Showing posts with label Italian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italian. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Cooking Italian Sausage - Sealing In The Juices For tasty Flavor

Italian sausage is made of pork and regularly contains anise or fennel. There must be less than 35% fat and more than 85% meat. It can be hot, sweet (which is often flavored with basil) or mild and is regularly grilled and enjoyed with vegetables. There is also kielbasa, which is white, and this comes raw and unsmoked. It is boiled or cooked and similar in flavor to the Italian variety.

Italian sausage needs to be kept in the refrigerator until you need it and then you should prick it a few times using a fork before cooking, else the sausages might explode in the heat. Cook them until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F to ensure they are safe to eat. This ingredient should be pink and fleshy without sliminess or odor.

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The best way to seal in the juices is to make sure the sausages do not cook for too long. They do have to be 160 degrees F inside but you can select from assorted cooking methods. Either cook them dry and fast or cook them gradually in liquid for the best results.

Different Cooking Methods

Grilling is a great way to cook this ingredient and you can put them in a pot with water, chicken bouillon granules, beer, and a bay leaf and bring the mixture to a simmer. Once the water starts to simmer replacement the sausages to the grill and cook them for a incorporate of minutes per side or until they are done.

If you want to bake them, you can cut them in half lengthwise when they are freezing (or when thawed but this is trickier), then pierce them and brown them on each side. Put them in a dish with marinara sauce and some grated mozzarella, then bake for twenty minutes at 375 degrees F or until they are cooked through. Sprinkle parsley over the top and serve.

You can braise Italian sausages in a crockpot too. Put a pound of halved links in a crockpot with quarter of a cup of sherry, a tablespoon of soy sauce, two cups of beer or water, a bay leaf and two cloves of garlic in your crockpot, then cook on high for two hours. Turn the heat down to low and cook them until they are done.

To braise them, saute them in an ovenproof pot or skillet, and then add a sliced fennel bulb, a sliced onion, and a bay leaf. Use half a cup each of chicken broth and red wine to deglaze the pot, then cover it and bake for half an hour at 375 degrees F or until the sausages are done.

If you prefer to fry your Italian sausages, prick them and cut them in half. Fry them in hot oil for about five minutes or until they are golden brown, then drain them on paper towels and serve with cheese, onions, bacon, and whatever else you like, on hoagie rolls or hot dog buns.

Cooking Italian Sausage - Sealing In The Juices For tasty Flavor

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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Giardiniera - Here Are the Five Unique Styles of Italian Style Giardiniera

Have you ever tasted giardiniera? This specialty Italian style condiment, pronounced "Jar-din-air-ah", adds a jolt of flavor to pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more. Let's take a look at the five separate styles of giardiniera...

What Is Giardiniera?

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If you have to ask, we can tell you're not from Chicago... Just kidding!

Let's get right down to it. Giardiniera is a condiment that is made to enhance the flavor of your beloved foods. There are a amount of recipes, but the main ingredients are the same for the most part.

The word "giardiniera" means "from the garden" in Italian. It's the excellent name, because all the ingredients do in fact come from the garden. In a typical jar, you'll find peppers (hot or mild), celery, green olives, carrots, and other vegetables chopped and packed with extra spices in shelf stable oil.

The uses for giardiniera are varied. It's excellent as an increasing to pasta, on top of a slice of pizza, or with Italian beef or meatball sandwiches. Sub sandwiches aren't faultless without a fork full of giardiniera. You can even use it with scrambled eggs for breakfast!

There are some varieties of this versatile condiment. Let's break it down for you...

Regular Style

Most giardiniera is common cut. That means the vegetables are chopped in chunks. If you look at a jar of regular style, you will be able to identify each of the vegetables. This style is most common. It is best used when baking it right into (or on top of) a dish, like lasagna or pizza.

Relish Style

The label says "relish style" but it also goes by finely chopped or minced. This style was invented by E. Formella and Sons in the early 1990's as an alternative condiment that would be neater to eat.

In essence, all the vegetables are finely chopped so the end stock looks like a relish... The kind you put on a hot dog. It is neater to eat than the regular style because you don't have to worry about olives, celery, or other vegetables rolling off your sandwich or slice of pizza. Relish style is best when added to your meal after it is completely prepared.

Hot Giardiniera

Now, on to the heat levels. The first is called hot, and it is the most popular. The heat comes entirely from the peppers, and not synthetic red pepper flakes that are used by some manufacturers.

The succeed is a low, smoldering heat that complements your food rather than overwhelming it. In general, a few spoon or fork fulls is sufficient to add a spicy kick to your meal. It is ideal for pizza or any kind of sandwich to add the true taste of Italy (or Chicago!).

Mild

Same great taste with no heat. It positively is that simple! All the ingredients are the same, except for the peppers. A mild style is used instead of a hot variety. We like the mild style in the morning, with scrambled eggs or folded into an omelet.

Extra Hot

We advanced this version to satisfy those who like it hot, hotter, hottest! The extra hot style is made with scotch bonnet peppers, one of the hottest peppers known to man. Try it if you dare!

Summary

So there you have it, the five styles of giardiniera. We should add that all the heat levels (hot, mild, extra hot) can be enjoyed in both the regular and relish style.

Enjoy giardiniera in whatever way your imagination allows. It's great for leftovers, pasta salads, and in any recipes that need a minute zip!

Giardiniera - Here Are the Five Unique Styles of Italian Style Giardiniera

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Saturday, August 13, 2011

Hot and Cold Italian Foods

When it comes to Italian foods, it is important to note that there are many forms of food that will grace a table. Some foods will be hot, while some will be cold. It is must be understood that regardless of the type of food that you try, it should not define and or forge your opinion on Italian food as a whole. There are just too many types of food to be enjoyed in the Italian culinary arsenal, and you would be hard pressed to try all that it has to offer in your lifetime.

