For a superb crostini use roasted juicy sweet cherry tomatoes combined with a dash of white balsamic vinegar and serve on slices of toasted French baguette.This recipe will take up to forty minutes to prepare and about forty-five minutes in the oven. However, if you wish, you can be prepare this dish a day in advance. Ensure that the tomato mixture is stored in an appropriate airtight container and refrigerated. This mixture should be removed from the refrigerator at least two hours prior to serving. The toasted baguette should also be kept in an airtight container but kept at room temperature.

For eight servings you will need the following:
1 lb of halved fresh cherry tomatoes
One large French baguette (The baguette should then be sliced into diagonals)
Olive oil drizzle
One garlic clove that has been put through a press and crushed
One and a half teaspoons of white balsamic vinegar

1. Before preparing your ingredients ensure that your oven is preheated to a temperature of 180 degrees centigrade.
2. Whilst the oven is preheating, line two large baking trays with grease proof paper to prevent your tomatoes from sticking to the tray.
3. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place on the baking tray with the flat side of the tomato facing up.
4. Before baking the tomatoes, use a little salt and pepper to season.
5. Remove tomatoes from the oven after three quarters of an hour or when the tomatoes appear to be softened and have a golden tinge.
6. Whilst the tomatoes have been set aside to cool, prepare the French baguette slices by placing on two baking sheets. Ensure that each slice does not overlap another. Spray the entire single layer of bread slices with olive oil.
7. After eight minutes turn over all the bread slices and mist with olive oil. Return to the oven and bake until each slice is golden brown and crisp.
8. While you have set aside the toasted bread to cool, place the tomatoes, garlic and vinegar in a large bowl and mix together. You are now ready to either top the sliced toasted baguette with the tomato mixture or serve in a bowl separately.

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Italian Green Salad

Crisp fresh picked spring greens flavored with fresh or dried herbs, drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, add a pinch of sea salt, freshly ground black peppercorns, and a gentle hint of minced garlic is what an Italian green salad is made of. Sometimes for a saltier taste a small portion of anchovies can be blended into the salad dressing, of course the salt would be omitted.

Fresh herbs such as basil, tarragon, oregano, Italian parsley and many others can be used more generously than dried herbs because of the milder flavor. These are best when they are chopped finely or minced through a food processor. By dicing or mincing the herbs, the distinctive flavors of each spice permeate the entire salad. It is important to use a fine quality extra-virgin olive oil, as your salad will only be as good as the ingredients used. Extra flavor can be added with fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese is noted for its salty flavor but blends well with the other flavors in the salad.

An Italian green salad is another alternative to the antipasto course. It is up to you to serve before or during the meal.

Italian style chef salad
Serves four to six persons

2 large cloves of garlic, peeled
one half teaspoon onion salt
one tablespoon red wine vinegar
four tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
half teaspoon freshly ground black peppercorns
half teaspoon dry mustard
one quarter pound salami thinly sliced and julienned
one quarter pound provolone cheese, thinly sliced and julienned
1 cup chickory, torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup escarole, torn in bite-size pieces (this is a variety of endive having leaves with irregular frilled edges)
1 cup fennel, thinly sliced
1 cup Belgian endive, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup watercress
one tablespoon salted capers
one quarter cup chopped black olives
two tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Use a large wooden bowl and rub the inside of the bowl with the garlic cloves pressing the flavor of the garlic onto the walls of the bowl, discard the pressed cloves. Dissolve onion salt early in vinegar in the salad bowl. Slowly drizzle extra-virgin olive oil, pepper and mustard, and stir well. Add the sliced salami, cheese, greens and remaining ingredients. Toss lightly. Add more vinegar wore extra-virgin olive oil to your taste. Serve on chilled salad plates. Oil and Vinegar Italian salad, Italian green salad

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Some basic Italian cooking terms you should know

Most recipes are written in a simple form. From time to time there are words and phrases that you should become familiar with.

Al dente: You will see this term in practically every pasta dish or recipe. The literal meaning is, “to the tooth”. Al dente means that the pasta is done to a chewy perfection. There are many cooks that tend to overcook pasta, so that when the pasta sauce is added, the whole mixture turns to a mush. In the old country one way to see if the pasta is ready is by taking a strand of the pasta such as spaghetti, and throwing it against the wall. It sticks to the wall the pasta is ready. If you really don’t care for this method, just bite a single piece of pasta to see if it is cooked to the consistency that you like.

Julienne: Some folks think that this is a fancy Italian name for Julian, its not. It’s just the gourmet word for saying “cut into very thin strips”. Even though this word is from French origin is often used in Italian cooking.

Reduce: Creams, sauces, or soups are often reduced by allowing to boil until the stock is condensed in thickness. Boiling off or reducing is an inexact measurement. Don’t burn your pan and use discretion when a recipe calls for, “reduce by half” as this simply means, boil until the liquid is about half of what you started with.

