Durum wheat was introduced to Sicilly by the invading Arabs in late 7th Century. 2nd Century writings show a receipe for lasagna deep fried. 5th Century writings show a recipe for layered meat lasagna. The word spaghetti means ‘strings.’  By 1785 Naples had 280 pasta shops. In 1800s street vendors were selling pasta via a charcol fire to the public.

Some of the best pasta, raviolli, lasagna I have ever tasted was in Italy of course! The raviolli in Limone on Lake Garda homemade with spinach and ricotta cheese. The lasagna from a trip to Florence, this just fell apart with a fork – fantastico!

What makes Italian pasta so special and tastier than other countries is the length of time taken over it, the drying process is much slower. This is what gives the pasta its yellow colour.

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Fresh vegetables and ingredients go into making Italian food. Lots of herbs and spices are used to flavour dishes.

Olive Oil

Researchers have discovered olive oil has the ability to switch off genes that inflame e.g. arthritis and heart disease.  One of the best olive oils in the world comes from Tuscany it is a  deep green colour called ‘Laudemio’ an extra-virgin oil and comes boxed so light doesn’t cause any damage. The land and weather here is perfect for olive trees.  To register as extra-virgin it must have proof of no defects, no contamination to the product. The best known brands are Bertolli, Filippo Berio.

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Health benefits – olive oil has a mild laxative effect, stimulates the gallbladder preventing gallstones, protects mucus membranes, helps absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, it decreases risk of cancer e.g. colon and breast. Contains good fats and doesn’t contain any cholesterol. Natural antioxidants helps slow down the ageing process.

Tomatoes – Vine tomatoes are used alot, these type of variety have so much flavour. Rich in vitamins C, A and K, reduce heart disease, antioxidents, protect cells, may prevent certain forms of cancer, when cooked the antioxident effect is increased not decreased as in most cases.

Oregano – antioxident, antibacterial.

Garlic – Lowers blood pressure and bad cholestrol, reduces heart attacks, strokes, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, flights cancers, antioxident, antibiotic, helps side effects of diabetes.

Artichokes – vitamin C, magnesium, folic acid, fiber.

Basil – anti-bacterial, vitamin C, calcium, iron, anti-inflammatory, protects cells from radiation.

Honey – Sardinia makes an unusual light bitter honey which is very tasty. Antiseptic to the urinary system, helps a sore throat, bronchitis, anti-asthma.

Introduction to Italian Food

Originally pizza, pasta, macaroni are from Italy. Pizza originally came from Naples (Napoli) near Rome in approx 1860. Parmesan cheese came from Parma.

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Italian food is one of the oldest in the world. Dishes are copies of ones given to Roman Soldiers. Olive oil and wine are mediterranean.

Bologna is famous for minced meat sauce known as bolognese. Rice is common in Northern Italy due to the wet valleys.  Sardinia and Sicily are known well for fish dishes.

Pasta should be cooked ‘al dente’ which means ‘to the teeth’.  A little hard in the centre.

There are lots of different pasta shapes and types for use with meals e.g. ravioli, tortellini, spirali, farfalle, penne. Some hold the meat and sauce better than others.

Desserts

Grapes, apricots, peaches, lemons, oranges are grown.  Amaretti (almond flavoured meringues) are popular, Panforte is sweetbread. Pannettone (Tony’s bread) eaten at Christmas time is rich bread cake.

Children helping make their own dishes

Most children love to help out in the kitchen especially as once they’ve made their food they can eat it.

A good idea is to make your own pizza topping. Kids can put on anything they fancy e.g. ham, cheese, pineapple, and its so quick to cook.

Pasta is another easy, cheap food to make with kids they could help mix the sauce and put it altogether into the pasta at the end.

Florence is a cultural city of Art and many students come here to study art.

Frescoes are paintings on fresh plaster which helps it survive so well in time as it becomes part of the wall or ceiling. Colours were made from mixing stones and minerals with a medium. Fine brushes made from usually ox hair were used.

Famous Italian Artists

The most famous artists were Leonardo da Vinci who painted the ‘Mona Lisa’ in 1505 and ‘ The Last Supper’  in 1498. Michaelangelo painted the breathtaking Sistine Chapel in Rome. Boticelli and Raphael sculptured David in Florence, Raphael painted the  ’Madonna and Child’, and Boticelli painted ‘Venus’.

Leonardo was much more than an artist and sculptor he was also a  musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, geologist, anatomist, writer, inventor. He drew a design for a flying machine in 1488.

New Year –  some cities host outdoor events and fireworks, venice carnival.

Venice Carnival – dating back to the 13th Century, wearing of masks and elaborate outfits. Started so nobels could walk with locals unseen.

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FEBRUARY

Turin’s Chocolate Festival – held in Umbria. Turin is home to Ferrero’s company (my favourite)! they also make Nutella and Kinder products.

Battle of the Oranges – an event held in Ivrea Northern Italy for 3 days, oranges are used as weapons in the city centre. Dress in period costumn oranges are used to symbolise a dukes head as an act of freedom and rebellion of Violetta, a lady who refused the duke.

MARCH

International Women’s Day – Bright yellow mimosa flowers are sold by vendors. People buy for the special women in their life. Very similar to our tradition of giving daffodils for mothers day.

