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Italian
Cooking Lesson
We are having an Italian cooking
lesson for this world studies session. Italians have some of the most
famous recipes that people around the world try to duplicate. Whether
it is a complex recipe or a simple lasagna, Italian recipes are sure to
please.
Common ingredients for Italian recipes are
Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, basil, pesto, roasted
pepper or fresh pasta. As a matter of fact pasta was invented here as
well as pizza.
Italian
Cooking Lesson:
Facts about Italy
Mealtime is family time for Italians. They
gather together
as a family, local stores close
for several hours and many children go home from school for lunch.
Italy is a rather small country about the size of
Arizona,
USA.
Italy is shaped like a boot.
Italy is also
Known for
Several Famous Things Besides Great Food:
Art, ever heard of Michelangelo's Sistine chapel
in Rome. He
painted the roof of the chapel for four years.
Leaning tower of Pisa
Bocce ball originated in Italy
Famous cities such as Rome, Florence, Milan
Learn a Little
Language
with Your Italian Cooking Lesson
Buon Giorno! (bwon zhor-no) - Hello or Good Day
ArrivederLa (ah-ree-vuh-dehr-lah) -Goodbye
Ho fame (oh fah-meh)-I'm hungry.
Italian
Cooking Lesson
with International Recipes
Italian
Frittata
Frittata is an Italian word for omelet.
8 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese or Romano cheese
1/2 teaspoon
dried basil
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/4 cup diced fully
cooked ham or prosciutto
small zucchini, sliced or cubed
2 medium green onions, sliced
2 Roma (plum)tomatoes, sliced
1 teaspoon olive oil
In large skillet or pie plate add 1
teaspoon olive oil. Spread around to coat bottom and edges. In mixing
bowl beat together eggs, salt, pepper, cheese, basil, and sage. Stir in
chopped ham, zucchini, and onions. Pour egg mixture into skillet and
bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until the frittata is set. Top
with sliced tomatoes and more Parmesan cheese.
Tomato
Bruschetta
In this Italian cooking lesson it is important to know that Italian
bruschetta and Italian Crostini are similar but Bruschetta is grilled
or toasted bread rubbed with garlic and oil. Olive oil is the key
ingredient in Bruschetta. Crostini is also slices of thin bread but
they are usually served with cheese or tapenade (olive paste).
1 Loaf Italian bread cut diagonally in slices
1 Garlic clove; minced
2 Tablespoon Olive oil
2 Large Tomatoes; peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
1/2 Cup Chopped fresh basil
On a cookie sheet place sliced bread. Broil several minutes until
golden brown. Meanwhile stir garlic and olive oil together. Brush each
bread slice with garlic oil. Spread chopped tomatoes on top of each
bread and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Warm in the oven. Sprinkle
with chopped fresh basil and serve. This could be the start of a
Italian cooking lesson as it is an easy Italian cooking recipe.
Vegetable Lasagna
Lasagna noodles, uncooked
small bunch of broccoli flowerets,
cut in small pieces
2 carrots, shredded
4 cups spaghetti sauce or large jar
2 Green or red bell
peppers, chopped
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
15 oz or 2 cups cottage or ricotta
cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons
dried parsley
2 large eggs
1 cup mozzarella cheese,
for the top
Saute garlic in olive oil and add carrots,
broccoli, bell peppers and spaghetti sauce. Let simmer about 8-10
minutes until vegetables are tender. In separate bowl mix cottage
cheese, Parmesan, parsley, mozzarella cheese (save some for sprinkling
on the top) and eggs. Spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of a 8x11
or 13x9 pan. Lay lasagna noodles on bottom of pan. Spread cottage
cheese mixture over top of noodles. Spread more sauce on top of
noodles. Continue layering in pan until the pan is full. Sprinkle
mozzarella cheese on top and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or
until noodles are tender. If you have a family favorite lasagna recipe
try it for a Italian cooking lesson.
Homemade Pasta Dough
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 Tablespoon water
In a
mixer add flour and salt. Add in one egg at a time and continue beating
after each addition. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Continue mixing. Add 3
tablespoons of water and mix until a ball forms. Place dough ball on a
floured surface and knead dough about 5 minutes until very soft. Wrap
in plastic wrap and let sit for 20 minutes. When ready roll dough out
on a floured surface. Shape dough into desired shapes or sizes. For
example cut small triangles or squares for soups or cut small
rectangles and squeeze together in the middle for bowtie shapes. Cook
pasta in salted boiling water until tender. Top this Italian cooking
lesson off with the homemade Italian tomato sauce recipe below.
