February 23rd, 2010 by admin
By Lidia Matticchio Bastianich,
Author of Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy: A Feast of 175 Regional Recipes
There is a natural affinity between pasta and cheese, but they can’t be paired indiscriminately. In Italy, cheese is used with pasta very selectively, judiciously, and with proper timing.
Pasta does not always require cheese. In Italy, cheese is never served with seafood pasta, and it is sometimes omitted when serving game sauces or sauces containing hot pepper.
Cheese should be added to pasta as soon as the pasta is cooked and ready to serve — if extended heat is applied to cheese, the proteins will separate from the fat and you may end up with stringy cheese and oily pasta. To add a classic final touch you can grate or shave cheese over plated pasta.
The three cheeses that are most often used to dress pasta in Italy are Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, and Grana Padano. Each cheese has its own characteristics and its own uses. Read the rest of this entry »
November 28th, 2008 by admin
By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
www.FreshBaby.com
Is it your turn to host Thanksgiving this year? Lucky You! The holiday season can be stressful enough without the extra added pressure of making one of the “big” holiday meals for 15 of your closest relatives or friends. We wish we could give you an “Easy” button for your holiday meals, but the best we can do is offer you a few terrific tips that will help you get through it smoothly! Read the rest of this entry »
July 5th, 2008 by admin
By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
www.FreshBaby.com
Blueberries are available in many forms: fresh, frozen, juice, puree, concentrate and dried. Fresh blueberries should be firm, dry, plump and smooth-skinned. Ripe berries are deep purple blue to blue-black. Stay away from containers of berries with juice stains, or that contain moldy, soft, watery or wrinkled fruit. Read the rest of this entry »
April 13th, 2008 by admin
More parents are turning to making their own fresh, homemade baby food for many reasons: promoting eating organically, providing a broader variety of food choices, controlling what your baby eats, meeting special dietary requirements and needing more healthy options. Plus, parents take pride in preparing the food themselves. The experts at Ball have some easy tips on how to make and store your own baby food using the freshest and highest quality ingredients for your child. Read the rest of this entry »
