Kamis, 08 Maret 2012
Senin, 05 Maret 2012
Minggu, 04 Maret 2012
Capesante al Gratin
Capesante al Gratin are a tasty and classic starter, mainly served during Christmas dinners. In the most classic recipe the scallops are cooked au gratin, covering the mollusc with a mixture made of breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley and grinded cheese.
Ingredients (Makes 4 Serving)
- 1 slice of garlic
- 250 ml of broth
- 8 Capesante
- ½ glass of oil or butter
- 80 gr of breadcrumbs
- 50 gr of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- Pepper
- 2 spoons of grinded parsley
Preparation :
1- Clean out capesante carefully, they should be cleaned by separating them from their nut, washing them carefully and wiping them. The nut is typically used to serve them, so it is recommended to wash it as well, even using steel wool.Before cooking make sure to remove their filamentous and darker parts. Wash them under running water, as there is often some sand inside them. To open them, you can use a knife or, more simply, just throw them into hot water for a moment.
2- Prepare the stuffing for the au gratin: In a bowl mix breadcrumbs with parsley, cheese, grinded garlic, pepper, half of the oil and broth, and mix so as to obtain a homogenous; creamy but not liquid paste.
3- Put all the capesante up on a baking sheet, after removing the nut's upper part, and cover them with the paste you prepared, wetting them with some oil.
4- Prewarm your oven up to 200C and cook your capesante ten minutes or until the paste is well gilded. Serve hot.
Preparation Time: 20 Minutes, Cooking Time: 10 Minutes
Bruschetta
The word "bruschetta" has its origins in central Italy, and it's a slice of toasted bread.
Bruschetta's main seasoning is a very good extra virgin olive oil. Any lesser quality oil is not suitable.
The oil fragrances vary according to the area of origin, as well as its texture, density and acidity. Consider trying the oil from Puglia, Sicily and Calabria. Remember that if you use too much garlic you risk to cover the aroma and fragrance of the oil you've used. The breadcrumb should be oiled well, but not dripping wet and it should be seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper to enhance the aroma and flavor.
The same remark about garlic, in my opinion, goes also for the other ingredients - less is more.
The various "innovations", from anchovies with capers, cheese, any flavorful sauce, are to be added in quantities that give flavor and color, but not in doses which will cover any other flavoring. You certainly have seen some "creative" bruschettas with huge amounts of various ingredients.
Normally, the unfortunate consumer does not know how to take a bite off of a very big bruschetta. They begin to eat the bruschetta and in the meanwhile the ingredients start to slip everywhere. They try to stem the fall with a napkin, and in the meanwhile the oil and tomatoes are smeared on the other hand; or if the bruschetta is not too large, they try to open thier mouth as much as possible and eat it in one bite. A real disaster! So the golden rule is simplicity. Instead of using a thousand ingredients all together, maybe it's better to prepare some more bruschettas, each one different from the other one.
Tomato Bruschetta
Ingredients for 4 people
- 4 slices of Tuscan bread
- 2 ripe tomatoes
- 1 garlic clove
- basil leaves
- extra virgin oil
- salt and pepper
Preparation:
Wash the tomatoes, blanch them briefly in boiling water, drain, remove the peel, the seeds and the water inside. Cut them into cubes and collect them in a bowl.
Wash the basil leaves, dry them and add them to the tomatoes. Sprinkle with oil, salt and pepper. Stir and let it marinate for about an hour.
Toast the bread in the oven, rub each slice with the garlic and add the tomato. Serve the bruschettas warm or cold, as preferred.
Sabtu, 03 Maret 2012
Climate of Italy
Italy has a variety of climate systems. The inland northern areas of Italy (for example Turin, Milan, and Bologna) have a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), while the coastal areas of Liguria and the peninsula south of Florence generally fit the Mediterranean climate profile (Köppen climate classification CSa).
Between the north and south there can be a considerable difference in temperature, above all during the winter: in some winter days it can be −2 °C (28.4 °F) and snowing in Milan, while it is 8 °C (46.4 °F) in Rome and 20 °C (68.0 °F) in Palermo. Temperature differences are less extreme in the summer.
