Recipes Of Italian Vegetarian Cooking

At times people think vegetarian food offers no variety at all. To prove this myth wrong, switch to Italian vegetarian recipes. These are a great combination of excellent food & vegetarian needs. You can enjoy a wonderful meal while adhering to your food needs. This is due to the fact that vegetable go much in tandem with the Italian cuisines. These recipes are not just healthy & harmless, but also culminate to a great taste. They are also royal and indeed unique such as Zucchini Corn & Tomato Au Gratin, Eggplant Parmigiana and Vegetables & Beans Alla Veneziana.

Lets have a glimpse of these exquisite preparations:

1. Appetizers

Pre meal dishes in Italian vegetarian offer a wide variety of salads. To name a few:

i.   Panzanella Salad

ii.  Rotini Salad teamed with Feta Cheese & Black Olives

iii. Italian Potato Salad served with Sun Dried Tomatoes

iv. Pecorino & Basil Crostini

v.  Rocket (Arugula) & Baby Corn Panzerotti

vi. Tomato Bruschetta

2. Pasta

Pasta is an exclusive Italian delicacy and are surely world-known. While there are several traditional pastas to choose from, with time many new & modern styles of cooking pasta have come in to being. Some not-a-miss vegetarian pasta varieties are: 

i.   Eliche Arrabbiata

ii.   Linguine teamed with Spinach Pesto

iii.  Rigatoni with Gorgonzola

iv.  Fusilli teamed with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

v.   Courgette

vi.  Spinach & Wild Mushroom Lasagna

vii. Cannelloni teamed with Ricotta Cheese in Red Wine Sauce

viii. Manicotti served with Artichokes in Green Tomato Sauce

ix.  Capellini in Tomato & Basil Sauce

x.   Conchiglie Genovese with Coriander Pesto

xi.  Spicy Vermicelli with Oyster Mushrooms

xii. Macaroni with Cheese

xiii. Fettuccine served in Creamy White Sauce

xiv. Tagliatelle with Tomato Sauce

xv.  Penne Pesto

xvi. Spaghetti served with Olive Oil & Garlic

xvii. Farfelle Marinara

xviii. Pasta Primavera

3. Gnocchi Dishes

Another exquisite Italian specialty, the gnocchi dishes just like the other categories offers lot of variations. Some of these are:

i.  Gnocchetti served in Pomodoro Sauce

ii. Potato Mushroom & Chives Gnocchi

iii. Spinach & Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi

iv. Pumpkin & Semolina Gnocchi

4. Risottos

Italian vegetarian cooking is almost filled of surprises. One among them are the risottos. Some unbeatable risotto recipes for the vegetarians are:

i.   Alla Pomodoro

ii.  Risotto Alla Milanese

iii.  Risotto served with Porcini Mushrooms

iv.  Baked Brown Rice served with Roasted Vegetables

5. Sauces

Italian food is served with varied sorts of sauces. Some of the known favorites among Italian vegetarian sauces are as follows:

i.  Almond Butter Sauce

ii.  Basil Garlic Sauce

iii. Herbed Mushroom Sauce

6. Pizza

It won't be wrong to say that pizza is among the most commonly prepared Italian dishes across the globe. Its list can be just endless. However, they are all based on the fresh dough pizza bases. The base is then garnished with the favorite toppings like:

i.  Thin Crust Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza

ii.  Deep Pan Pizza Margherita

iii. Cheese & Mushroom Calzone

iv. Spinach & Feta Cheese Stromboli

7. Desserts

Enjoying a rich vegetarian diet and ending up with sweets is a sheer treat for one & all. Desserts in the Italian recipes have a special space and these recipes are indeed different & unique in taste. To name a chosen few, these are:

i.  Risotto & Rocket Pie

ii. Vegetable & Rice Timbale

iii. Red Pepper & Spaghettini Flan

iv. Tiramisu

v.  Lemon Vanilla Panna Cotta with Wine

vi. Fresh Cherry Sauce

vii. Strawberry Cheesecake

Cooking With A Dutch Oven

For long & slow cooked dishes such as stews, roasts and casseroles, Dutch ovens are a sure choice. At the core, there are two types of Dutch ovens –

1. used at the campfires, and

2. used over traditional stoves or ovens.

Camping Dutch Ovens

It consists of:

1. three legs,

2. wire handle, and

3. slightly convex lid.

Its lid allows coal to rest on top as well as the bottom uniformly, so as to heat it like an oven. Campfire Dutch ovens are made of aluminum or cast iron. These ovens can perfectly bake breads, biscuits, pies, cakes and pizzas. Its containers can also be stacked for 5 or 6 high.

Stove Top Ovens

Stove top oven is flat on the bottom and has two handles. These are made of enameled or bare cast iron, ceramic or aluminum.