Deglaze: A recipe may call for a pan to be deglazed. When meat is cooked in a pan or skillet in the oven there is residue from the cooking that coats the inside of the pan. Deglazing means to add some liquid, either water or wine, to the pan to help scrape up the brown morsels and drippings that remain in the pan. Normally you will remove the pan from the burner so that it does not burn or catch fire.

Marinara: In the old country, wives of fishermen would make a tomato sauce in a quick manner that would be served with the catch of the day. Today, marinara refers to various forms of tomato sauces that are made without meat. Tomatoes, herbs, and spices are the only additions that are normally used to make a tomato sauce called marinara.

Ragu: A meat sauce sometimes referred to as Bolognese, usually includes some vegetables like celery, minced onions, and diced carrots. One or all three veggie ingredients can be used. Sometimes a small amount of cream is added as well.

Dolce: This is a term that is generally referred to for a desert. The word actually means sweet.

Italian cooking basic terms

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Bread dipping is the new, healthy alternative to crackers and cheese which have been a staple, but often overused, appetizer. A tasty trend, filled with breads and flavored oils and sauces in the olive oil dipping dish will be an instant winner.

If you’re bored of serving carrot and celery sticks to guests, why not try something different? Be the first of your friends to use a new bread dipping dish and you’re sure to start a new trend. Add an olive oil dipping dish and some herb dips to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a culinary winner.

Combine Mediterranean-inspired oils with a variety of breads in a classy bread dipping dish, and you’ve created an appetizer that can be used no matter what the occasion.

There’s no need to run around searching for a gourmet grocer either. Simply visit your local supermarket and look for the olive oil section. Be prepared to spend that little bit extra for a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Being the highest quality oil, it has a wonderful flavor, and is the best option for bread dipping. It’s likely you might already have some pure olive oil at home, but this is best left for cooking, as the flavor pales in comparison to extra virgin olive oil. 

Despite the name, extra light olive oil does not contain any less calories than other olive oils. The lighter color and flavor is what is referred to in this instance. It makes a great substitute to canola or vegetable oil when baking.

With a bread dipping dish, you can serve several oils and sauces at once. Place flavored oils such as fresh basil, lemon juice or roasted garlic in one of the olive oil dipping dishes to accompany the bread.

If you’re keen to create your own unique oil for bread dipping, consider adding some prepared basil pesto, Kalamata olive tapenade or sun dried tomato pesto to the oil. Mix well and to ensure that the flavors develop, leave the blended ingredients to stand for a minimum of 15 minutes.

If you want things spiced up a little, add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning and a dash of crushed red pepper flakes to a quarter cup of olive oil. For another flavor, fill one of the olive oil dipping dishes with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. First, dip a piece of bread into the oil, and then into the dish containing the cheese. Your guests will be stunned at the taste sensation.

And don’t think you need to stick to the standard french bread stick. Breads that a great for bread dipping include ciabatta, focaccia and sourdough, all of which can be found at your local deli or bakery. On a cold winter’s night, serve a loaf of warm French bread dough. 

The bread dipping dish is versatile and functional. Try filling with steamed vegetables instead of bread, and dip the vegetables into the flavored olive oil. For the perfect Italian appetizer, place your favorite oil in the olive oil dipping dish and then dip bread or vegetables into the oil. Olive oil bread dipping dish can be found in white porcelain with color graduations in the dish when filled with olive oil. It makes a wonderful wedding present, especially for a visual presentation on the newlyweds dining table. Once the oil is placed in the olive oil dipping dish, lovely green tones will filter through, providing both a work of art and a feast. bread dipping, dipping oil, dipping appetizer  

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A new Bread Dipping Dish. As people become more health conscious, many are turning to the Mediterranean Diet in order to eat a healthy diet without feeling like they’re depriving themselves. A great appetizer originating from Italy, and fitting perfectly with the Mediterranean Diet is bread dipping.

Creating a bread dipping appetizer is simple. All that is required is a bread dipping dish, bread and some olive oil and vinegar. Slice or cube your chosen bread (sourdough and foccacia are great for this), and place some extra virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar in the bread dipping dish. Now all that’s required is to choose a piece a piece of bread and dip it into your desired condiment. Nothing could be more simple.

Our new bread dipping dish provides the perfect dish to use for bread dipping. A simple swirl on the bottom of the dipping dish becomes an artistic focal point when extra virgin olive oil is added. The swirl will appear to get darker as the dipping dish gets deeper.Made from restaurant grade white porcelain, our dipping dish is perfect for any occasion. Elegant and functional, the dipping dish is 4.5 inches wide, and is dishwasher safe, making cleaning a breeze. Should you create your own flavored oils to use in the dipping dish, it is also microwave safe, so oil can be warmed in the microwave to disperse the flavor.