Eggplant Parmigiana
2 Eggplants, sliced
2 Eggs
1-1/2 Cup Bread crumbs
1/8 Teaspoon Pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 Cup Olive oil
Large can of Tomatoes
1/3 Cup Tomato paste
2 Tablespoon Minced basil
1 Teaspoon Salt
1/8 Teaspoon Pepper
1 Cup Grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 Pound Mozzarella cheese; thinly sliced
In a flat baking dish or pie plate place 2 beaten eggs. In another dish
add bread crumbs and pepper. Dip eggplant slices in egg then in bread
crumbs. Lay on a casserole dish or cookie sheet and chill for 20
minutes. Meanwhile in a skillet, saute garlic in 2 tablespoons oil.
Take garlic out of pan with a slotted spoon (leaving the oil). Add
tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 20-30
minutes.
In a large skillet add remaining oil. Fry eggplant slices in oil until
browned on each side. Drain on paper towel. In a baking dish cover a
layer of tomato sauce on the bottom. Top with a layer of eggplant
slices, Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Continue layering in the pan.
Top with mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
This is one of my favorite videos from 83-year
old Victoria Squillante
sharing her recipe for Eggplant Frittata. Imagine she's giving you a
one on one Italian cooking lesson.
Gnocchi
2 pounds Baking potatoes, washed and cut
1 cup All-purpose flour
1 Whole egg
1 Egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon Salt
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta sauce or Tomato sauce
Wash and cut potatoes into quarters. Boil potatoes then push through a
potato ricer or blender. Blend in flour, 1 egg and 1 egg yolk. Add soft
butter and 1 teaspoon salt. The potatoes will resemble a dough at this
point. On a floured surface knead gently. Roll in thick ropes. Cut each
rope into ¾ inch-1 inch pieces. Pour water into a large pot and add
salt. Bring to a boil. Place gnocchi pieces into boiling water. When
gnocchi rise to the top take them out with a slotted spoon. Sprinkle
with Parmesan cheese and serve with pasta sauce. Serve immediately.
Risotto with
Parmaginao cheese
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, grated
1 pound short grain white rice
6 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
3 ounces Parmagiano Reggiano cheese, coarsely grated
In large saucepan add butter and olive oil. Allow to heat and melt
butter. Add grated onion and saute several minutes until onion is
transparent. Add in rice and stir until all rice is evenly coated and
glassy looking. Add chicken broth and turn stove to medium-low. Let
simmer covered for about 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally. When rise
is tender stir in butter and cheese. Serve immediately.
Italian Biscotti
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup almonds chopped
1/4 teaspoon
baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
dash of
lemon or orange zest
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon
almond extract
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl including flour, baking soda, salt
and nuts. Set aside. In mixing bowl beat together eggs, sugar, butter,
zest, vanilla and almond extract. Slowly stir in flour mixture. Blend
together. Place dough on a floured surface and divide in two. Shape
dough into a long loaf. Lay both loaves on a greased cookie sheet. Bake
in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until firm and lightly golden
brown.
Cut loaves diagonally into slices. Place on cookie sheet and bake
another 10-15 minutes turning over once. Biscotti will become crisp and
you can cool on wire rack.
Italian Cooking Lesson
Tip
An easy way to make cannelloni (they resemble stuffed tubes) is to use
lasagna noodles. Place the filling on top of the lasagna noodle and
roll up the noodle. Place in a casserole dish and top with tomato sauce.
Italian Tomato Sauce
1 cup onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 1/2
cups tomatoes, whole, peeled
2/3 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup mushrooms, pureed in blender
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon
salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
In blender puree garlic, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Pour into a crock
pot. Add tomato paste, water, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Stir
together until well combined. Cook on low 8-10 hours or overnight. This
is another easy Italian recipe that you can start your Italian cooking
lesson with.
Easy Italian wedding
soup
4 cups chicken broth
1 Cup water
1 cup medium shell
pasta
Homemade or frozen meatballs, cooked
2 cups
spinach leaves, finely chopped
2 cups pizza sauce
In saucepan add broth and water. Bring to a boil. Then add pasta and
meatballs. When pasta is tender. Stir in chopped spinach and pizza
sauce. Heat through and serve immediately. Italian wedding soup usually
isn't served at weddings. It gets its name because of the fact that the
spinach and the meat goes (marries) well together.
Simple Italian Starter
3 plum tomatoes sliced crosswise
2 tablespoons
fresh basil
and 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Place sliced tomatoes on a serving
platter. Sprinkle with chopped herbs and drizzle olive oil over the
top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Easy Italian cooking can't get much
better than this.
Italian Bread Salad
1-2 loaves Italian bread
3 fresh diced tomatoes save juice also
red onion, diced
1 3/4 cups fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Cut bread
in slices and cube. You need about 4 cups for this recipe. Place cubes
on a cookie sheet and toast until golden brown stirring several times.
In serving bowl, add bread cubes, diced tomatoes, diced onion, juice
from tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and 1 cup olive oil together. Toss
to coat. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Cooking
Italian lesson: Tuscany Garlic Chicken video
Included
in our World Studies Cooking Unit is our complete world studies
program, plus dinner menu invitations to print off, an
international quiz, and more countries not available on our website. See
details on this unit.
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