The History Of Pasta In Italian Food

Today the world recognizes pasta as the flavor of the Italians. Pasta has become synonymous with Italian food world over. Its preparation and storage are very easy making it the symbol of Italian food all over the world. Tomato sauce and pizza are also popular Italian foods enjoyed by people in different countries. However the history of pasta dates back to a much older time than pizza or tomato sauce or any other common Italian food.

Legend has it that pasta was introduced to the Italian public by Marco Polo who in turn is believed to have picked it up on his many travels. However, history shows us that pasta had already been popularized around his time. Pasta's history dates back to a time long before Marco Polo. In fact, it's believed to have been a popular Italian dish right from the eighth century onwards. It was around this time that Arab's invasion greatly influenced food in Italy. It is believed that the pasta was born due to the combination of Arabic and Italian foods.

Wheat, a commonly available ingredient in Italy was used in making pasta and therefore it quickly became popular among the general public. By the 1300's pasta had spread all over Italy. Due to its high nutrition content and long shelf life, it was highly favored by the people. It was also used in long ship voyages due to the same reasons. As a result it spread very quickly to the world becoming the first of the Italy's foods to be popularized world over. By then, the recipe had been greatly improved upon and different shapes and sizes were introduced. Different techniques to make pasta with more efficiency and at a faster rate had been developed thereby making it an important part of every Italian's life.

The next and a very important change in pasta came in 1839. By then the tomato had been discovered in America and the rest of the world was still trying to catch up on this incredible fruit.

However many Europeans believed it to be poisonous and generally avoided it. It took a while for the people to accept the tomato but when they did, it became an important part of pasta's recipe. Today the tomato sauce is essential in making pasta and one without the other is unheard of.

The large quantity in which pasta is sold is proof enough of how it has become an important part of Italy's diet. The amount of pasta consumed by the Italians is almost three times as that of the Americans. An average Italian consumes about sixty pounds of pasta every year. It is due to this reason that Italian food itself is identified with pasta. In fact, Italians consume so much pasta that Italy is forced to import a large quantity of wheat to meet the demand. 

Although pasta is mass produced, most of the good quality pasta is used up in Italy itself. As a result, the pasta used in American Italian food is of inferior quality. Most Italians cook pasta in the same way it has been for years using the recipes that have been passed down from mother to daughter and father to son. In order to have the best pasta experience, one must travel to Italy and savor the pasta, true Italian style.

Italian Food On A Date

Impress your date on a romantic Italian night out - A romantic Delight

If you wish to have a wonderful time with your date in the town, then a Italian restaurant is the best place to go to. Italian foods are always romantic and below are some pointers to pick a fine restaurant.

It is important to choose the place serving authentic Italian food, else your date might end up looking cheap. How can you know which is authentic? Just look at your menu, whenever you are able to understand it, then it's not really authentic. If you are seeking for Italian food rather than just pizza and spaghetti, you may as well speak to a few people who are working at the restaurant. While I'm seeking a good Italian food experience, I'll unquestionably need the people making the food to speak more Italian rather than English. You will be able to bet that the dishes will be more American than Italian, if you find the restaurant filled with American ambience.

When you have found a restaurant with a fine menu, next try and understand it. Moreover, you cannot make a good first impression if you order something and then later being surprised to find out what it really is when it arrives at the table. Decide what to choose in advance and know the proper pronunciation. Make sure to find out about your date's likes when it comes to Italian food. You can impress your date if you are reading and selecting the dishes from the menu card like an Italian expert.

Italian food isn't the same without a fine wine to go along side it.. Almost all good Italian restaurants have a nice choice of wine. Wine is necessary for a romantic date. Find out what wine might go best with the food which you're ordering. Do not be afraid to ask the waiter, that is why they're there for. At the same time, be aware since they know it's very easy to raise your bill with expensive wine. Since Italian food is best to be experienced with good wine, take your time to be sure that you are having a fine wine for your food and your budget.

Now your Italian food and then wine are done with, the next matter is to look for a restaurant with good atmosphere. There are actually two ways to do this. The first thing is with more traditional good dining restaurant with dim lighting and perhaps some slow romantic music in the background. This will be an excellent choice. At the same time, the best Italian food might be come up at the humble restaurants with feel at home feel about it. This might be equally romantic till the restaurant is not getting very crowded. There you will be able to enjoy not just good Italian food, but will also have a memorable experience of your date. If the eating house does not have candles or flowers on your table you might add the romantic touch by bringing your own candles and roses in order to decorate your table. And your date will really get impressed with your step on seeing that your table is clearly better than others.

Following the above steps might lead to a fantabulous Italian food experience for both of you. Find the perfect restaurant and you'll be sure to experience a romantic dinner.