To obtain the best quality flavor, extra virgin olive oil should be used in the dipping dish. While you may already have olive oil in your kitchen cupboard, extra virgin olive oil contains the most flavor, and lends itself perfectly to bread dipping, so it’s worth buying some extra virgin olive oil to use for this purpose. To make your own flavored oils for the dipping dish, simply add some fresh herbs and spices to the oil. Basil, lemon juice, sun dried tomato’s and black pepper all work well. Simply allow the flavors to blend for at least 15 minutes before serving. If you do need to use the oil immediately, place the dipping dish in the microwave and heat for 10 seconds. This will help the flavors to disperse so that you can serve straight away.

If you haven’t already tried it, consider making bread dipping appetizer for your next function. You’re sure to start a trend, and the bread dipping dish makes a wonderful table centerpiece, sure to gain many comments. You can be assured that this is one appetizer that will be devoured by all. Bread dipping is a healthy alternative to many other snacks, and doesn’t have to be saved for special occasions. If the kids are hungry after school, bring out the bread dipping dish along with their favorite bread, and they’ll be satisfied in no time. If unexpected guests drop in, it’s no trouble to quickly throw together a quick platter. Slice up some bread, fill the dipping dish with extra virgin olive oil, and it’s ready to serve.

Next time you need to buy a gift, remember that the beautiful American Porcelain Bread Dipping Dish makes a wonderful present. Classy and useful, it’s suitable to give as an anniversary, birthday, engagement or wedding gift. Team it with a quality extra virgin olive oil and vinegar, or a flavored oil you’ve created yourself, and you’ve got a sure winner. bread dipping dish, oil dipping

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Balsamic vinegar from Italy, is an aged reduction of Trebbiano or Spergola white grapes. The grapes are boiled to a syrup by being cooked very slowly in open fired copper cauldrons. The grapes are cooked until the moisture content is reduced by over 50 percent. The concentrated cooked balsamic grape reduction results in what is called the “must.” The grape ‘must’ reduction is put into wooden casks and an older aged balsamic vinegar is then added to promote the acetification process. Balsamic vinegar goes through a series of transfers from larger wooden barrels to progressively smaller wooden barrels. This aging process normally spans a period of twelve years. Every year the aging balsamic vinegar is transferred to different wooden barrels made from various wood varieties. In this way the balsamic vinegar obtains rich flavors inherent of the different woods. Popular wood varieties which the balsamic vinegar barrels are made from are: oak, cherry, chestnut, ash and wild cherry. Juniper and mulberry are the most difficult to procure, but are highly sought after for the unique flavors they impart to the balsamic vinegar.

Villa Bellentani, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Villa Bellentani of Modena Italy, produces balsamic vinegars that are classed in a gourmet category of their own. These balsamic vinegars are unlike other aged vinegars made simply from wine. Villa Bellentani balsamic vinegar make exquisite gourmet gifts.

Oil and vinegar is a staple in Italian recipes using pasta as an ingredient. Quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar accentuate even the most simple pasta dish. Determining which type pasta to use for which dish need not be difficult.

For most Americans pasta is synonymous with Italian food. Each region of Italy has its distinctive type pasta and even within the various regions there is remarkable variations. A true pasta connoisseur will distinguish long thin strands of pasta by the millimeter. The thinnest strands are capellini or fidelini. Next would be capelli or speghettini. With another millimeter or so you have spaghetti. Flatten the spaghetti pasta and it becomes linguine. Broaden the linguine pasta and it becomes fettuccine or tagliatelle. Widen the fettuccine pasta even further and it turns into pappardelle.

Pasta comes in all shapes and sizes.

The names of cost of come from their shape and what they look like. Apostate can appear to resemble a thimble, (ditalini) a butterfly (farfalle) a pen point (penne) or a little ear (orecchiette). Stuffed pasta is recognized as ravioli, tortellini, and cannelloni. Layered pasta is called lasagna, but if made in two tubes is called rigatoni and mostaccioli. The same layered pasta curled like a corkscrew is called fusilli. The preceding pasta names are the most nominal and recognized pastas used in Italian food recipes. There are numerous other varieties and variations.

pasta types, oil and vinegar, Italian food

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The vine ripe tomato is a staple ingredient in most Italian food recipes. Add basil and a little extra virgin olive oil with fresh grated mozzarella and this appetizer becomes a quick and easy way to provide a starter for any meal. This recipe is simple but is only as good as the freshness of the ingredients you use.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Ingredients:

Two vine ripened tomatoes sliced in quarter-inch slices, yellow tomatoes or substitute heirloom red tomatoes
12 large whole basil leaves, fresh not dried
one half pound fresh mozzarella cheese cut into quarter-inch slices
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
three tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, unfiltered

Place sliced tomatoes around the edge of a serving dish. You can slightly overlap the slices. On top of each slice place a fresh large basil leaf. Top each leave with a generous slice of mozzarella cheese. Season to taste with salt and fresh ground pepper. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese. Serve immediately. Drizzle of Italian balsamic vinegar is optional

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A really good spaghetti carbonara is easy to make and delicious if made properly by a true authentic Italian recipe.

Makes 4 servings

spaghetti recipe, Italian recipe, pasta recipe