Giada is one of my favorite TV chefs. I have enjoyed her show for years and love her cookbooks.
She does a great job of showing everyone how to cook authentic Italian food in a way that is not too difficult or complicated for cooks of any level.
Her Everyday Italian is one of my favorite cookbooks. If you are looking for some easy dinner recipes for busy weeknight meals, this is a great cookbook for you. Italian food is a good choice for busy families because there are so many quick easy ways to prepare delicious Italian foods that even the kids will love.
She has a variety of cookbooks and my favorite Giada recipes are her pasta dishes and desserts.
If you have not had a look at one of her cookbooks, I would suggest you give one a try. It will be well worth the small investment!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Valentines Day For Italian Food Lovers
It's almost Valentine's Day and if you are at a loss for what to get your sweetheart for a gift, considering making something delicious from your kitchen.
If you like to cook, it may be quite easy for you to make a wonderful dinner and have a romantic evening. However, if you are not as comfortable in the kitchen you can still make a wonderful dessert that everyone loves - tiramisu.
Now there are many ways to make a traditional tiramisu and if you are really adventurous, you can make the ladyfingers from scratch as well. My tiramisu recipes includes the ladyfingers recipe as well. Tiramisu is a wonderful dessert and the perfect choice for a romantic evening, but if you are not as comfortable in the kitchen, I have a simple, semi-homemade tiramisu recipes that anyone can make. It's quick, easy and just about as delicious as the more complicated recipes. No matter what recipe you try, your sweetheart will appreciate the effort - and the great taste too!
If you like to cook, it may be quite easy for you to make a wonderful dinner and have a romantic evening. However, if you are not as comfortable in the kitchen you can still make a wonderful dessert that everyone loves - tiramisu.
Now there are many ways to make a traditional tiramisu and if you are really adventurous, you can make the ladyfingers from scratch as well. My tiramisu recipes includes the ladyfingers recipe as well. Tiramisu is a wonderful dessert and the perfect choice for a romantic evening, but if you are not as comfortable in the kitchen, I have a simple, semi-homemade tiramisu recipes that anyone can make. It's quick, easy and just about as delicious as the more complicated recipes. No matter what recipe you try, your sweetheart will appreciate the effort - and the great taste too!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Beat the Recession by Eating at Home
Everyone is tring to save money this year and eating at home is one of the easiest ways to cut your food costs. I know it may seem much quicker and easier to just grab some fast food, but you may be surprised at how easy and inexpensive home cooked meals can be.
Now with everyone's busy schedule, you need to find some time saving tips. I have prepared many meals after working all day and getting home at 6pm when I was tired and hungry. I know how tempting it can be to just swing by a fast food place on your way home, but you can prepare quick meals with a little planning ahead.
One of my favorite ways to save time is to precook and freeze things. This could be simple pasta sauces or complete meals like a lasagna. You can actually prepare a lasagne in a Pyrex® casserole and vacuum seal the whole thing in a large vaccum bag. When you use Pyrex® you can either bake it in a regular oven or microwave it for a faster meal.
You don't have to fill your freezer with TV dinners when you can make your own and freeze them. It taste so much better! Another think I love to do is keep my own frozen pizzas in the freezer. When you make pizza, make an extra one and freeze it for later. It is easy and taste better than those cheap frozen pizzas; and your own pizza doesn't have chemicals, preservatives and unhealthy toppings.
So while these are troubled times for many, you can make the best of it by making some of your own quick dinners and convenience foods right in your own kitchen!
Now with everyone's busy schedule, you need to find some time saving tips. I have prepared many meals after working all day and getting home at 6pm when I was tired and hungry. I know how tempting it can be to just swing by a fast food place on your way home, but you can prepare quick meals with a little planning ahead.
One of my favorite ways to save time is to precook and freeze things. This could be simple pasta sauces or complete meals like a lasagna. You can actually prepare a lasagne in a Pyrex® casserole and vacuum seal the whole thing in a large vaccum bag. When you use Pyrex® you can either bake it in a regular oven or microwave it for a faster meal.
You don't have to fill your freezer with TV dinners when you can make your own and freeze them. It taste so much better! Another think I love to do is keep my own frozen pizzas in the freezer. When you make pizza, make an extra one and freeze it for later. It is easy and taste better than those cheap frozen pizzas; and your own pizza doesn't have chemicals, preservatives and unhealthy toppings.
