Tag: Italian

Italian Food on the Go

When most people think of having an Italian meal they think of sitting down at a restaurant and making a night of it. There really isn’t much of a fast option. For most people quick Italian food means throwing some pasta in a pot and opening a jar of Prego, or worse, throwing a frozen meal in the microwave. However, there is another way to experience fast Italian food and that is through Fazoli’s.

Fazoli’s is a fast Italian food chain in the United States. They are currently serving up Italian food in 400 locations throughout the United States. Now it should be noted that I am using the term Italian food very loosely here. This is a great choice for people who like traditional Americanized Italian food, but not such a good choice for Italian food connoisseurs looking for a fine meal. The Italian food served here includes such classics as spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, ravioli, pizza, subs, panini sandwiches, and salads. Many people like to catch one of these classic Italian food dishes through the drive through, but these people are missing part of what makes Fazoli’s so popular and that is the breadsticks. If you dine inside a Fazoli’s then you get unlimited free breadsticks. This is Fazoli’s trademark and has helped them become popular in the United States.

While Fazoli’s is certainly not an option for quality Italian food, it is a good option to fill a craving for Italian food without having to go out to a restaurant and take up a good part of your night. There are not many options today for fast Italian food and to many people the whole concept of Fazoli’s strikes them as odd at first. Fast food is generally seen as the domain of hamburgers and finger foods. For this reason Fazoli’s has not grown as fast or become as popular as other fast food chains. If Fazoli’s continues to grow and gain popularity then it may prompt others to start more quality fast Italian food chains. Fast food chains are expanding to include healthy menu items and more quality food for the money. So there may be more of a place for Fazoli’s as the country expands its views on fast food in general.

Fazoli’s is cheap Italian food and you really do get what you pay for. Right now the only other real option for fast Italian food is to prepare it yourself. For some people making Italian food themselves defeats the purpose of fast Italian food so Fazoli’s is a great option. With all the different innovations happening in contemporary Italian food it’s possible that in the future there may be multiple options for getting fast Italian food of a good quality. In fact, in Italy there are already fast food restaurants that serve good quality Italian food. But, like most things in the world of Italian food, we can expect for it to be awhile before these developments make it to this side of the ocean. Until then we’ll just have to make do with Fazoli’s and resort to conventional restaurants to get fine Italian food.

Cooking for One

It is often frustrating to attempt to plan meals that are designed for one. Despite this fact, we are seeing more and more recipe books and Internet websites that are dedicated to the act of cooking for one. Divorce and the death of spouses or grown children leaving for college are all reasons that someone accustomed to cooking for more than one would suddenly need to learn how to adjust all the cooking practices utilized before into a streamlined plan of cooking that is more efficient for one person creating less waste.

The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make cooking for one a challenge rather than a trial. Use this opportunity to try new and exciting cuisines. Perhaps one of the greatest things about cooking for one is the fact that it isn’t quite as expensive as cooking for two. This means that you have a little more money in the grocery budget with which to plan and prepare your meals.

One thing you may want to keep in mind however is that when cooking for one, if you prepare foods that are freezable. It may save more time (and in the end money) if you cook the full 2-4 servings that most recipes call for and freeze the leftovers in single serving portions for a later point in time. This leaves you with a freezer full of foods for those nights when the thought of cooking just seems beyond your capabilities. This also leaves you with doing the work once and enjoying the fruits of your efforts many times over. This is a great position to be in if you ask me.

We are finding more and more recipes and cookbooks that are designed around the concept of cooking for one. No matter what situation placed you in the position of cooking for one, there is no reason that you shouldn’t enjoy great food that is exciting and pleasant simply because you are dining alone. There is no harm in enjoying a fabulous meal with a glass of wine and great music whether you are cooking for one or one hundred.

Remember you are what you eat and if you relegate yourself to boring meals that lack excitement and spice that is what you will become. However if you decide to reach out and try new and exciting dishes with every meal you prepare when cooking for one, it will show in the way you embrace life in other areas as well. While we should not live to eat, we should also not limit ourselves to eating to live. Enjoy the foods you prepare whether the portions are large or small in size.

