Italian Risotto Rice Dish - What Makes It So Delightful

Risotto is a rice dish originating from Italy, particularly the Northern Italian region. It is a very popular food made by sautéing the rice in olive oil, onion, garlic or whatever herbs the recipe calls for then adding ladles of simmering stock at a time while constantly stirring, until the rice absorbs the stock. Cooking or "toasting" the rice in hot oil or butter is essential to help the rice absorb liquid more easily producing a tender but not mushy rice dish. It usually takes about 20 to 25 minutes to cook a risotto.
The secret to a perfect risotto lies in using Arborio rice, which is a short grain variety capable of absorbing large amounts of liquid while keeping its shape. The starchy rice when combined with the stock during cooking creates a wonderful sauce giving risotto its nice and creamy appearance. Along with its basic ingredients oil, onion starchy rice, hot stock and cheese, a risotto can be made using many kinds of vegetables and legumes, meat, poultry, seafood, fish and any type of wine and cheese. You can even include fruits of your taste.
Aside from Arborio rice, other Italian short-grain varieties are Vialone Nano, Carnaroli and Baldo. Short-grain rice is starchy which Italians find the most perfect rice for risotto. When cooking a traditional risotto, it is best to use a cast iron heavy-bottomed pan or skillet. Cast iron works better by transferring even the lowest heat to the food extremely well and the even distribution of heat during slow cooking helps starch release from the rice producing marvelous results.
A traditional Italian risotto dish is completely satisfying. It can be simple or complex. If you're in Italy, you will experience the many versions of full-flavored risottos from all-vegetable to fish to meat and poultry to mouth-watering cheese risottos. This creamy Italian rice dish is a versatile food. You can serve it as a main course, a side dish and you can use leftover risottos to make a new dish like rice cakes and fried rice balls or simply use it to thicken soups or broth.
Although Risotto is easy to prepare, the first time you make it may not be the best. It may take some time to learn but once you've mastered the technique, it would be easy to make your own risotto dishes for all occasions. Here is a traditional Italian Vegetable Risotto recipe that you could start with.
Ingredients
• 1 medium zucchini
• 10-ounce pumpkin or squash wedge
• 1 beefsteak tomato
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 large onion
• 4 cups hot stock (chicken or vegetable)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup risotto rice
• 1 tablespoon dry sherry wine (or any wine)
• 4 canned artichoke hearts, drained
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley
Directions
Trim zucchini and cut into small cubes. Peel pumpkin or squash, remove seeds and cut into cubes. Cover tomato with boiling water for 30 seconds then plunge into cold water. Peel away skin, remove seeds and cut into fourths. Peel onion and garlic and slice finely. Bring stock or broth to boil then simmer. In a large heavy-based skillet, heat the oil and slightly sauté the onions. Add the risotto rice and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the garlic then the sherry wine. Gradually add stock in small batches, stirring over low to medium heat until every batch of liquid has been absorbed. Let it sit for about 20 minutes to cook.
Add remaining stock along with the zucchini and squash and cook for 10 minutes more, stirring constantly. Cut artichoke hearts into fourths and add into risotto, Season with salt and pepper then transfer to warm soup bowls. Sprinkle each with tiny-chopped tomato and garnish with parsley leaves.

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Italian Body Art

Italian tattoos used to symbolize the loyalty of a gang member to the group. From the bad impressions and taboo beliefs about tattoos, it is now more recognized as a form of art and a part of self-expression. Many people are interested in inscribing foreign languages on their skin. These days, the Italian language has been part of the tattoo industry as well as Italian inspired designs.
There are several things that you need to know about Italian tattoos though. A difference in spelling is very important as the translation could mean the opposite of what you want. The Italian word 'amare' means love while a switch of the 'e' to make it 'amaro' means bitter. Love is one of the major themes of Italian tattoos as it has been a favorite part of their history. The words 'bella' (beautiful), 'pesca' (peace), and 'per sempre' (forever) are now part of the Italian passion for body art.
Italian nationalists' favorite tattoo design includes the three colors of the flag of the Italian flag itself. The flag is often inked with a heart, a religious symbol, or a military symbol with Italian words. Some Italians even use their whole body as a canvass and duplicate the Italian works of arts such as famous paintings or sculptures.
These tattoos are inked on the skin for a long time and despite the availability of techniques that can remove them, once a tattoo is placed it is believed to be meant to stay there forever.

