Italian Cooking

If you were to close your eyes and try to envision a quaint little Italian restaurant, you would probably have conjured up a dimly lit place, red and white checked tablecloths, a chianti bottle topped with a candle, and a shaker of parmesan cheese on the table. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. When visiting Italy, you will never find a red and white checked tablecloth in a restaurant. Nor will you find a shaker of pre-grated parmesan cheese. There are many misnomers about serving an authentic Italian meal and we hope to clarify a few for […]

Spring and summer are eagerly awaited seasons by Italian home cooks and professional chefs alike. There is something special about savoring the flavors of the herbs that they have both grown and harvested from their own gardens, or have found freshly picked at that special farmers market. Whether it’s basil, oregano, thyme, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, etc., each herb adds its own depth of flavor to a kitchen creation. Frequently found on the hillsides and in the pastures of Italy, wild herbs and greens grow in abundance in the spring and summer. Most are unique to each region, but rest […]

While it might appear to be a current trend, saving and using some of the water in which you have cooked your pasta is a traditional and authentic Italian cooking method. The gloriously salted water (remember the water should be as salty as the sea) along with the starch that has been absorbed by the water provides an excellent seasoned enhancement to whatever sauce you are preparing. The hot liquid provides body and flavor to your creation. If you find that your sauce base of vegetables and spices are sautéeing or browning too quickly, adding some of the pasta water […]

There is probably nothing more intimidating than trying to plan and execute a meal for guests. Well, maybe there is and that would be trying to cook an ethnic meal for people of that ethnicity. You want to get it right and hope you don’t insult. So what Italian food would you prepare for Italian guests coming to dinner? The thought of this may cause you to run screaming from the kitchen, but hold on. It’s really not as daunting as it seems. Several options lay before you. The first is to ditch the idea of serving Italian cuisine and […]

If you were asked to think back to your favorite food memory of an Italian dish, the chances are that you are thinking of one that consists of a large plate of pasta slathered in some type of tomato sauce and laden with cheeses. It may surprise you to know that the traditional, everyday Italian diet does not consist of such fare. Here are 5 simple tips for preparing authentic, healthy Italian cuisine: Use high quality olive oil instead of vegetable or canola oil. It is much healthier for you that using butter or margarine, and virgin and extra virgin […]