Mangia! Mangia! I just can’t get enough of the great taste of Italian foods. Italian pasta, pizza, pork, beef and seafood recipes are much a part of my everyday life.
Growing up Italian in Chicago has been a wonderful culinary experience to say the least. The many different restaurants and families from different regions of Italy allowed me to taste some of the most delicious food in the world.
Food always conjures up great memories. When I cook something I haven’t had in a while, it always seems to bring me back to the last time and place I did have it. I think it’s the closest thing to a “time machine” we’ll ever experience.
Years ago at every family gathering my Grandmother Theresa made a simple dish of pasta and cauliflower. Oh how we craved for this dish after she was gone. It was filling and delicious and you just could not get enough.
So finally one day I said I was going to try and make it. I just had to have it again. There was just no way was I going to live out the rest of my life without ever eating this dish again. Determined, I tried many times and one day I came as close as I possibly could to recreating her recipe. As we all know Grandmothers did not measure anything, so this was not an easy task.
Here’s my version of my Grandmother’s recipe. I hope you an your family enjoy it as much as mine does
Grandma Theresa’s Pasta and Cauliflower
Ingredients
# 1 pound box of mostaccioli or rotini
# 2 medium size heads of cauliflower
# 3 or 4 cloves of garlic chopped
# 3 or 4 bunches of long green onions chopped
# 1 stick of butter
# 2 Tbls of vegetable oil
# 1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs
# Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
# Salt to taste
# Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Preparation
# Clean and cut cauliflower into bite size pieces.
# Boil cauliflower in around 6 quarts of water until tender.
# In a large frying pan sauté onions and garlic in ½ stick of butter and oil for about 5 minutes.
# Add ½ cup of bread crumbs and sauté until slightly brown.
# With a slotted spoon remove cauliflower and add to the breadcrumb mixture. Do not throw away the cauliflower water.
# Cook the pasta in the cauliflower water until al dente. Around ten minutes.
# Add remaining butter and breadcrumb to the cauliflower mixture.
# Add around a cup of cauliflower water to the mixture to moisten.
# Stir and cook for around 15 minutes more.
# Mix the pasta and cauliflower together.
# Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and your ready to eat.
I hope this recipe makes many memories for your family and friends.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phillip_Speciale
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Best Garlic Bread in the World (Great with Pasta)!
A fabulous garlic bread is every bit as complimentary to a great bowl of pasta as a great icing is to a cake. If the icing is only fair, it is hard for the cake to really stand out. Lets say you go to a restaurant. They bring out an incredible bowl of steaming hot pasta and the first thing you try is the garlic bread. If the garlic bread is only mediocre, the pasta will have a really hard time selling itself. If after the first bite you grab the whole bread basket claiming it as your own, even a fair pasta will at least have a chance!
There are a few components to making great garlic bread. Chief among these is a good bread. I like using a good sourdough from a specialty store. These stores have sprung up all over and carry all kinds of organic products from fruits and vegetables to baked items. These often have great sourdough breads. I usually buy it sliced. I lay out the slices on a cookie sheet and liberally apply butter to just the top of each slice. I then lightly sprinkle garlic powder, and lightly sprinkle ground oregano (not too much or it will taste like a pizza!) on the butter. I then finely grate Sharp Cheddar Cheese and sprinkle enough cheese so as to just cover the bread and butter completely. If you do not cover the bread completely, the edges of the bread will burn before the cheese has melted. But you do not want the cheese to be so thick that it melts into a big glob. I then lightly sprinkle a touch more garlic powder and oregano on top of the cheese. This adds a little more flavor and looks good.
Now comes the critical part. Timing. You want to put the cookie sheet with the bread slices under a broiler long enough to melt the cheese but the difference between perfect garlic bread and burned garlic bread can be a matter of 30 seconds. So you have to stay on it. Serve piping hot and enjoy!
Addendum:
My wife grabbed the keyboard out of my hands and typed in her own thoughts on "the best garlic bread in the world." I think she meant to do this as a joke but I am going to include it because people have enjoyed her approach to garlic bread as well. Her method is not as time sensitive as the above method and can come out a bit more gooey (which many people like).
"This is Mike's wife. I would like to include this garlic bread recipe from my Italian mother. Begin with a round loaf of Sourdough bread (sliced). Take one to two cubes of butter and add garlic to the butter to taste. Start at the end of the loaf and spread the garlic butter on both sides of each piece of bread. Then sprinkle both sides of each slice with grated parmesan cheese. Continue this through the entire loaf. Then wrap in foil and cook at 350 degrees till heated through (approximately 10-15 minutes). Open up the top of the foil and cook till the top is brown and crispy."
Have fun. Experiment. Try both methods and you will soon be on your way to a truly sensational garlic bread that will set the stage for whatever pasta recipes, soup recipes, etc. that will follow.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kazmark
There are a few components to making great garlic bread. Chief among these is a good bread. I like using a good sourdough from a specialty store. These stores have sprung up all over and carry all kinds of organic products from fruits and vegetables to baked items. These often have great sourdough breads. I usually buy it sliced. I lay out the slices on a cookie sheet and liberally apply butter to just the top of each slice. I then lightly sprinkle garlic powder, and lightly sprinkle ground oregano (not too much or it will taste like a pizza!) on the butter. I then finely grate Sharp Cheddar Cheese and sprinkle enough cheese so as to just cover the bread and butter completely. If you do not cover the bread completely, the edges of the bread will burn before the cheese has melted. But you do not want the cheese to be so thick that it melts into a big glob. I then lightly sprinkle a touch more garlic powder and oregano on top of the cheese. This adds a little more flavor and looks good.
