Italian Cooking Made Easy For Busy Families

In today’s busy world it’s getting more difficult for families to find the time to sit down at the dinner table together. There's homework to do, deadlines to meet, and often very little time to breathe let alone cook a big meal! Italian cuisine may be intimidating because some of the meals look very time consuming. But, don't despair. There are ways to fit even Italian cooking into your schedule - and actually many Italian recipes are quite simple. Although there is no way to add any extra hours to the day, there are ways to take the stress out of cooking a big meal. Let's take a look at ideas to make the preparation quick and easy for families on the go.

Find Simple Go-To Recipes

Cover of How to Cook Italian

There are a ton of three and four ingredient Italian recipes out there. These meals require little preparation and time but end up tasting like you spent hours in the kitchen. You don’t have to waste a lot of time figuring out what spices and seasonings to use, and you don't have to travel to a dozen different specialty stores to find the ingredients. Let the freshness of a few simple, high-quality ingredients speak for themselves.

The dish most of us call 'spaghetti' literally requires only spaghetti pasta and sauce. Nothing more. You can embellish the sauce as much as you like, and have time for. But a sauce made Italian style would be very simple; tomatoes, seasonings, onion, garlic, and meat if you like. It takes less time to prepare this dish then it would to drive to and wait in line at a fast food place.

For hot weather, enjoy a quick cold Italian pasta salad. Use a sturdy pasta, like penne, and mix it with Italian salad dressing and olive oil, then add other ingredients you have on hand. You can toss in cooked chicken, seafood, onion, celery, bell peppers, and olives, then sprinkle with oregano or basil and Parmesan cheese and dinner is done, all in a matter of minutes. Keep a few basic ingredients on hand at all times and you can put together a pasta salad any time.

Put Your Slow Cooker to Work

The slow cooker has been around for quite some time helping busy families survive the hectic dinner hour. You can turn just about any Italian meal into a slow cooked feast with very little preparation. And that bit of preparation will pay off, because coming home to a meal that is ready to enjoy just eases that stress away.
Thinking again of our simple recipes, the slow cooker is the perfect way to prepare a sauce for your spaghetti meal. Throw in your ingredients, and, as they say, “set it and forget it.” When you come home, cook your spaghetti and dinner is ready. For the Italian pasta salad, put chicken in the slow cooker in the morning, seasoned with oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary, and when you come home it will be ready to cut up and toss into your cooked pasta. You can even make a simplified chicken cacciatore in the slow cooker using fresh marinara sauce, mushrooms, onion, celery, and Italian seasonings.

Although the slow cooker isn't well suited to cook most pasta, there are some recipes that work, such as lasagne using the large noodles. But, even if you have to cook the pasta for a meal when you come home, it takes only a few minutes. Put the pot on to boil, drop in the pasta, and by the time you've sorted the school backpacks and signed a few permission slips, the pasta is ready. Putting your slow cooker to work making Italian meals will not only help you maintain your sanity, but will allow you time to spend with your family instead of fretting over what to serve for dinner.

Healthy Meals Made Fast & Easy

If it seems like eating healthy takes too much time, take another look at Italian cooking. You might be surprised at how healthy Italian cuisine actually is. When you picture a plate of lasagne or spaghetti, the word 'healthy' may not be the first thing you think. However, when you break down the elements of a good Italian recipe, you find the ingredients to be quite healthy.

Spaghetti all' arrabbiata (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With ingredients like tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, celery, bell peppers, artichokes, olive oil, fresh herbs, seafood, fish, chicken, and lean meats, it's easy to see how healthy Italian cooking can be. But, can this healthy cooking be easy, too? Yes. By following the tips we've discussed – finding simple recipes and putting the slow cooker to work – you can put together a few healthy ingredients fast and have dinner ready when you are.

Now you can skip the fast food racket. Although fast food may seem like the quick and easy fix when you're short on time, in the long run it’s unhealthy and expensive. Instead, stock up on whole grain pastas, fresh or frozen vegetables, olive oil, and plenty of herbs and seasonings. You'll be able to whip up healthy Italian meals in minutes with just a few basic recipes.

And don't forget to involve your whole family in the cooking process. After all, the idea behind cooking fast and easy Italian meals is so you have more time to spend with your family. What better way to do that than having a little help in the kitchen? And what better way to enjoy meals that are both healthy and delicious than learning how to cook Italian style? You will be able to give your family the nutrition they need without taking away the hearty, rich taste everybody loves about Italian cuisine.