Regulating Temperature in a Dutch Oven

It could be quite challenging to regulate the temperature in Dutch ovens, more often with the camping ones. Here are a few tips and tricks to go about it more easily:

1. As a general rule, the oven must be maintained at a temperature of around three hundred fifty degrees Celsius.
2. In order to estimate the temperature, measure the size of oven in terms of inches. Then double the size to calculate the required number of briquettes.
3. Briquettes need to be placed in a circle, not less than half an inch from the oven's bottom.
4. Briquettes on the top of the oven must be placed in a checkerboard style.
5. Beware, that even while heating, briquettes can be further added, but once the food is burnt, it is burnt.

Special Tips

1. For Soups and stews

For stews & soups, on the top arrange one third of the briquettes and at the bottom two thirds.

2. For Breads, Cakes & Biscuits

In order to bake biscuits, breads and cakes keep two third of the briquettes on the top and one third on bottom.

3. For Meats & Casseroles

For casseroles and meats evenly split the briquettes on the top and bottom of the oven.

Tools used with Dutch Ovens

You would need varied tools while using Dutch ovens. These are as follows:

1. Wooden Spoons

While metal utensils could scratch the protective coating, plastic would melt away due to heat. So, wooden spoons are the best & probably the only choice.

2. Camp or Welders Gloves

It makes the work easier for the individual.

3. Charcoal Starters

These help you light up the fire easily as then you do not need lighter fluid - just a match and newspapers.

4. Long Handled Tongs

These enable you to move the briquettes rather safely and easily.

5. Lifters or Hooks

These make handling and lifting the lid easier.

6. Lid Stands

These are handy to be placed on lids while the individuals stir the food.

7. Whisk Broom

It keeps the ashes away from food.

8. Cooking Table

It allows the Dutch oven to be off the ground.

9. Dust Cover

It protects the Dutch ovens when they not in use.

Learn To Cook Italian Food On Vacation

Gone are the days when vacations were just about site seeing & relaxing. As times are changing, vacationers are now shifting to an interesting trend - Seeking Cooking classes for the Italian cuisines at mainland Italy. While this trend is also springing up in other parts of the world, Italy seems to be the hub.

Earlier tourists carried away souvenirs back home as a piece of memory, but now they preferable carry home a talent for life. Until today people were satisfied with enjoying the authentic Italian food within Italy to mark their vacations as special but now, they like to carry with them this fresh food back home.

Next time you plan your vacations, try it in a new modified style.

For this reach up to the front desk or concierge of the resort or hotel you are staying in and request them that you wish to learn some Italian cooking. Some times they would guide you towards the near by cooking classes.

In case you are lucky enough, you could fetch some sessions in your resort itself. Following the upcoming culture, several resorts & hotels in Italy now-a-days offer Italian cooking classes exclusively for their guests.

Do not feel surprised to know that the travel agencies also offer exclusive vacation packages that chiefly revolve around learning Italian cooking. In such cases you move around the country covering every key city and regions. In every place, you stop over to take the cooking lessons. Training is delivered from the ones who know it the best - rather than the American teachers or tour guides; it is the locals who teach the inquisitive tourists.

Interestingly, almost all resorts deliver such classes these days but do not advertise the same. This is because more oft they are conducted very professionally on a one to one basis. Hence, there is scope to accommodate very few learners. That required number of learners the resort gets quite easily simply with the word of mouth.

As we all know, almost all the resorts have their own world-class Italian food restaurants. Try complimenting a dish while having food. You would be glad to know that the resorts love to entertain their guests' curiosity by teaching them the recipe to cook the dish within their kitchen. Won't it be a 'wow' experience to learn cooking in a leading resort's kitchen!

Now, in case you have never tried entering the kitchen or so to say that you have absolutely no clue about cooking, do not get nervous. Because these classes are meant for all - cooks and 'non-cooks.' Next if you think that because you have never tried Italian cooking, it would be a tough job for you - think again! As these classes are structured in such a way that they are beneficial in all situations!

Also one must remember that the one on one format is the most flexible of learning. So, do not miss this rare opportunity and expand your knowledge. Learn how to cook Italian food from the actual Italian chefs and when you reach back home surprise your friends & family with your newly nurtured culinary skills.

The ones who are profound with the basics can opt for the advanced or intermediate levels. Though a majority of these classes are held for the beginners, this option is also not closed. 

More oft the chefs focus on simple yet classy dishes. At times some dishes seem to be very complicated but amazingly they are easier to be prepared. The understand that after all you are there to enjoy and just learn some dishes to impress your social circle, rather than stressing yourself too much. So they would pick out the most fancy and the simplest items to teach you, so that the learner doesn't get frustrated or looses his patience. They would always suggest you dishes with that 'wow' factor.

