Italian Recipes

Italian cuisine has an excellent reputation, and the country's food is known throughout the world. While Italy is perhaps best known for pasta and pizza, there are also many excellent Italian meat and seafood dishes. Additionally, Italy is also of course known for its desserts and cheeses.

For much of its history, Italy was divided into many separate regional states, and with parts of the country being occupied by foreign powers such as France and Italy. Indeed, it was not until 1861 that Italian unification was achieved. As a result of this history, Italian is well-known for its diverse regions, and this diversity is very much reflected in the country's cuisine.

Some dishes from the various regions of Italy include:

* Calabria (the "toe" of Italy) is known for its spicy salami

* Naples is the home of mozzarella and pizza. Additionally, sfogliatelle (Italian filled pastries) originate from the city too.

* Northern Italy produces many excellent foods. Lombardy and Piedmont both produce rice, and this is used in risotto. Other products from northern Italy include balsamic vinegar, bolognese sauce (ragu), lasagna, mortadella (a type of pork sausage served served cold) parmigiano (parmesan cheese), polenta, prosciutto (dry cured ham), and tortellini (stuffed pasta).

* Rome is known for producing a unique style of very thing pizzas. Classically Roman ingredients include pecorino (cheese made from sheep's milk) and offal.

* Sardinia has a reputation for fine lamb meat, and its own variety of pecorino.

* Sicily's proximity to North Africa and the Arab world is reflected in its cusine, most noteably in the use of lemon and pestachio. Sicily is also known for its seafood (especially swordfish and tuna), and its desserts, which include gelato icre cream, and granita (a semi-frozen dessert made using water, sugar, and flavorings).

* Tuscany is known for its meat, the use of white beans in its cuisine, and the region's fine unsalted bread.

Italy teaches the art of ice cream

People from all over the world are travelling to Italy to learn the art of gelato making. The ice cream is becoming increasingly popular in markets like North Africa and the Middle East. Al Jazeera's Sabina Castelfranco visited the world's first gelato university in Bologna. (20 Jan 2010)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfwPhWYg1fs&hl=en

Will & Grace - La coppa di gelato

Fantastica serie tv Will & Grace



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0dW3z_iROI&hl=en

Italy Vacation 09'

Me and my family traveling to Italy, the quality reduced does not reflect on the actual content itself.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CwZZvY5xgQ&hl=en

Invite Some Friends Over For Coffee and This Delicious Southern Sweet Chocolate Pie

If you are trying to cut back on entertainment expenses this year, instead of going out invite some friends over for games, watching a movie, working a puzzle, etc and serve a selection of coffees, hot chocolate, hot teas and this wonderful Southern Sweet Chocolate Pie. It is not necessary to serve a complete meal. Make sure when you issue the invitation you are clear that this is games or whatever and dessert. With your selection of hot drinks, a bowl of mixed nuts, and this pie, you and your friends will have an enjoyable evening without a lot of expense. Perfect in this economy of tight budgets.

SOUTHERN SWEET CHOCOLATE PIE

1 pkg (4-oz) sweet cooking chocolate
1/4 cup butter
1 2/3 cups evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 unbaked 10-inch pie shell
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a saucepan over low heat mix the chocolate and butter, stirring constantly until blended. Remove from the heat then gradually blend in the evaporated milk. In a medium mixing bowl mix the sugar cornstarch and salt together. Beat in the eggs and vanilla then slowly blend in the chocolate mixture. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Combine the coconut and pecans; sprinkle over the chocolate mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until puffed and browned. Cover loosely with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking if topping appears to be getting too brown. Allow to cool for at least 4 hours before serving; this will allow the filling to set. Garnish with dollops of whipped cream to serve.

Enjoy!

Recipe For a Delicious Apple Dessert - Baked Apples & Cranberries With Crunchy Streusel Topping

Apple Pie may be an American tradition but mixing apples and cranberries has become a fall and a holiday tradition for many of us. The combination of the tart cranberries and the sweetness of the apples is irresistable. Here we offer a recipe for Baked Apples and Cranberries with a Crunchy Streusel Topping. The crunchy topping adds the sweet, spicy, and crunchiness of brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Yummy, for sure!

BAKED APPLES & CRANBERRIES WITH CRUNCHY STREUSEL TOPPING
Fruit mixture:
5 medium Granny Smith apples
1 can (16-oz) whole berry cranberry sauce
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Topping mixture:
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

For the filling: Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place the slices on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, sugar, and flour; mix until well blended. Pour the cranberry mixture over the apples. Be sure all apples are covered with the cranberry mixture.

For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the chopped pecans, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and flour. Pour the melted butter over the mixture and stir to blend together well. Using your fingers, sprinkle the topping mixture over the fruit mixture in the pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.

Note: This is delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream!

Enjoy!

Invite Some Friends Over For Coffee and This Delicious Southern Sweet Chocolate Pie

If you are trying to cut back on entertainment expenses this year, instead of going out invite some friends over for games, watching a movie, working a puzzle, etc and serve a selection of coffees, hot chocolate, hot teas and this wonderful Southern Sweet Chocolate Pie. It is not necessary to serve a complete meal. Make sure when you issue the invitation you are clear that this is games or whatever and dessert. With your selection of hot drinks, a bowl of mixed nuts, and this pie, you and your friends will have an enjoyable evening without a lot of expense. Perfect in this economy of tight budgets.

SOUTHERN SWEET CHOCOLATE PIE

1 pkg (4-oz) sweet cooking chocolate
1/4 cup butter
1 2/3 cups evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 unbaked 10-inch pie shell
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a saucepan over low heat mix the chocolate and butter, stirring constantly until blended. Remove from the heat then gradually blend in the evaporated milk. In a medium mixing bowl mix the sugar cornstarch and salt together. Beat in the eggs and vanilla then slowly blend in the chocolate mixture. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Combine the coconut and pecans; sprinkle over the chocolate mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until puffed and browned. Cover loosely with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking if topping appears to be getting too brown. Allow to cool for at least 4 hours before serving; this will allow the filling to set. Garnish with dollops of whipped cream to serve.

Enjoy!