Best Cooking Oils

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Low Carb Noodles

The fear of pasta deprivation is one of the things that turns people away from low-carb diets. The cries ring out: "I can’t live without my pasta!" Fear not. There are many low-carb alternatives to pasta, and at least one possibly good low-carb pasta on the market. There are some true hard-core pasta-lovers. These people would just as soon sit down to a serving of plain pasta as anything they can think of. But for most of us, plain pasta doesn’t cut it – it’s the sauces and toppings we want most. For us, pasta is mostly a vehicle for other flavors. So we need to find a different vehicle to fill that role. Many vegetables are bland enough to use as a “blank canvas” for pasta sauces, and most of them are far more nutritious than pasta ever thought of being. Take the classic, spaghetti squash. Cup for cup, it has fewer than 25% of the calories and carbs of regular spaghetti (even whole wheat) – AND beats out the pasta in most nutrient categories. Calorie for calorie, it simply leaves pasta in the dust, nutritionally speaking. It’s delicious with pesto, creamy sauces, you name it. It can also be used in casseroles, like Turkey Tetrazinni. If you've never cooked spaghetti squash before, have no fear; it’s easy.

Low Carb Noodles

Low Carb Noodles Video

Penne Vodka Recipe

In a large saute pan on medium heat, cook and render fat from the bacon. (If you are using pancetta or prosciutto, skip this step and just saute it with the garlic.) Once the bacon is almost crisp, remove it from the pan and set it aside. Do not clean the pan. Add the olive oil and, when it is hot, return the bacon to the pan along with the garlic. Saute until the garlic turns light golden brown, then add the onion and saute until it becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the vodka and let it reduce by half, then add the tomatoes, red pepper, and salt. Simmer the sauce uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the heavy cream and simmer another 10 minutes. Once you've aded the cream, put the pasta in the boiling water and cook until al dente according to package directions.

Penne Vodka Recipe

Penne Vodka Recipe Video

Friday, September 7, 2012

Pasta Moon

Pasta Moon gets credit for being highly rated in a tourist town and actually providing a fine, delicious dining experience. We started with some tasty cocktails from the bar with locals who came in for "the usual". That's always a good sign. We shared the nightly special salad as well as mussels. He had the pork chop, and I the squash ravioli. Everything was excellent; wines by the glass were reasonable; and the service was impeccable. All the diners seemed to be enjoying themselves.Went into town to play the Ritz carlton course. Researched with locals and heard this was the place. We went for dinner. Must say that I was impressed. I am a foodie. Pasta was homemade and fresh. Had half portions of four different dishes to hve a small throwdown. Amazing. Lasagna excellent. Parpadelle was amazing the best. Pumpking raviolis very good. For dessert order the lemon dessert merenge, the best I ever had. Overall, if you are in this town, you MUST eat here.

Pasta Moon

Pasta Moon Video

Spaghetti Noodles

Spaghetti is a long, thin, cylindrical pasta of Italian origin.Spaghetti is made of semolina or flour and water. Italian dried spaghetti is made from durum wheat semolina, but outside of Italy it may be made with other kinds of flour. Traditionally, most spaghetti was 50 cm (20 in) long, but shorter lengths gained in popularity during the latter half of the 20th century and now spaghetti is most commonly available in 25–30 cm (10–12 in) lengths. A variety of pasta dishes are based on it, from spaghetti alla Carbonara or garlic and oil to a spaghetti with tomato sauce, meat and other sauces.An emblem of Italian cuisine, spaghetti is frequently served with tomato sauce, which may contain various herbs (especially oregano and basil), olive oil, meat, or vegetables. Other spaghetti preparations include using Bolognese sauce, alfredo and carbonara. Grated hard cheeses, such as Pecorino Romano, Parmesan and Grana Padano, are often added. It is also sometimes served with chili.

Spaghetti Noodles

Spaghetti Noodles Video

Amaranth Flour

Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth, is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants. Catkin-like cymes of densely packed flowers are borne in summer or autumn. Approximately 60 species are recognized, with inflorescences and foliage ranging from purple and red to green or gold. Members of this genus share many characteristics and uses with members of the closely related genus Celosia.Amaranthus shows a wide variety of morphological diversity among and even within certain species. Although the family (Amaranthaceae) is distinctive, the genus has few distinguishing characters among the 70 species included. This complicates taxonomy and Amaranthus has generally been considered among systematists as a "difficult" genus.

Amaranth Flour

Amaranth Flour Video

Thursday, September 6, 2012

No Boil Lasagna Noodles

Over the past few years, no-boil (also called oven-ready) lasagna noodles have become a permanent fixture on supermarket shelves. Much like "instant rice," no-boil noodles are precooked at the factory. The extruded noodles are run through a water bath and then dehydrated mechanically. During baking, the moisture from the sauce softens, or rehydrates, the noodles, especially when the pan is covered as the lasagna bakes. Most no-boil noodles are rippled, and the accordion-like pleats relax as the pasta rehydrates in the oven, allowing the noodles to elongate.No-boil lasagna noodles come in two shapes. The most common is a rectangle measuring 7 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide; we found three brands in this shape. One other brand came in 7-inch squares. We made lasagnas with all four brands to see how they would compare. The two brands with noodles that are both thin and rippled worked well. Two squares of the 7-inch noodles butted very closely together fit into a 9 by 13-inch pan, but when baked the noodles expanded and the edges jumped out of the pan and became unpleasantly dry and tough.

No Boil Lasagna Noodles

No Boil Lasagna Noodles Video

Ronzoni Pasta

RONZONI SMART TASTE is a low fat, cholesterol free food. It’s also an excellent source of fiber, calcium and vitamin D!RONZONI SMART TASTE provides an excellent source of fiber (6 grams in every 2 oz. serving which is 2.5 times the fiber of traditional white pasta. Getting the recommended levels of fiber may help with daily digestion and long-term heart health. Children and adults should consume 20 to 35 grams of fiber everyday. Dietary fiber is the edible part of plants. By eating high fiber foods you feel fuller, eat less, with fewer absorbed calories. Diets high in fiber have many nutritional benefits:One Serving of RONZONI SMART TASTE also provides as much calcium as in an 8 oz. glass of milk (30% of the daily requirement). Calcium is essential to building strong bones.

Ronzoni Pasta

Ronzoni Pasta Video