Alas, in your next vacation plan a trip to Italy and gather back a souvenir for life - a learning for life to taste yours and your family's taste buds.

Mardi Gras Cooking Cajun Style

Happiness is like a virus, you would never come to know when it gets spread and your smile is seen in some one else's eyes. The event of Mardi Gras is all about spreading that festive smile. While it is considered a special time span of the year down at Cajun Country, you can bring this festivity home quite easily.

Even if you do not reside in New Orleans, celebrating a festival only requires the right spirit. And in case of the Mardi Gras - the right ingredients. Yes, the essence of this celebration is the food, because Cajun cooking is known all across the world and this festival is all about touching the roots, the traditions and getting back some real Cajun cooking.

Now, to indeed spell the feel of Mardi Gras, plan a grand old meal fitting for King Rex. New Orleans city is known for their party moods and that's where you hit the jackpot. So, now note down the key ingredients - spices and rice.

Actually, people always have a hard time locating the real ingredients required for Cajun recipes. In case you meet a similar kind of problem, remember two key features of this style:

1. Cajun food is very spicy, so has quite many hot sauces in the meal.

2. It consists of a lot of rice.

The reason behind is the same - the social structure in those days. In the olden days when the society was primarily divided in to the main sections like very poor, average and the rich, the riches had the food that the poor ones couldn't even imagine. Those people used a lot of rice. Rice is indispensable in all sorts of dishes ranging from gumbo to red beans. The other variations depend upon the cost and culture. Creole is considered a rather richer choice.

In order to add some taste to this bland food, the poor in olden days used excess of spices. The modern day restaurants that serve Cajun food often tone down the spices to the colloquial tastes. Yet, till date expect the Cajun dishes to be a bit more heated up than the rest. The Cajun natives naturally then can handle the heat in the food quite well. For this they also have ample quantities of iced tea. The restaurants have iced flowing through the taps to help combat those tiny dishes when they get a bit too hot.

Some known Cajun favorites are listed below:

1. Po boys or Muffalettas

For those who want to go in for some lighter choices the sure names are po boys or muffalettas. Po boys are sandwiches that are some what deceiving in their appearance. These are anyways very filling meals. So as to prepare perfect po boys, one must look out for the perfect bread. Look for it anywhere outside Crescent City. This bread has some unique 'chewiness' that is a part of the real flavor of po boy. It cannot be imitated elsewhere. I've been all around the country and I'm sure of this fact.

2. French Fries

These continue be a part of the all time favorites for the Cajun countries.

3. Fried Sweet Potatoes

Down south, people like to fry almost everything. The recipe of fried sweet potatoes is pretty different and interesting. Its sweetness counteracts the spices of other Cajun favorites. 

4. Chicory Coffee

A perfect finish to the Cajun meal is chicory coffee. In case the local coffee shop does not solvethe purpose, try surfing through the website of Café du Monde. Just like its known about spices and rice, it is believed that chicory was blended in coffee and was often used as a replacement for coffee being its cheaper substitute. Though today one could go ahead with real coffee and amere hint of chicory, chicory is rather unique in flavor. For a large segment of people chicory is synonymous for the city all together.

These recipes can easily be located through internet within a click' time. So, all the best for planning your Mardi Gras cooking. Whether you are located in the New Orleans or elsewhere! 

Mother's Day Cooking Made Easy

Remember the last Mother's Day when Dad did the barbeque. It must have been fun. But then, at the end of the celebration your Mom smiled, thanked everybody and got busy cleaning the mess! Her special day went in veins doing all that extra cleaning job and adding to her toil!

Father's often love to put up the barbeque to help a day's meal; and Mom's, though they appreciate it, are made to do loads of extra work in place of the promised relaxation. Some families, who are smart enough to foresee the problem, move out to the nearby restaurant and waste hours together in waiting.

Gourmet cooking stores read through the problem and have come up with quite interesting solutions.

These stores allow guests to join in like a family and prepare the meals for their family using all fresh ingredients. They are given explicit instructions and are allowed close examination. Hence, you are able to prepare a nutritious & delicious meal for the family. You can carry it back home and freeze it. While serving, just heat it in the oven and serve it fresh and fragrant. It can also be packed in various sizes to suit one's individual needs. The dishes you can prepare enlist a good long variety, to name a few:

i. Coconut Shrimp

ii. Caribbean Pork Roast

iii. Pasta Dishes

This sort of arrangement calls for some prior planning, but once you are determined to do it, it shall certainly be a boon for the family during the special occasions. Such as the Mother's Day - it shall extremely lessen her cleaning job within no cooking utensils. Also while cooking she does not have to rush fetching things from all around the kitchen and gathering the ingredients.