Be sure to check back here later this week for some delicious and simple Italian recipes!

These Cookbooks Contain Lots of Easy Italian Recipes:
     

Recipe: Linguine With Fresh Tomatoes And Avocado Cream Sauce

This delicious dish combines fresh flavors of tomato and lemon with the creamy indulgence of heart-healthy avocados for a taste treat that will fill you up and leave you satisfied, without having to over-eat.

Linguine With Fresh Tomatoes And Avocado Cream Sauce
(Serves 3-4.)

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Instructions:
1 (8 oz) pkg uncooked pasta
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 avocados (must be very ripe)
1 lemon, zested and juiced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking water
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

Directions:

• Fill a large pot with salted water, bring to a boil, add pasta and cook until just al dente. Ladle out at least 1 cup of cooking water into a saucepan and keep warm, then drain the pasta through a colander, return pasta to pot, pour in olive oil, toss to coat, and cover to keep warm; set aside.
• Clean and pit the avocados, scooping the flesh into a food processor.
• Add the lemon zest, lemon peel, garlic, and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the food processor. 
• Process until smooth, then taste, add salt and pepper if needed, and pulse until blended well.Add more reserved pasta cooking water if the consistency is too thick, blending until smooth. You want a thick sauce consistency, not watery.
• Uncover the pot with the pasta in it, add the cut up tomatoes and the avocado sauce, toss to combine, taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.  You may also like a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a bit of heat.
• Serve warm in pasta bowls or plates.

Video - Authentic Spaghetti Puttanesca Recipe

Here is an excellent short video on how to make an authentic Italian dish - Spaghetti Puttanesca -a simple and marvelous dinner that can be ready in 20 minutes and impress any guest! I love this video - I wish the translator was a bit quieter so you could enjoy the Italian in the background, but it's quite wonderful nonetheless - makes you feel like you're in an old Italian kitchen somewhere in Venice or Rome....

Enjoy! (Or as my Italian grandfather used to say - "Mangia, mangia!")

Spaghetti puttanesca - Original Italian Recipe
An easy Italian recipe for a tasty first course simply made with tomato, anchovy, capers and olives: the spaghetti puttanesca. +++ Hi everyone and welcome to the GialloZafferano kitchen: today we'll be making the spaghetti puttanesca, literally "whor...



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Italian Cooking in American Kitchens Today

Most of us have found some sort of Italian cuisine that has become a favorite for our families and ourselves. Unfortunately, far too many of us discount the possibility of bringing Italian cooking into our very own kitchens for fear that many of the recipes are far too difficult. The truth is that learning to cook Italian food just might make your home the favorite drop-in dining spot for friends and family alike!

Image via WikipediaBelieve it or not, most great Italian recipes have an easier version that can be made with very similar effects when it comes to flavor and aroma. Also, despite the commercials of old, all Italian cooking does not require an entire day of simmering in order to achieve great flavor. (Though you don't have to let your friends and family in on that little secret!) Be a martyr for flavor and they will love you even more.

The biggest challenge that most Americans face when it comes to ethnic cooking is basically learning a new set of essential ingredients. However, most ingredients used in Italian cooking are pretty easy to find in American stores nowadays. The cheese, meats, or grains that are used in their creation most often identify or define Italian cuisine. It's the combination of these primary ingredients that create some of the most distinctive flavors on earth. Learn about these ingredients. Identify the flavors and study the combinations of flavors and you should be able to not only follow many great Italian recipes but also to invent a few of your very own Italian inspired recipes!

The greatest thing when it comes to cooking Italian food is that most of these dishes are pretty hard to mess up. This of course does not mean that it cannot be done, only that it isn't as simple as with some of the more complex and delicate cuisines from other cultures. Italian food is durable and flavorful but for the most part not too terribly delicate when it comes to flavor. You can go a little heavy with some spice or cheese without completely ruining the dish in most instances. If you are anything like me, this is a regular occurrence when cooking and one of the reasons I enjoy cooking Italian food so much. :-)

Image via WikipediaWhether you are a beginner when it comes to the culinary arts or a seasoned pro there is something that will provide the appropriate challenge for you when it comes to Italian cooking. Take a look around - there are recipes in abundance across the Internet, at your local library, in specialty cook books, and even in your favorite blockbuster best selling novels. (And of course be sure to check our blog frequently for new tasty recipe ideas!)

