The Recipes And History of Cook

It should also be remembered that November was the traditional time for slaughtering cattle in the Celtic world. Indeed, the modern Welsh name for this month, Tachwedd literally means ‘The Month of Slaughter’ and the feast of Halloween would have been the start of this month of plentiful meat.

Apples were also important to the ancient Celts and this became even more important with the arrival of the Romans as the worship of the goddess Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, became grafted on Celtic belief. Also late autumn is the time of apples.

To celebrate these two parts of Celtic belief I have re-created a Celtic pork and apple stew for you to enjoy, below- This is an ancient-inspired stew of pork with apples (these have a natural affinity) that’s been re-created using authentic ingredients and techniques

Ingredients:
1.2kg pork meat, cubed
2 tbsp fat (or oil)
2 leeks, chopped
400g greens (strong greens like turnips tops, collard greens, kale are best), chopped
400g wild mushrooms, sliced
3 turnips, peeled and chopped
3 cooking apples, peeled, cored and quartered
70g hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
200ml cider
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp chives
1 tsp dried sage, rubbed
salt, to taste

Method:
Add the fat (or oil) to a large casserole or pot and use to fry the pork and leeks until the meat is nicely browned (about 8 minutes). Add the mushrooms and turnips and cook for 2 minutes then add the herbs and cider along with 800ml water. Bring the mixture to a boil then add the apples.Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for about 90 minutes, or until the pork is truly tender. Season to taste, then serve ladled into bowls, topped with the hazelnuts. Accompany with chunks of warm crusty bread.

Comes to Cooking Italians Pasta

Thanks to the phone call, the spaghetti was a little softer than al dente, but it had not been dealt a mortal blow. I started eating-and thinking.” The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami’s narrator is typical of most non-Italians when it comes to cooking pasta. They know that it ’should be’ cooked al dente, but they’re not going to lose a lot of sleep over it. Al dente is, according to – amongst other – Lidia Bastianich, the famous Italian media cook in America, one of the most difficult concepts in Italian cooking to get across. It is, though, one of the most fundamental.

Why do we say al dente?
There are a number of theories to this, but the most widely accepted and most sensible is simply that the pasta is tested, to see if it’s ready, by biting into it. It should not be uncooked, nor should it be soft – so there should be a slight resistance to the teeth – al dente in Italian.

But why should pasta be cooked al dente?
There are a number of good reasons, apart from simple tradition. Firstly, pasta nearly always interacts with a sauce, and when cooked al dente it ‘takes on’ the sauce more efficiently.

Dinner Ideas For Those Who Are Short on Time

Many people don’t have a lot of time to cook. They have a lot of other things to do. Between work and school and other activities they’re lucky if they have time to stop at a fast food joint much less prepare quality meals at home. Quick, healthy, inexpensive meals aren’t easy to plan, that’s the problem. It’s not that hard, folks. A seven day menu isn’t all that hard to plan for people who know where to look. Here are a few good dinner ideas for delicious meals the whole family can enjoy.

Fairs and street vendors often have corn dogs, an American favorite. It’s delicious and easy, even though not exactly healthy. Coat the hot dogs with batter made of flour, corn meal, milk, salt, sugar and baking powder, then fry them until golden. You an even add a corn dog stick to make it feel authentic.

In colonial times, dinner was an afternoon meal, followed by a later light meal called supper. As time went by this changed based on social class and schedule. Physical laborers needed an afternoon dinner to keep up their strength throughout the grueling day. But now dinner has become the sole evening meal, the anchor to the family and transition from the work of the day to winding down at night. But supper and dinner have become intertwined, often interchanged in meaning this big meal. The late meal can be light especially for people who are weight conscious. Go the traditional dinner route with a light soup or roast chicken salad.

Busy schedules and crock pots were made for each other. Set it, forget it, then return home to a well cooked meal. The whole meal can cook without supervision. Add some meat and some potatoes cut into quarters for a terrific pot roast. Pick up some salad and a fresh loaf of bread at the store. You can also let the bread slide if you’re worried about the waist line.