name a few techniques to beef up the bottom line.
Inside, the author Dr. Kradjian, reviews more than 500 scientific articles related to milk and concludes to himself, “How would I summarize the articles? They were only slightly less than horrifying.”
Of course, after reading this letter, you may be quite surprised if cows’ milk happens to be your favorite beverage every day. Any transition to a healthier substitute maybe difficult since you find dairy products in many processed food that are offered.
For some of you, the findings in these research studies may raise your curiosity. But deep down you’re telling yourself, “I could never give up my 3 glasses of milk every day, pizzas with lots of cheese, or smooth and delicious ice-cream or milkshakes on hot summer days.” It’s hard to argue with a delicious taste we have gotten used to that can make us feel better.
The choice is always yours to what extent you want to make plant-based substitutions for meat and dairy products in your diet. I personally choose not to stress over such choices, especially when I travel or have to eat out. But, you can be consciously more aware of what you are willing to contribute to creating your own healthy lifestyle.
Of course, you’re probably wondering how you get enough calcium? Well, what surprised me after looking into this topic is that there are countless other ways to easily get MORE calcium from other foods.
These include, soymilk with calcium, tahini (ground sesame seeds) and other plant based milks, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, collards, kale, any kind of leafy greens and stems, parsley, seaweed, nuts and especially sesame seeds (300mg of calcium per ounce of seeds), soybeans, all other beans and peas, sprouts and wheat grains.
Simply put, the idea that you must drink milk for calcium is a myth.
Even more, it’s not natural. A shocking fact is that more than 70 % of humans in this world do not drink milk. Why? Many get sick from drinking varying amounts of milk because they lack enzymes to digest the lactose or milk sugar for instance. You probably have heard about lactose intolerance.
This then leads to the question, how can you make great tasting foods without cow’s milk? After all, it’s in practically everything we cook.
Well, here’s some good news, there are plenty of healthy alternatives.
For milk, these include:
1. Almond Milk – You can make homemade milk from nuts, such as almonds. Even more, it’s easy and takes minutes to make.
2. Soy Milk – Many people who try soy milk for the first time don’t like the taste because it’s simply different than what your taste buds are used to. However, no matter what, you can add it to your cooking and there’s no way anybody can tell the difference.
You can make your own from soyflour or purchase soymilk from almost any regular grocery store. Personally, my favorite is organic unsweetened “Silk Soy Milk”. It contains more protein and calcium than almost any generic cows’ milk based on equal amounts. It’s naturally low fat and the fats it does have are good Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats.
It has almost no sugar, tons of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber. Because it comes from plants (soybeans), it has antioxidants, a protective force against cancer.
3. Tahini Milk - You can get tahini paste (ground sesame seeds) at any health-food or whole-foods store. It’s easy and takes minutes to make.
Additionally, what if you believe you really can’t or don’t want to reduce your consumption of cow’s milk? Then, you can buy USDA certified organic. This option helps you avoid milk with man-made problems. And, relating to this, you can use alternative milks in your cooking when they fit, instead of just using cows’ milk all of the time.
Now, what about cheese? It often seems like nobody can live without it.
A good solution to this problem is to use substitutes, such as:
1. Rice cheese or soy cheese – You can find these in health food stores.
2. Goat or Feta cheeses are found in Mediterranean diets. These taste great to sprinkle a little on salads or pasta dishes. Look for low fat varieties.
3. Lecithin – These are yellow granules that you can buy at your local health food store. This is a good solution to replace all or part of fatty cheeses in your homemade pizza for example. Then you use just a small amount of shredded low fat cheese to top your vegetable pizza.
You can also try new spices and herbs to flavor your food instead of relying mostly on the taste of cheese. Try eating food from India, Mediterranean dishes with little or no cheese, and other healthy dishes from around the world flavored in new and exciting ways.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Italian Food Recipes
Italian food is famous throughout the world for being healthy, delicious and easy to prepare. Catering for a variety of tastes, famous Italian food includes pizza, pasta dishes with a variety of sauces as well as a variety of red meat dishes. Whatever your preferences, you can be sure to find a great Italian dish that you will love.