Another thing you should keep in mind when cooking Italian food is that nothing seems to bring out the flavor of Italian food better than a good bottle of wine to match. Perhaps this is the reason that it is difficult to ruin an Italian meal, no matter how bad it is, the good wine paired with it will make up for minor mistakes! You will want to spend a little time researching and studying the science (though some will argue that this is truly an art form) that goes along with pairing a good bottle of wine with the right flavor combination when it comes to Italian cooking. Once you've mastered this, there is nothing to prevent you from being the diva of all things Italian when it comes to food preparation.

The most important thing for you to remember when cooking Italian food is not to take it too seriously. Good Italians know that the enjoyment of preparing the meal is an important piece of the process! Make your meal an event with plenty of time for pleasant conversation and enjoyment of your company in between courses. And remember - you should also never rush a good Italian meal or you will find that all your efforts of cooking Italian food will be for naught as the true pleasure of Italian cuisine has been lost somewhere in translation.

Great Italian Cooking Starts Here:
   

Italian Food: The History of Pizza

Since we were just talking bruschetta, I thought this might be a good time to expound upon another dearly loved Italian favorite.... Pizza!

Image via WikipediaItalian food is unique amongst world cuisines in that it has birthed not one, but two international sensations.  Of course I'm talking about pasta and pizza.  Pizza is one of the most widely eaten foods today.  While most people think of pizza in America as Italian food, it really is not like the pizza of authentic Italian food (having been to Italy more than once, I can definitely confirm this personally!).  It is said that with one taste of pizza made in the style of authentic Italian food, you will never go back to the Americanized version (I know I certainly had a hard time of it).  Even when eating at good Italian restaurants in the US, it is hard to capture the distinguished taste of true Italian pizza. 

Pizza is one Italian food that has been around in one form or another for centuries.  It has a long history in the Mediterranean where it began as a seasoned flatbread that was used more as an edible plate to hold other food, rather than as a food by itself.  However, these earlier pizzas established a name for Italian food very early on and were eaten in Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Babylon and were emphatically praised by many historians of the day.

Image via WikipediaIt was in the Middle Ages that pizza began to take a form that would be more familiar to Italian food lovers today.  Pizza started out being just a dough topped with herbs and olive oil.  Once mozzarella cheese began to be produced from Indian Water Buffalo it quickly became a signature aspect of pizza.  Today at any true Italian food eatery this fresh mozzarella di buffalo is nonnegotiable.  The dried shredded mozzarella that is often associated with Italian food would actually never be used on a pizza made by a true Italian food chef. 

It wouldn't be until the tomato became popular in Italian food in the 18th century that we would see modern pizza.  During this time pizza began to take an even more prominent role in Italian food.  In Naples pizza was sold on the streets for every meal.  This once peasant food was quickly taking hold of all of society, including the upper class.  In fact, by 1830 the first ever pizzeria was opened in Naples.  Ever since this time pizzerias have been found all over the world converting people to the love of Italian food. 

Image via WikipediaTraditional Italian pizza is cooked in a wood fired oven.  The reason American pizza is often not thought of as a true Italian food is because the large restaurant chains that specialize in pizza do not cook it in a wood-fired oven.  Pizzas featured in Italian food restaurants should use only the freshest ingredients.  In Italy pizzas change with the seasons as new ingredients become available.  The great thing about pizza that has made it so popular is the fact that it can be topped with a vast array of toppings.  Each region of Italy has its own particular style of pizza that they specialize in, making use of the ingredients most readily available to them.

So for real Italian food pizza it is necessary to step out of the confining ideas of just a few types of pizza and open your mind to the different possibilities.  Italian food is full of variety and you could literally spend a year in Italy just trying all the different styles of pizza that made Italian food so universally popular. (I would definitely enjoy that vacation!)  :-)    

Related articles on Pizza:

• How to Prepare an Authentic Italian Pizza (csahm.com)
• Pleasure Diet: My go-to meal at an Italian restaurant (self.com)
• Queen Margherita, Meet My Family. (katefromscratch.wordpress.com)

Making Pizza From Scratch:
 

Tiramisu - The Classic Italian Dessert

I could literally spend a month blogging just about Italian food, but I want to cover other cuisines as well, so I'll move on....for now....  :-)

But a discussion of Italian food would not be complete without dessert! Here is some info on the most classic and favorite of Italian desserts, as well as a video and recipe.

