What Makes Italian Food So Delicious?

Italy is know for their amazing buildings, Roman Catholic heritage and their outstanding dishes. I personally have never tasted any Italian dish that I did not truly enjoy. Italy uses many pastas in and/or with their main dishes. Plenty of sauces and tongue tingling spices. Not hot, such as Spanish or Indian food, but full of flavour. A list of spices to include in your Italian recipes may include:
1. Oregano
2. Black Pepper
3. Sea Salt
4. Saffron
5. Basil
6. Bell Pepper
7. Parsley
8. Rosemary
9. Garlic
Many of the herbs and spices used in Italian cooking have healing properties in addition to the great taste. Now that how I like to stay healthy. Italian recipes add many vegetables such as: zucchini, egg plants and onions which all also have healing properties of their own.
Adding natural herbs and spices to your dishes adds to the cleansing of your liver and assists with boosting your thyroid. Italian cooking is truly a healthy way of cooking. The Italian cooking style is full of love and passion for cooking. It takes a lot of time patience due to the abundance of ingredients included in these meals. Sure, you can cheat and take short cuts, but you know ... you can tell tell the difference when you take the time to make it right.
Now take the time and cook your own Italian dish for dinner and make your family happy.
Best Italian Lasagna
Ingredients:

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 3/4 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

 Directions:

1. Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat in a Dutch oven until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, occasionally stirring.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. Start by spreading 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving. Don't forget the garlic toast!

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