Yet, if you want to become a hero still, after the gourmet cooked meal, try pitching in with all the family and clean up the mess after the meal. Let your Mom sit back and relax, and indeed enjoy the big day.

Gourmet cooking might not be as inexpensive. Still as compared to the six servings at your choicest restaurant (until & unless it's McDonald's) this would be far easier. Above all, it would give your mother a feel of your thoughtfulness, love and affection. Also, cooking at the gourmet store with your brother and father who are almost kitchen impaired could be great fun and collect some moments to remember for ever.

There are several gourmet cooking stores with varied names. Find one near your place. For this simply, punch in the keywords - Meal Preparation Centers - on the search engines on internet. And what next, plan a grand meal for all special family occasions like Father's Day, Mother's Day or other holidays or birthdays. These meals are surely a good idea for the nights when you want to just laze around and remain hassle-free.

Once A Month Cooking Recipes

Do you find it hard to scratch out time for kitchen along with work? Do you wish to have a magic wand to serve ready dinner as soon as you reach home? Does planning the meal daily give you goose bumps?

Well, in case you are nodding in affirmation to any of the above statements - your magic wand is - once a month cooking recipes.

These are recipes that you can cook just once a month. Further they can be frozen to preserve. In order to serve the same, just heat it in the oven. Impress your guests with home cooked meals, serve your children with good home dishes and pack the lunchbox or picnic baskets whenever needed within a few minutes.

The married couples where both the partners are working and the single parents rushing to their work schedule early morning always worry about how to serve wholesome nutritious food with home cooked dishes. Once a month cooking style is a real bliss for such officials. Get rid of the daily & weekly tensions to plan the preparations for dinner and scratch out extra time every night to cook a new dish.

Time savers and life savers, that is what such couples term the once a month preparations as.

Further, this method of cooking also manages your household budget well. Buying a bulk often fetches you good discounts. Also these purchases would be far more planned than the daily clumsiness; hence you would land up saving much more money than expected.

These recipes also add a lot of variety to your meals, as with the right planning you can prepare many enjoyable dishes and can have them any time at your own convenience and choice.

Now, are you ready to search for these life saving recipes? Then just move on to the World Wide Web or the internet and you shall come across some wonderful once a month preparations that too all free of cost!

Interestingly, there are many people who willingly share their ideas & experiences with the others to help make their lives easier and far more manageable.

For the ones who are kitchen impaired, this might sound tough, but it is surely not a concern once make a little effort to learn these recipes with some patience!

Secrets Of Outdoor Cooking Recipes

Outdoor cooking is an activity that can be taken up on all occasions. Family reunions, dinners, weekends, get togethers you name it and it just fits in! A romantic dinner with your spouse with a barbecue sounds just so nostalgic! All the food lovers love to do this activity with the family & friends and keep experimenting new recipes very time.

These simple and quick recipes turn out in great meals is handled with little care. The idea is to prepare good, economical, delicious and light weight meal within no time.

We all must have had hotdogs, hamburgers and chicken in the barbecues. Here are some new and fresh ideas to tickle your taste buds in the next barbecue session.

1. Grilling is the most popular way of cooking outdoors. Creatively grilling fish, chicken, lamb chops, steak and vegetables can make lovely meals.
2. The key is - season the grilled items well.
3. Plan easy and tasteful menu to serve to your guests. This would make your job simpler as the cook. And as is often said, the cook's mood always reflects in the food. 
4. Make use of the right cooking equipments like deep fry kits, cooking grills, & cast iron griddles in order to make your recipes more effective. This would also simplify your job of cooking. 
5. Among grilled dishes Souvlaki Mosharisio is a known beef dish. 
6. Souvlaki Hoirino is another cherished pork dish. 
7. Mixed Grilled Souvlaki contains lamb, chicken and pork. It is prepared with in a very short duration with the outdoor cooking grill. 
8. Among spicy and crispy choices, try beer-battered chicken strips, fried butter milk chicken, simple southern fried chicken, fried pork chops. These can easily be prepared with a deep frying kit. 
9. Outdoor cooking recipes also include pie iron and foil recipes. These are served with desserts, salads, soups and stews. 
10. The outdoor cooking recipes constitute all sorts of light and heavy meals. Baked potatoes & kebabs are often the hot choices. 
11. For the kids, the most incredible recipes are meatball sandwiches, hot sandwiches, peanut butter fudge sandwiches, and the list is endless. 
12. Good barbecue meals can indeed gift great casual evenings for all your friends & family. 
13. Test your creativity. Try innovative and new recipes to surprise your guests. 
14. Presentation of the food makes a lot of difference. So after cooking well, make sure to set the right mood and serve in an impressive manner.