If you do not want to invest heavily in cookbooks that relate to cooking for one, it is quite possible that your local public library will have a few from which you can find some excellent recipes tips and resources. While you are there be sure to check out their selection of exotic food cookbooks in order to spice things up a bit. You never know what treasures you may discover on the shelves or your local library. You may even find local resources on classes that center on the idea of cooking for one. If the library proves to be a bust as far as resources go, the Internet is full of recipes, tips, and hints for those who are cooking for one.

PPPPP

575

Cappuccino Machine

A cappuccino is a wonderful Italian coffee based hot drink that is prepared with milk foam, espresso and hot milk. It is normally served in a porcelain cup; this is because these cups have a much better heat preservation compared to a normal mug or glass. The foam that stays on the top of the cappuccino works as an insulator to help preserve the heat of the drink, letting it stay hotter for much longer. It is not advised to drink this cold, it tastes completely different, the hotter the better!

There are many different kinds of cappuccino machines available for home use as well as use in a restaurant. If you are looking for one of these machines by a specific name, that’s also okay as they are listed in alphabetical order by the brand names. Although, all these machines are great, some may find it easier to work with the smaller ones, because it has less buttons and appears less confusing, where as others will prefer to use the big ones. As long as you know what you are doing, it does not matter what the size of the machine is.

For those that like to use the smaller cappuccino machines, this classic machine is excellent. It is a solid performer; with a thermo-block heating system that will prevent any water from escaping from the machine while it is being used. The pod sieve allows use of standard 45mm round espresso pods, with an 18 bar power pump, self-locking filter holder, 40oz removable water container with an automatic close valve and individual high-speed setting for hot water. This machine allows you to make a fresh hot cup of tea in just over thirty seconds.

There are two important facts that need to be remembered when using a dual frother as the metal cylinder only has two functions;

Frothing and steaming – when the metal sleeve is pointing downwards

The metal cylinder will stay locked in place on the tip of the black frother. The air and the hot steam are inserted straight into the milk; this is what makes the best cappuccino!

Steaming only – when the metal sleeve is pointing upwards

No air will be inserted into the milk, just the hot steam and this is what makes an ideal latte.

One of the slightly bigger ones is the semi-automatic machine. It is vigorously heated by circulating water that’s drawn off the boiler. It has a 1550 watt heating element, 2 liter boiler with a heat exchanger, 1/8″ thick boiler walls making it very safe to use, 1 gallon water reservoir, a hot water dispenser that gives you hot water almost instantly and a stainless steel easy-to-clean drip tray.

So, whether you own a restaurant and need new equipment or you are tired of having to go to a restaurant to get that great boost of cappuccino, there is one that will look great in any kitchen! There are so many different cappuccino machines to choose from, you’ll find one you just can’t get enough of!

Cake Decorating: Baby Shower Cakes And Frosting Recipes

Baby showers are usually a light hearted and fun way to congratulate the soon-to-be mom and give a gift to the baby. The cake should make a statement about the baby and what you wish for the family.

There are several different types of icing to use on this type of cake.

Quick Buttercream

1 pound sweet unsalted butter
1 pound icing fondant
1/2 tsp vanilla
Yields
2 pounds 3 cups

Use a flat beater or mixer to cream the butter. Add fondant gradually while beating.
Time – about 12 minutes

Cream Cheese Icing

10 oz of cream cheese
14 oz of icing fondant
7 ounces of shortening
Yields
2 pounds 3 cups

With a flat beater, beat cream cheese while adding icing fondant a little at a time.
Mix until smooth, add shortening, mix all together until smooth and light.
Time 10 to 12 minutes.

Remember that your cake decoration for a baby shower will be the centerpiece for the baby shower. There are plenty of places to get ideas for making wonderful baby shower cakes on the internet, or you may want to make up your own design. In any case you can use one of these great icing recipes.

Buttercream 1-2-3

3 Tblsp. Meringue Powder
1/2 cup water
3 cups of Icing Sugar
1 cup Sweet Butter
1 cup shortening
Vanilla to taste.
Yields
4 cups

Place water, meringue powder, and sugar in a bowl.
Beat with a beater until mixture makes peaks (7 to 10 minutes)
Add soft butter, shortening, and vanilla
Whip until fluffy and all lumps are gone

Flavoring your buttercream icing.

