Italian Cooking - The Joys Of Cooking Italian Dishes!

There are many people that enjoy cooking as a hobby and collecting new recipes for cooking techniques is a past-time for others; for these and other such gourmet lovers, there is a whole new world of continental cooking awaiting - with interesting, exciting and flavorful meal options, such as those contained in true Italian cooking!

Italian cooking has many varied styles, methods and aspects to the whole preparation process and presentation, fine dining etiquette, sharing with loved ones and friends is a big part of their food stories. So, as far as authentic Italian cooking is concerned, this must combine cultural and social elements besides the fresh, distinctly Italian seasonings and main ingredients with a love for cooking and sharing it as these people have even given to the world the Joy of Cooking!

Even Americans have adapted certain traditional Italian cooking recipes to suit their tastes, but keeping them as filling and wholesome as the authentic Italian dishes are prone to being; but those on home ground with Italian cooking will assert the differences between their style and that of Americans

Keen on learning true Italian cooking or desirous of picking up more tips from professional Italian chefs that can sharpen your skills? Then you can load up on information related to Italian cooking culture and traditions, including tips on selecting the right cookware and perfect vegetables, meats and making sauces to boost your knowledge.

Recipe books are a-plenty that deal with all these aspects of Italian cooking besides more handy hints to make your home cooking tasteful. Visiting an expert chef's blog on great Italian cooking is another place to get in-depth info on techniques, approaches and efforts on the style besides learning what not to do!

Italian cooking is so vast and varied a domain that many people are amazed to find there's more to it than simply the regular pastas; there are vegetable and meat salads and many varieties of healthy, wholesome soups too besides the famed sauces, pizzas and breads!

Some people mistake Italian cooking to be only the fattening variety, but this is not always true as this style of cooking can be readily made more nutritious and healthful by simply substituting or deleting the more fatty items, such as oil, high-fat dairy products like cream and cheese, with low-fat or no fat alternatives! This way you get the goodness of Italian cooking in your diet and necessary nutrition fro hair, skin, nails and bones by keeping only the essential oil and fat in the menu, but cutting off the excess! Hi-carbs like in Pastas are not bad by themselves, if taken in moderation.

Besides the above tips on finding resources for real Italian cooking, you can consider eating out at an authentic Italian bistro; the internet is a great search tool and will give you the top listings for local restaurants with Italian delicacies galore. Do check for customer feedback, the reputation of the business, items on the menu and its price list so you and your family or friends have a great time enjoying the ambience and the food with no worries!

Abhishek is a cooking enthusiast! Visit his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com and download his FREE Cooking Report "Master Chef Secrets" and learn some amazing Cooking tips and tricks for FREE! Learn how to create the perfect meal on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available! http://www.Cooking-Guru.com

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Want To Learn About Giada Italian Cooking? Look No Further!

We don't blame you if you feel you learn best by observing someone give a demo of the finest of gourmet classes because we believe too that watching experts toss up that complicated and tastefully decorated dish on a show can give you a visual high and better incentive to out-do them with your best efforts! If you like trying out new and interesting recipes, a great option for firing your gourmet instincts is to tune in to the Giada Italian cooking demos!

Giada Italian cooking demos on TV are shown on the Food Network on a daily basis and provide a unique educational and lively feature into the "Everyday Italian" menu that is chock-a-bloc with distinctly flavored Italian cuisine that is filled with the best of her cookery ideas!

If you want to learn more about this style of Italian cooking, the easiest way to get the information is to conduct an online search for all the answers to your query on quality Italian cooking besides getting to know about the new menu items that will be covered in future cooking shows. This may also be the best way to get news and views on dishes you may have missed!

Besides the above internet based search, you can locate more information about specific Italian cooking simply by clicking on the selected cooking menu article of the day and find yourself face to face with the missing link - of best Italian cooking ideas, that is! For those that have not been able to tune into the cookery show for a particular recipe, this is the best way to add to their Giada Italian cooking recipe collection as it allows for taking printable copies of the methods and ingredients used too!

Bringing a whole new world of classic continental cooking, the Giada Italian cooking show is the best platform for getting fine dining ideas and adding to your knowledge of recipes, how to make each taste unique even with similar ingredients and cook pasta just right - like the super Italian chefs. What the cookery books do not explain fully, Giada Italian cooking is sure to do - with easy demos and instructions!

Just to watch the cooking show is enough for many enthusiasts of Italian cooking to ignite the passion for whipping up a storm in their kitchens too as she is superb in her role of master-chef, besides being inspiration for turning professional, should you enjoy the experience of learning from her. Perhaps, with the regular attendance of watching the show, you learn the art well enough to teach others and end up signing a TV contract for a show of your own - who knows? There are endless possibilities for a creative cooking hobbyist out there, tuned into a great and educational show like Giada Italian cooking - along with the added fun of sharing the knowledge and dishes with loved ones!