The Importance Of Eating A Healthful Vegetarian Diet

So often when people say they ar vegetarian they mean that they do not eat meat. But being a vegetarian is about more than just not eating meat. It is possible to be a vegetarian in the sense of not eating meat and eat a very unhealthy diet indeed.

A vegetarian diet may by high in cholesterol if it relies too much on cheese and eggs. It may be low in fiber if it is based on refined grain products like white bread, white pasta and white rice. If it lacks fresh vegetables your diet will be deficient in vitamins and minerals. You may be vegetarian but you may not be eating a healthy vegetarian diet.

Going vegetarian is about more than just not eating meat. It means taking a positive decision to eat a wide range of foods that provide a balanced mixture of nutrients. It is important to plan the shift to a vegetarian diet. This may mean buying some new equipment for your kitchen. If you are used to eating convenience store foods, then you may need to buy some basic items.

The next step is to plan your meals. Not all vegetarian meals rely on cheese, eggs and milk for protein. These are useful ingredients in a vegetarian diet but not by any means essential. It is perfectly possible to get enough protein by combining grains with legumes such as peas, beans and lentils. A bowl of lentil soup with a slice of bread provides all the essential amino acid you need. Chili beans and rice combine in the same way to create what is called a complete protein.

A diet based on legumes and whole grains has the immense of advantage of providing you with enough fiber. This is important to maintain colon health. Cancer of the colon is most common among people who eat a diet based on over-refined processed foods. Fiber is one of the key ingredients in a healthful vegetarian diet.

Switching to a high fiber diet takes a little time. Your body needs to adjust. So take things slowly at first.

A healthful vegetarian diet based on whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables will also be good for your heart as it is low in fat. The fats you use in vegetarian cooking should be vegetable fats and oils such as olive oil, coconut oil or groundnut oil. There is no reason to exclude butter from a vegetarian diet especially if most of the fat you are consuming is of vegetable origin.

One of the great things about a healthy vegetarian diet is that it helps to maintain your weight at the right level. You will still pile on the pounds if you binge on ice cream but a really healthy vegetarian diet leaves you feeling satisfied so that you are less likely to overindulge in sweet things.

Paula’s Home Cooking Recipes

Do you love cooking? Where do you gather the recipes from? Self experimenting? Television shows? Reading? Surfing the internet? Well, Paula’s Home Cooking recipes are just perfect for you!

Paula Deen’s Cooking Show focuses on her dedication towards easy to make food, southern foods and the country style cooking. Her presentation is a real treat to watch. Paula is a down-to-earth individual that clearly reflects in her style of presentation. Also she uplifts your spirit and makes you feel fresh and charged up!

Paula Deen's technique of teaching cooking is quite simple and effective. She would guide you through the common mistakes and help you overcome the same. Paula surely inspires you to try some interesting recipes in your own style and experiment varied foods.

Watching her show you would come across some very important tips & advices regarding cooking that you might not even find in the printed version of her recipes. Paula Deen's show can even please the finickiest of all palates with its well researched techniques for cooking!

Generally speaking among the other sources watching cooking shows on the television is quite a convenient & fun way to adapt new culinary recipes and skills.

For those of us who prefer, experimenting their own way, grab on some internet or printed versions of the Paula Deen recipes for home cooking and innovate yourself. Many food network sites offer menus from her shows. Just click on the menu item and get recipe you were looking for.

Those who love cooking take pride in learning form their own mistakes. They would preferably make the fault and would like to mend it all by themselves in the second try. They find thrill in cooking, learning and creating some masterpieces in the end. This is a great avenue to learn.

And through your journey, the printed versions of Paula Deen's recipes would be a great support.

Try sharing these experiences with your friends & family. Remember, even though we are warned of the mistakes, we might land up committing the same initially. But, its not possible to become a perfectionist in a day! Learning takes time and we must allow ourselves to take time! Our mistakes form good fun stories that can be shares with the  family & friends and they would surely smile back to you!

Cooking Cajun Food

In today's fast paced life where we are all rushing to scratch sometime for ourselves, Cajun is one country where till date cooking is considered a precious form of art. While there are no particulars in its recipes, a key ingredient is love & emotions. Many people in the country and elsewhere try to imitate the real Cajun flavor but are not able to do so. One reason might be that there are no defined quantities. Yet another major reason is that one must have a sincere feel to cook & serve the best in order to gain that excellence.

Cajun cooking includes a lot more than mere lagniappe from the pantry or the spice cabinet. Here are some fascinating facts about Cajun cooking:

1. Cajun cooking has very few exact recipes.

These recipes are often focused on taste factor that is more oft based on an individual's decision. That means no measurements are fixed.