Amounts are based on flavoring one cup of icing.

Nougat
2 Tbsp Hazelnut paste (melt over low heat)

Mocha
1/2 tsp instant coffee dissolved in 1/2 tsp water.
2 Tbsp Semi-Sweet chocolate-melted

Cocoa and Oil
Mix 3 Tbsp cocoa powder and 2 Tbsp veg oil into a paste.

Lorran Oils- 10 to 12 drops

Vanilla- 8 drops

Lemon Flavor- 6 drops lemon oil and 2 Tbsp Lemon Butter

Of course, you can use these recipes on any cake decorating design. The baby shower cake is usually a smaller cake with whimsical or heartwarming decorations in a baby theme. In times past, the decorations for baby shower cakes were limited, now they can be found everywhere. Craft stores usually have a variety of ready-made cake decorations for your baby shower cake.

Whether you are a pro or a novice it is fun to do a baby shower cake decorating project. You can choose to buy the decorations, or make your own with icing. You can use your skills and imagination to make your baby shower cake outstanding. You will be elated when everyone compliments you on the beautiful baby shower cake.

Cooking for Little Ones

Cooking for toddlers and growing children presents some unique challenges along the way. While you want to provide them with those ever so important nutrients, it is often difficult to get them to eat those foods that are best for their growing bodies. We are all probably well aware of the food pyramid and the number of servings our children need of healthy grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and calcium products. Getting them to eat these nourishing products is another matter all together unfortunately.

The good news when cooking for children is that you do not necessarily need to incorporate all the important nutrients into dinner food. The truth of the matter is that raw cucumbers, which are thinly sliced and sprinkled with salt make a much healthier snack than potato chips and many little ones love this for a snack. You get a vegetable in their system and they are getting a treat at snack time. The same holds true for melon and cantaloupes. These make excellent snacks and are a much-needed fruit in these important diets for little ones.

When it comes to cooking for little ones, however man, woman, and child cannot live on macaroni and cheese alone. It’s been tried and tested and failed miserably. Try mixing things up whenever you can while keeping meals kid friendly. It is important that you try to introduce whole grains, proteins, and vegetables whenever possible at meal times around your home. The good news is that there are many prepackaged convenience foods that are introducing whole grains like never before in order to meet the growing demand of consumers for healthier meals that can be prepared with little fan fare or fuss.

Cooking healthier meals for kids is now easier than ever before. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best whenever possible. However, if you cannot manage fresh, you should avoid canned (fruits especially as they are often swimming in sugary sweetness) whenever possible. Frozen is far preferable to canned when it comes to both fruit and vegetables, as there are often fewer additives.

If you need some great meal ideas that are kid friendly and easy on the budget, you can often find recipes readily available online. You can meet your child’s calcium and dairy product needs by adding milk as the drink of choice for meals or a slice of cheese melted over their favorite vegetable. Ice cream, yogurt, and pudding also make excellent calcium rich treats, in moderation of course.

Encourage your children to try new things rather than cooking the same few meals over and over again that you know they are likely to eat. This prevents two things from happening. First of all, it helps you not to get bored when cooking for your children. Second, it allows your children to try new flavors and textures and form opinions about them. By trying new things they will learn not only about the things they dislike but also the foods they really enjoy.

You should also keep in mind that your children are people too when cooking for them. Just as you have foods you like and dislike they also will develop tastes over time. Those tastes may also change in time as well. It’s frustrating, I know, to spend time and money preparing a meal only to have your child push the plate away and refuse to even try the meal. For this, I recommend enlisting their help in the kitchen. Children are much more likely to eat the things they had a hand in preparing as a matter of accomplishment and pride. It’s psychological warfare I know but all is fair in war and dinnertime.

Perhaps the greatest gift you can give yourself (much greater than the help in the kitchen) by ‘forcing’ your little ones to help prepare dinner is that they will learn to better appreciate your culinary efforts and eat peacefully rather than sullenly. This tactic has met with great success in my household when cooking for little ones. I hope you will enjoy the same degree of success as well.

PPPPP

683