Abhishek is a cooking enthusiast! Visit his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com and download his FREE Cooking Report "Master Chef Secrets" and learn some amazing Cooking tips and tricks for FREE! Learn how to create the perfect meal on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available! http://www.Cooking-Guru.com

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How To Cook Different Rices; From Indian To Italian Or Thai

There are many different sorts of rice; among them, the parboiled one that I do not recommend, regardless of the brand. Some people may like it but for me this is something other than rice. The taste is awful and it seems to never be cooked. To have good rice, use Indian, Thai or Asian rice; or any other rice that is not parboiled. Italian rice is very good as well. According to the rice you buy, you will need to use a specific cooking method; for example, Asian rice is not good for making risotto, Italian rice is not good for serving with Chinese cooking.

Boiled rice: The simplest way to cook rice.

Note: This is a very simple way to cook rice but not the best because the rice, boiled in a large quantity of water, is "washed" and most of the taste is lost in the water. Look below to see my recommended methods for cooking rice. The methods to cook the rice are different according to the sort of rice you are using.

1- Bring a big quantity of water to the boil. (8 to 10 times the volume of rice), together with 1 tbsp of salt for each 2 pints of water used.

2- Add the rice and bring back to the boil, on a high heat, stirring frequently.

3- Reduce the heat to a low to medium heat, to keep boiling until the rice is cooked. Stir occasionally to make sure the rice is not sticking to the pot.

4- When cooked, (about 15 minutes, maybe less according to the specific rice you are using), strain and serve immediately, plain or with butter or olive oil.

5- If you are not serving the rice immediately, cool the rice in cold water, strain and store until you are ready to serve it.

(The rice can be very easily reheated in a microwave oven. You can also use it to prepare fried rice)

Pilaff: An alternative way to cook rice (use Basmati rice for instance for this recipe)

This method is called riz Pilaff (or pilaw) in French cuisine.

1- Take an ovenproof dish, put on a medium heat with one tbsp of butter for 2 cups of rice.

2- Add some chopped onion and sweat* in butter.

3- Add the rice; stir it in to the butter with the onion, for one or two minutes, until the rice becomes translucent.

4- Add 11/2 the volume of water, together with some salt, pepper, and a whole garlic clove if you like, (this is optional).

5- Bring to the boil, cover with aluminium foil, put in the oven at 200°C (400° F), and cook for between 14 and 17 minutes, until done. It should be ready when all the water has been absorbed.

*When sweating the onions you can add a choice of whole spices (not ground). Sweat together with the onions, then add the rice and cook together. You will have to remove the spices when eating or before you serve the rice. This takes a little time, but the rice cooked in this way is really very delicious.

Risotto: To use Italian risotto rice it is better to cook it the risotto way.

Here is the basic way to do it.

1- Sweat chopped onions in some butter.

2- Add the rice, ("arborio", "vialone", "carnaroli"...; (about 3 ounces per person).

3- Stir until the rice becomes translucent.

4- Add dry white wine to the level of the rice. Cook until almost all the wine is evaporated.

5- According to the recipe you are preparing, (if your risotto will be made plain, with sea food, meat, vegetables etc.) add fish stock, vegetable or chicken broth; (for 12 oz of rice add about 1 pint of the stock, you will add more later).

6- Bring to the boil on a medium heat, stirring frequently. Add salt and pepper.

7- Keep cooking the rice, adding more liquid when necessary. (The quantity of liquid necessary to use in risotto is difficult to say as different rice brands will absorb more or less liquid.)

8- Immediately after the rice has absorbed the previous amount of liquid, add more liquid, and repeatedly add a little each time, allowing the rice to absorb little by little the liquid.

9- Repeat the process until the rice is cooked, stirring frequently.

10- When done, the risotto should be cooked but a little "al dente". It should be creamy as well.

11- To finish add grated parmesan and serve immediately.

12- To give more taste, add chopped garlic, cream during the cooking process.

Almost anything can be added in risotto, depending on personal choice; vegetables cut in cubes, sea food, chicken, meat cut in small pieces, cooked before or not, depending if it can be cooked in the risotto itself.

The basic Asian way of cooking rice:

To prepare the rice this way, you can use a rice cooker; this is a wonderful device. It will cook alone and keep the rice warm for hours.

If you do not have a rice cooker:

1- Put one volume of rice (Thai, Basmati etc.) in a pot.

2- Add 11/2 the volume of water, and stir.

3- Put on a medium to high heat.

4- Bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and boil on a low to medium heat until cooked.

5- Serve immediately.

(Make sure the water does not evaporate too much during the cooking. Do not stir the rice during the cooking).

Brown rice

Brown rice can be cooked in the same way as: "Boiled Rice: The simplest way to cook any rice"; except that the rice will need to be cooked for about 1 hour to be ready.

Drain and store like plain rice in the recipe above.

Jean-Louis Vosgien www.photos-and-recipes.com

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