Image via WikipediaToday Tiramisu is the most popular of Italian food desserts.  It graces the menu of nearly every Italian food restaurant.  However, its rise to fame has been meteoric; it wasn't even invented until the 1970's in the Veneto region of Italy.  It didn't even gain widespread popularity until the early 1990's.  It is a unique blend of ingredients that separately seem to not go together at all.  However, when correctly blended together they form one of the treasures of Italian food.

Image via WikipediaThe first ingredient is Mascarpone cheese.  This cheese has very deep roots in Italian food.  It was made as far back as the 13th century in the region of Lombardy.  This cheese is concentrated milk cream and has a very high fat content, getting up to seventy-five percent.  It is a smooth and creamy cheese.  Traditionally it has been considered to be more of a winter dish and therefore shows up in more of the seasonal Italian food dishes.  This is mainly because of its high calories and the fact that when it was first produced there was no refrigeration and this delicate cheese does not keep well in hot temperatures.  Like many other Italian foods, the best Mascarpone cheese comes directly from Italy.  However, it you're an Italian food lover making Tiramisu at home, there are plenty of makers of Mascarpone cheese in America.

The next ingredient is Zabaglione cream.  This is a true classic Italian dessert.  It hails from the world renowned kitchens of Venice.  When it originally became a popular Italian food dessert it was made with yolks, honey, and a sweet Cyprus wine.  However, today the cream has taken on a new flavor.  To begin with sugar is substituted for the original honey.  The most stated difference in taste though, comes from the use of Marsala wine instead of the sweet Cyprus wine.  This cream can be made from home and is easier to make than most Italian food chefs let on.

The third ingredient is the most distinctive factor of Tiramisu, espresso.  This shot of caffeine is where the dessert gets its name, which means "pick me up".  This is a coffee that is true to Italian food and is much stronger than American coffee.  Espresso is the most important coffee in Italian food and can be seen following many Italian meals. 

The fourth and final ingredient is Ladyfingers.  These popular cookies originated in Italy and have made numerous appearances in not only Italian food, but in many other national cuisines.  These cookies are remarkably light due to the fact that the dough with which they are made is rich with whipped egg white.  They are immensely popular and one of the most appreciated Italian food desserts in Italy.

These four ingredients blended together just right and topped off with chocolate make an Italian food dessert that is as popular as the individual ingredients.  Make sure when you prepare this at home that you take great care in choosing the ingredients, it will really make a difference in the quality of Tiramisu.

Here is a short video showing how easy it can be to make your own Tiramisu (don't be scared - instructions are also given in English):

Tiramisù, Italian original recipe
Tiramisù Recipe. The world's most famous Italian recipe. Recipe, photos and instructions in Italian ricette.giallozafferano.it . Other recipes www.giallozafferano.it

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Keeping Italian Food Healthy

It seems recently that among health circles Italian food has gotten a bad rep.  With the advent of Atkins many former Italian food fans have steered clear of the cuisine because of all the pasta that is used.  However, this idea that pasta will make you fat is largely unfounded.  A diet of Italian food, especially from the Mediterranean, is actually very healthy and will keep you looking and feeling great as long as you know what Italian food to eat and how to prepare it.

Image via WikipediaA great example of the fact that Italian food will not make you fat is in Sophia Loren.  She told the world in her book that she grew up on spaghetti and ate it constantly.  She says that it is not the pasta that makes you fat; it's what you put on top of it.  People who gain weight eating Italian food typically do so not because of the pasta, but because of creamy sauces like Alfredo sauce and because they eat too large portions (a common issue in American today, no matter what type of food you're talking about).  Italian food from the Mediterranean doesn't rely on rich, thick sauces and uses olive oil instead of butter, making it very healthy.

It all starts with the ingredients you use.  For good, healthy Italian food you want to make sure you stock the kitchen with quality pasta, olive oil, garlic, onions, lean meat, fish, and seafood.  For seasoning you will want some herbs like basil, oregano, and parsley.  You'll want to stay away from a lot of cheese and perhaps only get a little parmesan cheese to top your favorite Italian food dishes.  The creamy and cheesy Italian food dishes are the ones you're going to want to stay away from to keep a healthy diet. 

There are lots of different light Italian food meals that you can prepare with these simple ingredients.  Here is one to start you off, an Italian food classic -- pasta with tomato sauce (this is a vegetarian version).  You can use any type of pasta you want and you might want to try livening it up with a new shape, or try fresh instead of dried.  Italian food is not just spaghetti noodles.