From Cold Cuts To Baked Ziti

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It well does not matter what it is that you are enjoying in regards to Italian foods, as each and all that you try will most likely tickle your senses. One occasion you could be enjoying a great platter of cold cuts such a soppressata or mortadella, and the next you could be enjoying a remarkable baked ziti. Both have their merits and appeal, yet both are so opposite in the food spectrum. There is no request that you are going to enjoy both of these delightful entries in the entertaining world of Italian cuisine. Often you can find many items that are both hot and cold that can be combined or share space on the Italian supper table at the same time. This is nothing more than a delight for those that are going to dine, as it offers you much in the way of range and culinary experimentation.

Hot Pasta And Cold Pasta

Italian foods are not climatic characteristic specific, and this can be attested to by perhaps the most beloved of all Italian foods in pasta. While some may assume that pasta is something that is always served hot, this is not the case as there are some dishes old and new that revolve colse to the use of pasta that has been chilled prior to serving. Great pasta and even Greek salads are known to be served in the warmer months in the Mediterranean region, and this is a great way to dine in the early afternoon on the terrace of a café. Cool pasta tastes just as delightful as hot pasta, and the great thing about pasta is either it is served hot or cold the texture always remains the same. This makes pasta an ideal food to work with, and it is certain why it is a top choice for many chefs worldwide today.

Even Soups Have Variations

When it comes to Italian foods that are hot and cold, even soup has its own certain differences. Many soups in Italian culture have been made specifically hot or cold depending on the season. One of the most coarse and beloved cold soups in Italy is known as gazpacho, and this soup consists of some different finely chopped vegetables. All are mixed in a large pot and chilled for hours; the ensue is an well remarkable flavor and plainly refreshing texture.

Hot and Cold Italian Foods

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Porterhouse Italian Marinated Steaks

Campfire cooking recipes are not faultless without a great marinated porterhouse steak recipe. What could smell good than a concentrate of thick porterhouse steaks when you place them on hot coals with a dash of salt and pepper and roasted corn on the cob than an Italian marinated steak?

Depending on how hot your coals are you should all the time try to time your foods so all should get ended cooking at close to the same time so all stays hot and is at its peak flavor. Cast iron cooking can be fun in the open campfire and lets open fire cooking flavor your food with that great smokey flavor that every person thinks of when they think of campfire cooking recipes. It makes your mouth water waiting for the vegetables you could be cooking in the dutch oven like celery and carrots with come finely chopped onion and garlic with sliced carrots.

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Depending on how many people you have present to feed you should outline one large porterhouse steak per man but don't be surprised if a few end up splitting a porterhouse because they are big meaty cuts that are quite filling. To marinate your steaks it is best to whether seal them in a gallon zip lock bag with about a 1/2 Cup of Italian dressing each and coat each steak thoroughly or place the steaks in a large cake pan and pour the salad dressing over the steaks. Wait about 20 minutes and then turn the steaks over and make sure to coat both sides. Just before you place the porterhouse steaks on the hot coals wipe off any dripping Italian dressing. Grill on the first side for about 5-7 minutes being specific not to burn them over to hot a campfire.

What are good campfire cooking recipes without a side dish to accompany a mouth watering steak like an Italian grilled porterhouse steak? Try roasting some asparagus spears wrapped in strips of bacon. A tasty treat to beat a plain potato would be to try roasting a sweet potato instead. You need to start the sweet potato about 45 minutes before you start your steaks though and make sure you wash them, coat them with a dinky oil and pierce the skins with a fork to railroad the cooking time and to keep the skin from drying out. The roasted sweet taste of a sweet potato is not to be missed.

Never forget the tried and true campfire cooking recipes queen of the campfire, the smores nearby a fire at night. Who can resist the temptation of chocolate, marshmallow and that yummy cracker? Can you just smell the sweet smell of a smore in the air? Campfire cooking recipes are endless with so many foods to select from for ingredients.

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Porterhouse Italian Marinated Steaks

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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Had It With American Hot Dogs? Try Grilled Italian Sausage Instead!

Preparation:

Perfectly grilled Italian sausage starts with fresh Italian sausage purchased from your butcher or grocer or, if you're feeling ambitious, you could find some hot or sweet Italian sausage recipes and make some yourself!

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Juiciness and fat content can make cooking sausage a risky endeavor. Too many cooks hesitate to cook sausage after dangerous experiences with spatter, burns, and exploding. Some advocate par-boiling or pricking sausage before cooking to offset some of the risk but in my experience, releasing those juices often means sacrificing flavor. To hold flavor while reducing mess, steam (don't boil) your sausages for three minutes (you can steam with water, broth, beer or a combination; aromatics like onions, bay, or garlic are good too) or Just until they've begun to darken and firm up. In essence, they should sweat, not cook. After three minutes, take off and make three evenly spaced slits through the Casing Only; Do Not Cut through To The Sausage.

Cooking:

Place the lightly steamed sausages on a hot charcoal, gas, or indoor grill. Sausages should take about 7-8 minutes per side. When done, sausage will be firm to the touch and have an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Allow the sausage to rest before serving.

Serving:

Place your grilled Italian sausage inside your beloved bun or sandwich roll. Soft hoagie rolls or even hollowed-out French bread are good choices. Pick from a variety of toppings such as tangy stone-ground mustard, caramelized onions, crisp arugula, roasted garlic aioli, or zesty sun-dried tomato pesto.

Had It With American Hot Dogs? Try Grilled Italian Sausage Instead!

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