This is a great dish to allow vegetarians to have a taste of Italy! For best results you should make with fresh egg pasta rather than using dried lasagna noodles. This can be served along with parmesan cheese for best results.
Shrimp Scampi
Getting this recipe right involves cooking the scampi to perfection. This recipe is great with garlic and butter, while serving crusty bread alongside it will ensure that diners have an opportunity to sop up any residual sauce.
Fish Soup with Gremolata
This can be found in different forms and with different regional takes throughout Italy. The seafood you decide to use can vary based on the preferences of the diner, and what is available for you to use at a given time. Usually cooked in white wine, this dish was originates from the Adriatic coast where it first became popular decades ago.
Chicken Scarpariello
This is a dish which is often referred to as being Italian American, translating as shoemakers chicken, the dish comprises of chicken in a lemon sauce. The chicken should be cooked until golden brown and the meal should be served alongside a dry white wine.
Chicken Marsala
This is a unique dish because it looks so elegant that it is suitable for the most sophisticated of occasions, however it is so easy to prepare. The dish is healthy because it is does not use much oil, and the chicken is usually served in a bed of flavored herb rice, alternatively it can also be served alongside potatoes.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
The trick to perfecting this recipe is to use the best possible ingredients you can find and take advantage of them. The quality of chopped tomatoes that you use can really make or break this dish. If you are making the meatballs then you could either opt for beef and veal or beef and turkey; they are probably the most suited to the sauce.
Beef Carpaccio
This dish consists of thin slices of raw beef and is generally served as an appetizer or a starter. The dish was originally conceived in Harry's Bar in Venice where it has since became popular throughout the world. The variations between Arugula Leaves, lemon wedges and raw beef make the taste so unique.
Zuppa Toscana
This dish consists of turkey sausage, onions, bacon and potatoes. Although not an overly healthy recipe, that does not stop thousands of people around the world naming it their favorite Italian dish of all time. A great aspect of this dish is that it can really be tailored to anyone’s taste, such as changing the ratio of Chicken Broth and heavy cream – or alternatively including or leaving out certain meats.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
This is a great dish to allow vegetarians to have a taste of Italy! For best results you should make with fresh egg pasta rather than using dried lasagna noodles. This can be served along with parmesan cheese for best results.
Shrimp Scampi
Getting this recipe right involves cooking the scampi to perfection. This recipe is great with garlic and butter, while serving crusty bread alongside it will ensure that diners have an opportunity to sop up any residual sauce.
Fish Soup with Gremolata
This can be found in different forms and with different regional takes throughout Italy. The seafood you decide to use can vary based on the preferences of the diner, and what is available for you to use at a given time. Usually cooked in white wine, this dish was originates from the Adriatic coast where it first became popular decades ago.
Chicken Scarpariello
This is a dish which is often referred to as being Italian American, translating as shoemakers chicken, the dish comprises of chicken in a lemon sauce. The chicken should be cooked until golden brown and the meal should be served alongside a dry white wine.
Chicken Marsala
This is a unique dish because it looks so elegant that it is suitable for the most sophisticated of occasions, however it is so easy to prepare. The dish is healthy because it is does not use much oil, and the chicken is usually served in a bed of flavored herb rice, alternatively it can also be served alongside potatoes.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
The trick to perfecting this recipe is to use the best possible ingredients you can find and take advantage of them. The quality of chopped tomatoes that you use can really make or break this dish. If you are making the meatballs then you could either opt for beef and veal or beef and turkey; they are probably the most suited to the sauce.
Beef Carpaccio
This dish consists of thin slices of raw beef and is generally served as an appetizer or a starter. The dish was originally conceived in Harry's Bar in Venice where it has since became popular throughout the world. The variations between Arugula Leaves, lemon wedges and raw beef make the taste so unique.
Zuppa Toscana
This dish consists of turkey sausage, onions, bacon and potatoes. Although not an overly healthy recipe, that does not stop thousands of people around the world naming it their favorite Italian dish of all time. A great aspect of this dish is that it can really be tailored to anyone’s taste, such as changing the ratio of Chicken Broth and heavy cream – or alternatively including or leaving out certain meats.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
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