Now comes the critical part. Timing. You want to put the cookie sheet with the bread slices under a broiler long enough to melt the cheese but the difference between perfect garlic bread and burned garlic bread can be a matter of 30 seconds. So you have to stay on it. Serve piping hot and enjoy!
Addendum:
My wife grabbed the keyboard out of my hands and typed in her own thoughts on "the best garlic bread in the world." I think she meant to do this as a joke but I am going to include it because people have enjoyed her approach to garlic bread as well. Her method is not as time sensitive as the above method and can come out a bit more gooey (which many people like).
"This is Mike's wife. I would like to include this garlic bread recipe from my Italian mother. Begin with a round loaf of Sourdough bread (sliced). Take one to two cubes of butter and add garlic to the butter to taste. Start at the end of the loaf and spread the garlic butter on both sides of each piece of bread. Then sprinkle both sides of each slice with grated parmesan cheese. Continue this through the entire loaf. Then wrap in foil and cook at 350 degrees till heated through (approximately 10-15 minutes). Open up the top of the foil and cook till the top is brown and crispy."
Have fun. Experiment. Try both methods and you will soon be on your way to a truly sensational garlic bread that will set the stage for whatever pasta recipes, soup recipes, etc. that will follow.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kazmark
Romance And Pasta: A Match Made In Heaven
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, hopeless romantics all over the world are racking their brains for something spectacular with which to surprise that special person this year. But what many don't realize is that this amorous task is easier than it seems. If you're looking for something that emits a bit more ingenuity than flowers and chocolates, why not opt to give someone the experience of a lifetime with a trip?
One of the best gifts anyone can give another person is the gift of good memories. And what better time is there for such a gift than Valentine's Day? After all, it's an opportunity for you and that special person to build those memories together. However, in planning this spectacular getaway, you'll carefully want to consider your destination options: where can you go that emanates true romance in the best way possible? Think wine, pasta and gelato - think Italy.
Often referred to as "il Belpaese" - "the beautiful country" - Italy is a top destination for romantic getaways. This is accredited just as much to the country's tranquil pace of life as it is to its stunning surroundings. So if you're looking for a holiday destination which will allow you and that one special person to enjoy each others' company to the fullest, pack your bags and begin practicing your Italian.
One of the most popular destinations for romantic getaways in Italy is Florence - and it's no surprise why. Although Florence is a city of considerable size, it boasts much of the charm of a small and intimate town. Couples can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city centre, stroll in the Boboli Gardens - a grandiose sixteenth century garden built by the Medici family - or head to Piazza Michelangelo - a landmark romantic viewpoint over the city. And apart from exquisite sightseeing opportunities, the city affords spectacular shopping in districts such as San Lorenzo or Santa Croce. Tuscan wine-tasting excursions also depart daily from the city - so you and your loved one can truly experience one of the gems of Italian culture. And as each day comes to an end, you can choose to watch the sunset from Ponte Trinita, walk along the moon-lit River Arno, or dine in one of the city's countless gourmet restaurants.
Alternatively, why not visit Rome? Appropriately called "The City of Love", Rome has a great deal to offer couples who are on a romantic getaway. Visit the Villa Borghese, which once belonged to the royal family and is now a beautiful park; or visit the Monte Mario, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, sit on the Spanish Steps with a picnic while taking in the beauty of the city, or visit one of Rome's most romantic spots, Piazza Navona, which bustles with life once the sun goes down. From sightseeing to simply unwinding together in the city's charming cafes, a couple in Rome will never have a dull moment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_McAllister
One of the best gifts anyone can give another person is the gift of good memories. And what better time is there for such a gift than Valentine's Day? After all, it's an opportunity for you and that special person to build those memories together. However, in planning this spectacular getaway, you'll carefully want to consider your destination options: where can you go that emanates true romance in the best way possible? Think wine, pasta and gelato - think Italy.
Often referred to as "il Belpaese" - "the beautiful country" - Italy is a top destination for romantic getaways. This is accredited just as much to the country's tranquil pace of life as it is to its stunning surroundings. So if you're looking for a holiday destination which will allow you and that one special person to enjoy each others' company to the fullest, pack your bags and begin practicing your Italian.
One of the most popular destinations for romantic getaways in Italy is Florence - and it's no surprise why. Although Florence is a city of considerable size, it boasts much of the charm of a small and intimate town. Couples can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city centre, stroll in the Boboli Gardens - a grandiose sixteenth century garden built by the Medici family - or head to Piazza Michelangelo - a landmark romantic viewpoint over the city. And apart from exquisite sightseeing opportunities, the city affords spectacular shopping in districts such as San Lorenzo or Santa Croce. Tuscan wine-tasting excursions also depart daily from the city - so you and your loved one can truly experience one of the gems of Italian culture. And as each day comes to an end, you can choose to watch the sunset from Ponte Trinita, walk along the moon-lit River Arno, or dine in one of the city's countless gourmet restaurants.
Alternatively, why not visit Rome? Appropriately called "The City of Love", Rome has a great deal to offer couples who are on a romantic getaway. Visit the Villa Borghese, which once belonged to the royal family and is now a beautiful park; or visit the Monte Mario, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Alternatively, sit on the Spanish Steps with a picnic while taking in the beauty of the city, or visit one of Rome's most romantic spots, Piazza Navona, which bustles with life once the sun goes down. From sightseeing to simply unwinding together in the city's charming cafes, a couple in Rome will never have a dull moment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_McAllister
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