Boil the pasta in water with a dash of salt.  Make sure not to overcook the pasta.  You want it to be firm, yet tender.  The most common mistake made in making Italian food is making mushy pasta.  For the sauce simply chop up some garlic, an onion, and some tomatoes (you can try other additions if you like - mushrooms, eggplant, or celery are some other interesting ideas which add their own depth of flavor).

Image via WikipediaTake a tablespoon of your quality olive oil and sauté both the garlic and onions (and other veggies, if using) until they are soft.  Once that is done add the tomatoes and cook until all the ingredients are blended together well.  To top it off add your favorite herbs such as parsley, oregano, or basil.  Try different combinations of herbs, there is no definitive herbs for Italian food so experiment and give your sauce your own signature flavor.

Serve this sauce over your hot pasta and if you want put a little sprinkle of parmesan on it.  This is a simple Italian dish that stands on its own and you won't need to eat bread or anything else with it, but you may add a green salad for a complete and healthy dinner. This is a great example of how healthy Italian food is supposed to be, light and fresh, and easy to prepare. 

Feel free to try different variations on this recipe.  Italian food is full of a variety of pastas and recipes that can keep you satisfied and healthy as long as you stay away from the heavy sauces and creams. (Though there's nothing wrong with indulging in one once in a while, as long as you don't overdo it!) 

(For some more great Italian recipes, see cookbooks below.)


   

Italian Cooking - Types of Pasta

For those who love Italian food, like me, pasta is practically a way of life! Having been to Italy (more than once), and being of Italian heritage myself, there is little I love more than a good pasta bowl! Here is some info on pasta for those wanting to know a bit more about this yummy meal option.

Image via WikipediaThere are two main categories of pasta used in Italian food: dried pasta and fresh pasta.  Right now there are over 350 different shapes and varieties of dried pasta available for use in Italian cooking.  Some varieties are common and others are specific to a certain regional area.  The shapes used can range from the classic tubes and strands to butterflies or bowties and even unique shapes such as tennis rackets.  Italian food is taken very seriously in Italy and by law all dried pasta is required to be made with pure durum semolina flour and water.  This standard is adhered to by most pasta makers all over the world and only this type of dried pasta is used in good quality Italian food. 

One reason that Italian food in Italy tastes different than the Americanized Italian food is because pasta makers in Italy take more care in making quality pasta.  Dried pasta is meant to hold onto the sauce with which it is being served.  After all, Italian food wouldn't be Italian without the sauce.  The pasta is made with ridges or into complex shapes in order to grab onto the sauce.  These ridges are formed during a process known as extrusion.  This is the step in pasta making where the pasta is forced out of a copper mold and then cut into the desired length before being dried.  The copper molds are the key.  They are expensive and likely to wear, but they make the best pasta.  Unfortunately, most of the pasta used in American Italian food is made with steel molds that make the pasta too slick to hold onto the sauce.  However, more and more pasta makers outside of Italy are beginning to use the copper molds in an effort to make better quality Italian food.  The drying process also greatly affects the quality of the pasta and the resulting dish.

Pasta should be dried for a specific amount of time at a specific temperature depending on the variety.  Pasta made in Italy is allowed to dry for long periods of time - up to fifty hours, and at relatively low temperatures.  Companies outside of Italy typically dry their pasta at high temperatures in order to get it dried quicker.  This method comes at a price and diminishes the quality of the pasta.

Image via WikipediaThe other form of pasta used in Italian food is fresh pasta.  All pasta actually starts out as fresh pasta but certain pasta recipes require that the pasta be eaten fresh and soft, not dried.  Fresh pasta is often made with slightly different ingredients than dried pasta.  In the northern parts of Italy fresh pasta is most often made with all-purpose flour and eggs.  However, the southern parts of Italy make their fresh pasta with semolina and water.  It should be noted that different recipes can call for different variations.  These different recipes give a distinct flavor to the Italian food of different regions.  Some types of pasta are meant just to be eaten fresh, while others are meant to be dried.  There are also some types of pasta that can be eaten either fresh or dried, depending on what Italian food dish is being prepared.

When a variation of pasta can be either dried or fresh it is sometimes argued that the fresh style is best.  Making fresh pasta is a point of pride for many Italian households and is reflected in the quality of the Italian food that they prepare.