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While there are many who have enjoyed learning and speaking the Italian language, there are still people who are hesitant to continue learning Italian no matter how badly they really want to learn it. The Italian language is just one of the many international languages that need to be learned with dedication and pure interest.
There are people who just think too much of the disadvantages or 'what if's' in learning the Italian language before even doing the real work first. But the real problem here is that, with this kind of attitude, there is really never going to be any work done, lesson learnt or even a single Italian word spoken.
Instead of wasting time thinking about what could happen or the difficulty of learning the Italian language, its best to break the myths and surpass the hesitations. Learning Italian could bring you interest you never thought you'd have and even the desire to visit the Italian speaking country at its best - Italy!
Now that it has been mentioned, the thought of not visiting Italy or visiting it for a just short time is one of the hindrances which most people think of right away and also the reason why learning Italian is never a top priority. But there is a purpose why you should learn the language. Many Italian lessons today offer survival conversational phrases which most likely can become useful if ever you find yourself under the shadows of the leaning tower of Pisa or inside a restaurant with staff and customers speaking Italian and Italian alone.
Another common reason why people refuse to get involve in learning Italian is because they think they don't have the time to sit down and read on the texts of the language. Again, there are more sources now than before. It isn't only getting to a language class where one can learn Italian but also online, movies, audio aids and immersion are tops for learning this language or even any foreign language for that matter. It's everywhere and anyone can read through a 10 key point article about Italian basics each day. That could only take about 10 to 20 minutes.
The idea here is that there are certainly no limits to how a person can learn a foreign language. Italian is just one thing out of the other hundreds of foreign languages. It's great to learn new things everyday and you don't even have to lose anything. When you think you can't, it could only be because you really don't want to or just too lazy to do it.

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Italian Handmade Shoes: The Finest!

The best Italian shoes can easily be spotted. How? They feature a blend of elegance and distinction which when worn suggest a sharp demeanor. These happen to be Italian handmade shoes which Italian shoe manufacturers pride themselves in crafting and rightfully so. A pair of sleek Artioli's is bound to have people noticing due to their matchless quality.
Quality is a crucial aspect when footwear is concerned; seeing as how low quality shoes will not only help produce sharp back pain, but will surely jeopardize your overall appearance. Men, you are not being authentic if you are matching your suit with your best Italian shoes that are really a product of a five minute ensemble from South Asia.
Italian handmade shoes on the other hand are a gem whose exclusivity rests within a few designer houses that pride themselves in using traditional methods of shoe making. The craftsmanship is due to Italian shoe manufacturers choosing high quality leather, and refusing to settle for shoddy material. Ladies, not only is the quality of Italian hand made shoes exceptional, but a pair of Raffaello's is nothing short of distinguished. Imagine the embarrassment of matching a stunning dress with a pair of high heels that look like they were involved in a foot chase.
Italian hand made shoes promise to deliver quality that speaks to your individuality, not takes away from it. Such shoes have the power not only to make the man, but to make the women. Most Italian shoe manufacturers include pattern books that allow you to choose the material that will be going into your Italian shoe, so the end result will be an original one indeed. There is a reason why Italian fashion shoes are made in small qualities, because you haven't worn shoes until you've worn Italian handmade shoes!

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Five Tips for Learning Italian

Many people are familiar with several foreign languages aside from their mother tongues. However, not everyone learns a language in the same manner - some people are thorough, and like to approach a language from its every aspect including its phonetic system, morphology, and semantics. On the other hand, there are people who prefer using the most popular phrases only on occasion, so they learn only useful phrases they'll be able to use. The latter have a poorer vocabulary, but their knowledge of a particular language includes very useful phrases such as where the bathrooms is, how much something costs, and so on. Here we will discuss some of the most useful tips on how to learn the Italian language.
Tip Number One: Find the Time for Your Lessons
Before you start learning Italian, or any other foreign language, you ought to organize your time efficiently. More importantly, you need to organize your daily schedule so that there is enough time in it for learning a foreign language. After you have selected a particular part of the day for your learning, you need to divide your learning material into equal parts. If you don't attend particular classes, but learn Italian individually, it is best to learn the language in form of lessons.
Tips Number Two: Listen to Italian
In spite of the fact that the ideal way of learning Italian is to actually go to Italy, this is not the only way you can learn the language. There are many ways in which native Italian speakers may come to you, so to say. Going to a cinema and watching a movie in Italian is almost as good as having small talk with an Italian native speaker. Aside from this, you can listen to Italian music, which will allow you to learn the language, but also enjoy some of the most beautiful Italian singers.
Tips Number Three: Be Persistent
Another thing you should bear in mind is that persistence is the key to getting hold of a foreign language. Many people make the mistake of giving up learning a second language as soon as they come to the first obstacle. Even more people expect an overnight success, and when they don't start talking Italian after a short period of time, they become disappointed, and almost always they stop learning the lingo. Taking this into account, you should be determined to learn Italian, and learn to observe and appreciate your progress.
Tips Number Four: Think in Italian
In order to learn the Italian language better and more easily, you ought to think in Italian. This is why the best way to learn a language is to visit a country - you are surrounded by the native speakers of Italian, you get to understand the way Italians think and speak, and there really is no better practice than this. So, even if you haven't got a chance to visit Italy, try to think in Italian, without translating to and from your mother tongue.
Tips Number Five: Have Fun
Learning Italian is fun, and you shouldn't let your desire of instant success ruin this. You won't speak like Eros Ramazzotti the moment you buy a dictionary, but you'll get better and better in time.