Easter – parades are held, carrying of statues of Jesus or Virgin Mary through cities. Catholic masses take place in the array of churches. Another tradition are games on Easter Monday, egg races in Tredozio and wheels of cheese are rolled in Umbria.

APRIL

Liberation Day – Italians honor their soldiers, marching bands and music concerts held.

MAY

Labour Day – Annual holiday trade union demonstrations held to celebrate achievements of workers.

Music festival in Florence – concerts held, performing arts.

Flower festivals – held all over Italy.

JUNE

Battle of Bridge Piza – historic battle procession held who fought for possession of the bridge.

Anniversary of the Republic – national holiday to remember the referendum.

Festival of the Two Worlds – held in Umbria, classical music, arts, theatre ballet held.

JULY

Horse Race (Palioldi Siena) – Bareback horse race around Siena’s main square, dates back to 1600′s, held for one day in July and August.

Verona Opera Festival – opera held in the verona arena open air (Roman Ampitheatre) build in 30AD.

Verona Shakespeare Festival – celebrating a variety of Shakespears plays held at the Roman Theatre in Verona built on San Pietro hill, 1st century BC. Held July – August.

AUGUST

Assumption Day – a catholic public holiday celebration of the virgin marys descent into heaven after her death. Mass is held and flowers/candles are offered to the virgin mary. Procession of statues and fireworks held. The colour blue symbolizes Mary ‘truth, clarity, colour of the sky and heaven.’

SEPTEMBER

International Film Festival Venice – This takes place in Venice at the Lido (a narrow resort island), at the Palazzo del Cinema. One of the oldest film festivals, famous film actors attend and awards are presented. Nominees are announced in July.

Live Chess Match Marostica – held over a weekend one hour North West of Venice, a live chess match is played on a chess board with humans and in period dress on horses.

Regatta on the Grand Canal – Venice’s competition held since the 14th century, between venetian boats. Paintings dipict this scene around 1735, after the boats a historical procession is held.

Bareback horse ride (Palco di Asti) – The oldest bareback horse ride held in the town of Asti, Northwest Italy, dating back from 1275.

OCTOBER

Eurochocolate in Perugia – held in Perugia, Umbria the chocolate festival is held. Lots of visitors attend from all over the world.  Cooking demos, chocolate spa, chocolate art, chocolate sculptures. Theres a different theme every year it was the original chocolate festival until other cities started their own.

NOVEMBER

Festival of the Goose in Marano – folk game held in Mirano, a short train ride from Venice, feast held in the main square, artists, jugglers, fine eaters, acrobats, puppeteers.

All Saints Day – a national holiday where all catholic saints are remembered. People bring flowers to their loved ones graves.

All Souls Day – souls of the deceased remembered.

DECEMBER

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – holy day, catholics attend mass.

Christmas – lots of nativity scenes are around to see on display outdoors and inside churches. The Italians exchange presents on 6 January not on Christmas Day as in the UK. There are not many Santa’s around Italy and he doesn’t bring childrens presents an old woman on a broom called La Befana does.

(6-8 people)

6-8oz (150-200g) ground beef not too lean

2ox pancetta

1 1/2 tblsp olive oil

1/4 medium onion

1/2 carrot

1 stalk celery

1/2 cup dry red wine

3/4 cup crushed tomatoes or 2 tblsp tomato paste dissolved in 1/2 cup water

beef broth one ladel

Pinch of Salt

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How to make the Bolognase

1. Brown the veg in oil, add meat cook until browned.

2. Stir in wine, simmer until wine evaporates.

3. Add tomatoes, broth, salt.

Ingredients for the Pasta

Pasta Sheets

Salt

tblsp olive oil

Butter

Bechamel

Mozzarella

White sauce

Parmesan cheese

How to Layer the Lasagna

1. Boil the lasagna sheets in a pot, salty water, tblsp oil, lift sheets with skimmer and dry on a towel.

2. Butter suitable dish 3 inches deep, pour layer of bechamel into dish, then layer of lasagna sheets, then bolognase sauce, then spread slices of mozzarella cheese, cover with white sauce, sprinkle parmesan. Repeat this process.

3. Once you reach near the top of the dish your final layer should be meat and bechamel. Sprinkle parmesan.

4. Bake for 180C for half an hour.

Most of the tourist areas as in airports, cafes, they will speak some english, but of course, the joy of being in a foreign country is joining in with the lingo. e.g. ‘prego’ (meaning pleasure, you’re welcome, don’t mention it) is said alot when a drink or meal is given to you and  ’Grazie’ (which means thanks).

It is also good to learn numbers even 1-5 is a start, as if you ask for ice cream it helps.

Useful greeting words:-

Ciao – bye/hi

si – ye

no – no

Buongiorno – good day

Buronasera – good afternoon/evening

Arrivederci – goodbye

Per favore – please

Scusi – excuse me

Dove il bagno? – where is the toilet

Numbers 1-10

1. uno (oono)

2. due (do-ay)

3. tre (tray)

4. quattro (kwat-tro)

5. cinque (cheen-kway)

6. sei (say)

7. sette (set-tay)

8. otto (ot-to)

9. nove (no-vay)

10. dieci (dee-ay-chee)