2. The mood of the cook decides the taste.

Try cooking a Cajun dish 4 times in a day and you shall find that every time it shall taste a bit different. The hidden spice of these dishes is the mood of the cook. Cook it happily and dish turns out 'yum'. The moment you cook angrily, it shall become hot & spicy and might lead to the rage of the ones who eat it.

3. Present it with a 'Bam.'

Remember Emeril Lagasse. He often relates some experience or story with his dishes and whenever he presents them, he does it with a "Bam!" This kicks off some special taste buds among the people and they relish the food all the more.

4. Meet with the person's heart & soul.

Cajun cooking believes that good food is all about meeting their heart & soul. Love, affection & a feeling to serve are the hidden ingredients of Cajun cooking. This also explains as to why some southern cooked dishes are called 'soul food'. Remember the New Orlean delicacies - Well the place itself is located in the Deep South.

5. Grab the real & right ingredients.

Cooking Cajun food outside New Orlean region at time can be a major challenge. This is because its ingredients are pretty hard to find. It seems just impossible to come across fresh spices & seasonings that are indispensable to most Cajun foods. Other hard nut to crack is locating andouille sausage and fresh crawfish during the mid of Michigan winter.

6. Visit the nearest specialty store for the right ingredients.

In case you are really interested to cook Cajun food at home, watch for the right ingredients in the specialty food shops. Also there are shops where you can place special orders and get your list done. The international food sections at some grocery stores stock limited Cajun seasonings. However, these sources are very few.

7. Add a little jazz to set the mood.

Once you are through with the requisites, charge up the environment with some jazz and glare to set your mood as well as for those whom you are serving.

8. Cajun cooking takes time so be patient and chalk out some of your schedule for it.

The best of Cajun delicacies require substantial time for simmering. One must have the patience and schedule the cooking accordingly. Assure yourself that the food would be done in time and I do not need to rush. There are ways to see when the food is done. It would be great to try these means. One must have a first hand experience of the same, rest the stories might be mere myths.

9. Cajun cooking is an emotional experience.

This type of cooking judges your talent, certifies your patience and sometimes charges up your energy levels. It is surely an experience worth trying.

10. Cajun food enlists some of the richest delicacies on the planet.

Excelling the art of cooking would put you through slavery of your taste buds for years together.

Try these to become one of the earnest slaves!

Healthy Cooking Oils

As it is rightly said, health is wealth. Maintaining the right health calls for several precautions & decisions, the most important among them being food. Healthy eating habits are a must to keep fit and have the apt body weight. 

As the statistics reveal, obesity is the most common ailment across the globe these days.

Oil - the name itself sounds terror for those who want to cut down their weight. But does that mean that you stop taking cooking oils in your diet? No!

There are many healthy cooking oils available in the market. These are quite good and beneficial for the individual due to varied reasons:

1. They improve your skin quality.

2. They allow healthy growth of your nails and hair.

3. The body needs oils in order to replenish the internal functions.

Consuming oil on a weekly or daily basis can work wonders. You would be able to see the positive changes in your hair texture and nails very soon.

With n number of researches and studies being announced almost every week, how do you decide which cooking oil is healthy enough for you? Sounds like a mystery to solve, right? Well, oils after all are inherent fats. For instance, a study says peanut oil, olive oil and canola oil contain good fats. Here, understands that fats are classified into two broad categories - good and bad. The benefits of fats come from good fats. Now, studies say that good fats of these cooking oils supply our body & the palate a pleasing blend of taste & nutrition. However, another lot of dieticians argue these qualities of these oils.

Hence, it becomes more of an individual's choice & decision. You yourself must be sure of the results of the food you are having. Blindly trusting each and every study or reports you come across won't help, any which ways. Do your research well and test the results. Then choose what is best for you.

Rule of thumb explains that anything in excess needs to be watched carefully. Better avoid the excess and moderate it aptly. In short overdoing is never good. Even consuming apples that are so good for the health in major amounts would be harmful.

It is important to understand your body type. The same food gives different experiences to different people. Set your diet plan and see how it works for you. Adding healthy cooking oils in your life can be fun if handled with care.

At the end, use your common sense & research in order to keep fir and healthy forever.

Cooking For Sunday Dinner

Sundays have always been special in many aspects. One of them are the Sunday Dinners at the church. Potluck on Sundays refers to one lucky person offering food for all at the local church. Ever since I have been attending these dinners I remember, most people offered fried chicken. Why only this option? Well, it is easily available at the neighboring food store. So easy, just walk in to the store pick out a few packs of fried chicken and walk in to the church.

As far as I can evaluate it happens due to lack of time, planning and ideas. But imagine, what if you cook scratch out a bit of time, prepare something simple yet special & elegant and offer it in the potluck! So many people would be impressed! Some would be jealous! And almost all would be surprised! So much appreciation and satisfaction that you offered something with so much love and little effort! Won't you like to do the same?