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History of Comacchio, an Attractive Italian Town

Comacchio is a city in eastern Italy, a little way south of Venice. Like its famous neighbour, Comacchio also developed 'out of the water' and is an attractive town of bridges and canals. It wasn't always this way, and a look at the history of Comacchio will help you make your most of a visit.
The town originally developed as scattered settlements along the mouth of the Po Delta, these settlements expanding to join together and now spread across thirteen islands that are separated by channels and joined by numerous bridges.
Although the history of the town can only be dated back as far as the Middle Ages, there is also evidence that the place was a very old human settlement dating back to the Bronze Age, and its first founders would have probably been the early Greek and then Etruscan merchants, who founded the ancient Etruscan city of Spina. The Greeks and the Etruscans lived here before the Ancient Roman empire - hence approximately 2500 years ago.
In fact the name of the town perhaps comes from the Greek 'Kuma' (the wave) so the name would indicate a 'city among the waves' - entirely appropriate given the coastal marshland location of Comacchio.
Comacchio in the Middle Ages was already an important trade city, especially in salt, and it had a considerably fleet. This however provoked the attention of wealthy Venice, which repeatedly tried to seize the city. Attacks were carried out by Venice in 854, 946, 1379 and 1405, each of which which provoked lootings and destructions in the city, until the Venetians finally managed to get hold of Comacchio and its valuable salt-works in 1455.
The history of the struggles for the conquest of Comacchio and its salt-works did not end here, because the city, from 1313, was taken by the Dukes of Ferrara, who were themselves expelled by the Venetians in 1434. But the Dukes of Ferrara took possession of the city again in 1484, and they held it until 1509. The reaction of Venice on this occasion was very hard; it not only destroyed the town, but also almost all of the salt-works. The land, now almost worthless, was left in the hands of the Duke of Ferrara, who held it until the extinction of the Dukedom, in 1598.
From that date, and with the disappearance of the Dukes of Ferrara, Comacchio was governed by the rule of the Church-State. Under this papal rule Comacchio had a new phase of building development, both religious and civil, that continued until the mid-seventeenth Century. At that time the city had a new period of economic crisis, mainly because the Church-State had to close a large proportion of the salt-works to encourage those of Cervia, which were considered far more productive.
In the first half of the 18th century Comacchio was ruled by the Austrians, who gave the city a major economic boost, reopening the salt-works, improving roads and enhancing the city defences with new fortifications.
Comacchio then again returned to the Church-State until 1796, when, in the Napoleonic age, it became a French domain, and then, with the Unification of Italy, it entered in the Kingdom of Italy (1861).

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Best Way to Learn Italian: A Simple Strategy for Mastering the Italian Language

Italian is a beautiful, romantic language, one that we all know we'd love to be able to speak. What we don't all know is the best way to go about doing that. This article is going to help by giving you a practical, easy to follow Italian language learning strategy.
Use Outcome-Based Learning Methods
Outcome-based learning strategies are very powerful. I'll show you by contrasting a traditional learning plan with an outcome-based one. A typical goal using a traditional learning style would be, for example, "This week I am going to memorize 100 new travel Italian vocabulary words." Or, perhaps, "This week I am going to complete lessons 1 to 3." Now contrast that to an outcome-based goal, which would look something like this, "This week I am going to learn how to buy one-way train tickets for two people from Barcelona to Rome." Do you see the powerful difference in the goals set. With traditional, often-used goal setting techniques you don't learn to accomplish any particularly useful tasks. With outcome-based goals, it's just the opposite. You start with a task you want to accomplish, and then you learn what you need to learn in order to accomplish that goal. Using outcome-based learning models is the best way to learn Italian--or any other language.
Get a Good Software or Internet-based Italian Language Program
Yes, the best way to learn Italian is to move to Italy for a year or two. As that's rather impractical for most, however, I'm going to suggest the next best thing--computer-based learning. Software and Internet-based programs are relatively cheap, very easy to use, and they are extremely effective learning tools. You can choose from 100% audio-based programs, or you can choose from more activity and written dialogue based programs. You can also choose from programs that are 100% online and from those that can be downloaded directly to your computer, or loaded with CD's. When choosing, be sure to do plenty of research, and always keep in mind your own personal learning style and when and where you plan on studying.
Use the Internet to Exchange Languages With a Native Italian Speaker
We all know that the only way to get perfect Italian pronunciation is to practice speaking with a native Italian Speaker. One great way to do that is to do an online language exchange. All you do is go to an Italian language learning forum or message board and find a native-speaker to talk to. Easier said than done, right? No, not really. You see, there are lots of Italian people out there who want to perfect their English pronunciation, just like you want to perfect your Italian. All you do is find each other and exchange MSN, or Skype Id's, and off you go. I have had best results studying only one language per day. For example, on Monday, you spend an hour having a conversation in English, you perfecting your partner's pronunciation as you go along. Then, the next day you spend an hour together speaking Italian, your partner correcting your pronunciation as you speak.
Final Thoughts
Italian is a beautiful, romantic, and useful language. There are lots of ways to go about learning it. When factoring in practical things like educational research, cost, and modern technology, it is clear that the best way to learn Italian is to use outcome-based strategies, to utilize computer-based learning programs, and to use the Internet to complete language exchanges with Italian native speakers.

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