Treat Your Family To A Home Cooked Italian Feast

Treat Your Family To A Home Cooked Italian Feast
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michele_Robbins]Michele Robbins

As the scent of freshly made pasta sauce hits the air, popular Italian dishes often utilize the fragrant spices of rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, and garlic in their cuisine. While thoughts of spaghetti and baked ziti dance in your head, you may encounter one of the most famous of Italian meals cooking in the oven – lasagna – which often incorporates sheets of pasta, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, sauce, and the optional meat. The variety associated with this dish is never-ending, as spinach, fresh vegetables, and other items are also used to create this delicious treat. After dinner, perhaps you'd like to bite into the infamous crisp Italian cookie (biscotti) or sink your teeth into the softness of tiramisu (made with ladyfinger cookies).

Italian cuisine is extremely diverse, spanning an assortment of regional favorites that include well-known Italian cheeses (Asiago and Provolone); the calzone (folded dough filled with ricotta and other ingredients); and more than 650 varieties of pasta. An Italian meal may include linguine, spicy Italian sausage, fettuccini, angel hair pasta, or ravioli, followed by gelato (ice cream), pizzelles (waffle cookies) or a slice of panetone (cake).

The many different regions in Italy play an important role in the distinct cultural variety and interesting history that shows through in Italian cooking. The cuisine has also been shaped by many different culinary influences, such as Greek, Chinese, Arab, and Turkish civilizations. The regional differences in Italian cooking are seen through the variation in spices, ingredients, and cooking techniques, as seen in Roman cuisine, which heavily relies on sheep milk cheese. When making risotto (traditional rice dish), some regions like Piedmont and Lombardy grow their own unique blends of rice for the dish.

When exploring Italian cuisine, you will learn that some places in the country are known for serving the best in specific areas of Italian cooking. Emilia-Romagna is known for delicious tortellini (stuffed pasta), Parmesan cheese, and prosciutto (ham). Sicily makes tasty gelato. Naples is famous for their pizza and pastries.

In Italy, the infamous pizza also differs by region, especially when it comes to the crust. In Rome, the crusts are thin like crackers, while Sicilian and Neapolitan crusts are thicker. Also, many interesting combinations exist, such as pizza quattro stagioni, which is divided into four sectors – each representing a different season. For example, olives and artichokes are placed on this type of pizza to embody the spirit of spring.

While a wide range of cooking styles exist in Italy, some important ingredients, herbs, and spices associated with the Italian culture are heavily used by most. Individuals commonly make use of olive oil, tomatoes, capers, bay leaves, parsley, sage, olives, spinach, artichokes, and anchovies.

Once a meal is complete, within traditional Italian circles, dinner follows a menu consisting of many different parts. The start of the meal includes hot or cold appetizers called antipasto. The "first course" called primo follows often with a hot dish, like gnocchi, risotto, or soup. The "second course" (secondo) is the main dish, generally centered on meat or fish with veal, pork, and chicken representing popular Italian selections. A traditional menu presents a salad with the main course or another side dish, such as cooked vegetables. At the end of the meal, customary diners will encounter two different desserts – the first may consist of cheese and fruits, while the second (called "dolce") includes cookies or cakes.

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Italian cuisine is delicious and easy to prepare right in your own kitchen. Can't seem to get the family together at meal time? Watch the family eagerly gather round while the tempting Italian aromas tease their senses.