So while these are troubled times for many, you can make the best of it by making some of your own quick dinners and convenience foods right in your own kitchen!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Can Pasta be part of a Healthy Diet?
Pasta has gotten a bad rap lately as a fattening, simple carbohydrate. The mantra today from nutritionists and health gurus is "no white food". Well if you have a problem with digesting gluten, as in celiac disease, or just have a sensitivity to wheat, you may just have to avoid pasta. There are some pastas today made from rice; however, and they are available at many health food stores. I have tried these pastas and the flavor is not bad, but the texture is softer and stickier – just as you would expect from a noodle made from white rice. For those with serious problems with wheat, this may be a good option, yet most of us can eat pasta in moderation.
Another group who avoids pasta are the serious low-carb dieters. If your doctor has put you on a low-carb diet, by all means follow that advice. But for many people just looking to lose weight, there are some drawbacks to a strict low-carb diet. Carbs convert to glucose which is the fuel for your brain. This could be why many people who have tried to stick to very low-carb diets have suffered from low energy and bad moods. I know I would be in a bad mood if I never got to eat my favorite pastas!
Can you lose weight and still eat pasta?
Many people can if they watch their quantities and include some exercise in their day. Pasta itself in not really that fattening, however you do need to be careful about the sauces your choose. Nonetheless, pasta has been lumped into the group of a simple carbohydrates such as white flour pastries, cakes, cookies and breads. The problem with these carbohydrates is their high Glycemic index, which is basically a number that measures how quickly a food spikes your blood sugar level. Fortunately pasta has a GI of 41, which is lower than many types of bread and there are ways to lower it even further.
An easy way to lower the GI of pasta is to cook it "al dente" just as the Italians, and not overcooked and mushy as many Americans do. Another way to lower the GI and increase the nutrition of pasta is to use whole wheat flour and other ingredients such as spinach. This is the major advantage of making your own fresh pasta at home.
You don't need a fancy or expensive pasta machine, however, a nice inexpensive hand crank pasta machine is easy and fun to use.
Fresh pasta contains contain plenty of B vitamins, folic acid, fiber and iron. It's low in sodium and, despite a prevalent myth, pasta is not high in cholesterol even though it is usually made with eggs. You can add your fresh herbs, garlic and many other ingredients to flavor your for pasta. Try these easy homemade pasta recipes and start making your own delicious and nutritious pasta today!
Another group who avoids pasta are the serious low-carb dieters. If your doctor has put you on a low-carb diet, by all means follow that advice. But for many people just looking to lose weight, there are some drawbacks to a strict low-carb diet. Carbs convert to glucose which is the fuel for your brain. This could be why many people who have tried to stick to very low-carb diets have suffered from low energy and bad moods. I know I would be in a bad mood if I never got to eat my favorite pastas!
Can you lose weight and still eat pasta?
Many people can if they watch their quantities and include some exercise in their day. Pasta itself in not really that fattening, however you do need to be careful about the sauces your choose. Nonetheless, pasta has been lumped into the group of a simple carbohydrates such as white flour pastries, cakes, cookies and breads. The problem with these carbohydrates is their high Glycemic index, which is basically a number that measures how quickly a food spikes your blood sugar level. Fortunately pasta has a GI of 41, which is lower than many types of bread and there are ways to lower it even further.
An easy way to lower the GI of pasta is to cook it "al dente" just as the Italians, and not overcooked and mushy as many Americans do. Another way to lower the GI and increase the nutrition of pasta is to use whole wheat flour and other ingredients such as spinach. This is the major advantage of making your own fresh pasta at home.
You don't need a fancy or expensive pasta machine, however, a nice inexpensive hand crank pasta machine is easy and fun to use.
Fresh pasta contains contain plenty of B vitamins, folic acid, fiber and iron. It's low in sodium and, despite a prevalent myth, pasta is not high in cholesterol even though it is usually made with eggs. You can add your fresh herbs, garlic and many other ingredients to flavor your for pasta. Try these easy homemade pasta recipes and start making your own delicious and nutritious pasta today!
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