Picking a fried chicken from a deli or a local restaurant might not be wrong, but, its surely repetitive, boring and certainly nothing special!

There are so many simple & easy recipes available through varied resources that you can go ahead with, for instance spicy taco casserole or the dessert items!

Here are a few ideas 7 resources for your next Sunday dinner:

1. Surf the internet.

Internet is surely a global resource to quench all your thirst related to whatever aspect it may be. Key in the right keywords and you can find several easy to cook dishes at one go. Kraft foods website offers some delicious desserts that are quite easy to cook.

2. Desserts are often a good choice for Sunday dinners.

Sweet delicacies can be made within no time just a night before. These can be frozen overnight and so can be easily carried over to serve. Such desserts that tickle the taste buds of almost all of us are easy tricks to make your coworkers envious of your culinary talent at the 'pitch ins' at work.

3. Check out the casserole recipes.

Casserole recipes are often quick, simple and delicious.

4. Try the crock pots & slow cookers.

There are several dishes that you can cook in the crock pots & slow cookers. Just fill it in with the ingredients, turn it on and sleep over. By the time you complete your health sleep, the food would be done giving out a yum aroma and you could make up to the church in a record time.

5. Read through the magazines.

Many magazines offer interesting cookery sections. Magazines offer very healthy eating options such as large salad, casserole, or a healthy dessert.

6. Opt some healthy foods.

It is not necessary to select fat filled or calorie filled dishes for the Sunday dinner.

7. Enjoy the cooking.

It is often said that the cook's mood defines the taste of the food. So, cook the dishes that you enjoy. Do not opt for any long recipes that feel you are forced to work on. Instead of being helpful, it would become more tedious and the food would get the bad taste of the cook. Hence,do not make it a stressful activity for yourself.

8. Do not repeat the same dishes.

Try a new recipe every time rather than sticking to the same thing time and again. It can make even a good dish repetitive and boring, just like the fried chicken.

9. Prepare a bank of recipes.

I suggest you to collect some recipes over time so that the next time you have to make the Sunday dinner, you do not have to vigorously search for them.

10. Treat your potluck audiences as guinea pigs.

Though every individual puts in all their effort & love in the dishes they cook, sometimes the results are not that perfect. This could also save you and your family from getting stuck with leftovers for a week. And a rather happier option, if you like the food, you can put it into rotation of recipes at home.

Now, those with little or no culinary talents go out to surprise your family, friends, and fellow church members with the correct 'simple to make' recipes. Instead of getting on to fried chicken next time, cook up something awesome and get famous with your folks!

A Wonderful Experience With Outdoor Cooking Burners

During vacations, cooking outdoors can be real fun. Outdoor cooking burners are then the ultimate need and the best choice. These burners are made up of many different parts that work in tandem.

Here are a few important characteristics of this essential camping accessory:

1. A heat source

Cooking meals outdoor would not be possible without a heat source. Outdoor excursions seem almost incomplete without an appropriate burner. Among all the other resorts available, this one s the most handy and convenient choice. It is the most effective and the simplest equipment.

2. Its type depends on its purpose

Outdoor cooking burners are available in varied types depending upon their purpose of use.

For camping smaller and lighter models of burners are indispensable. During vacations none of us want to carry a burden weighing down the fun. Anyways, the baggage is often enough to carry. While burners are also available in varied sizes and models that are also portable, but they are heavier as compared to the one burner models.

3. Its parts & mechanism

These burners consist of a special circular burner cup affixed on the bottom plate. Cylindrical supporting sidewall extends internally from the bottom wall within a leveled curved radius. Outdoor cooking burners' bottom wall includes a middle aperture that receives the incoming connection of fuel supply such as gas or others. Further, several cylindrical flame screens are affixed with the bottom plate of burner cup. This is for the cook's safety.

4. Its advantages

Outdoor cooking burners prepare various delicious recipes. It is an increasing craze among the

avid campers. These are also quite useful in the backyard settings. Hence, the equipment can

be treated as quite affordable investment with lot of usage potential.

5. Its fuel

Outdoor burners' usual fuel is propane. Also a blend of propane & butane is a common fuel.

The fuel is usually stored in a handy tank. This tank can easily be transported along with the burner. This tank can also be refilled. This is the reason why many a time the campers carry a spare tank of fuel. Imagine the food needs to be cooked a few more minutes and you run out of fuel! You surely won't want that to happen! Disposable tank fuel method even eliminates the need to carry fuel, hence some campers find this method more convenient.

So, for your next outdoor adventure carry an outdoor burner. Benefit from this handy & efficient equipment and enjoy outdoor cooking with your family & friends. Enjoy their lovely meals and

gather some memories for life!