The east coast of the italian peninsula is not as wet as the west coast, but is usually colder in the winter. The east coast north of Pescara is occasionally affected by the cold bora winds in winter and spring, but the wind is less strong here than around Trieste. During these frosty spells from E–NE cities like Rimini, Ancona, Pescara and the entire eastern hillside of the Apennines can be affected by true "blizzards". The town of Fabriano, located just around 300 m (984 ft) in elevation, can often see 0.5–0.6 m (1 ft 7.7 in–1 ft 11.6 in) of fresh snow fall in 24 hours during these episodes.
On the coast from Ravenna to Venice and Trieste, snow falls more rarely: during cold spells from the east, the cold can be harsh but with bright skies; while during the snowfalls that affect Northern Italy, the Adriatic coast can see a milder Sirocco wind which makes snow turn to rain—the mild effects of this wind often disappear just a few kilometres inside the plain, and sometimes the coast from Venice to Grado sees snow while it is raining in Trieste, the Po River mouths and Ravenna. Rarely, the city of Trieste may see snow blizzards with north-eastern winds; in the colder winters, the Venice Lagoon may freeze, and in the coldest ones even enough to walk on the ice sheet.
Tuscan landscape.
Summer is usually more stable, although the northern regions often have thunderstorms in the afternoon/night hours and some grey and rainy days. So, while south of Florence the summer is typically dry and sunny, in the north it tends to be more humid and cloudy. Spring and Autumn weather can be very changeable, with sunny and warm weeks (sometimes with Summer-like temperatures) suddenly broken off by cold spells or followed by rainy and cloudy weeks.
In the north precipitation is more evenly distributed during the year, although the summer is usually slightly wetter. Between November and March the Po valley is often covered by fog, especially in the central zone (Pavia, Piacenza, Cremona and Mantua), while the number of days with lows below 0 °C (32 °F) is usually from 60 to 90 a year, with peaks of 100–110 days in the mainly rural zones.[2] Snow is quite common between early December and early March in cities like Turin, Milan and Bologna, but sometime it appears in late November or late March and even April. In the winter of 2005–2006, Milan received around 0.75–0.8 m (2 ft 5.53 in–2 ft 7.50 in) or 75–80 cm (29.5–31.5 in) of fresh snow, Como around 1 m (3 ft 3.37 in) or 100 cm (39.4 in), Brescia 0.5 m (1 ft 7.69 in) or 50 cm (19.7 in), Trento 1.6 m (5 ft 2.99 in) or 160 cm (63.0 in), Vicenza around 0.45 m (1 ft 5.72 in) or 45 cm (17.7 in), Bologna around 0.3 m (11.81 in) or 30 cm (11.8 in), and Piacenza around 0.8 m (2 ft 7.50 in) or 80 cm (31.5 in).
Lake Garda from Riva del Garda.
Summer temperatures are often similar north to south. July temperatures are 22–24 °C (71.6–75.2 °F) north of river Po, like in Milan or Venice, and south of river Po can reach 24–25 °C (75.2–77 °F) like in Bologna, with fewer thunderstorms; on the coasts of Central and Southern Italy, and in the near plains, mean temperatures goes from 23 °C to 27 °C (80.6 °F). Generally, the hottest month is August in the south and July in the north; during these months the thermometer can reach 38–42 °C (100.4–107.6 °F) in the south and 32–35 °C (89.6–95 °F) in the north; Sometimes the country can be split as during winter, with rain and 20–22 °C (68–71.6 °F) during the day in the north, and 30–40 °C (86–104 °F) in the south; but, having a hot and dry summer does not mean that Southern Italy will not see rain from June to August.
The coldest month is January: the Po valley's mean temperature is between -1–1 °C (30.2–33.8 °F), Venice
2–3 °C (35.6–37.4 °F), Trieste 4 °C (39.2 °F), Florence 5–6 °C (41–42.8 °F), Rome 7–8 °C (44.6–46.4 °F), Naples9 °C (48.2 °F), and Cagliari 12 °C (53.6 °F). Winter morning lows can occasionally reach -30 to -20 °C (-22 to -4 °F) in the Alps, -14 to -8 °C (6.8 to 17.6 °F) in the Po valley, −7 °C (19.4 °F) in Florence, −4 °C (24.8 °F) in Rome, −2 °C (28.4 °F) in Naples and 2 °C (35.6 °F) in Palermo. In cities like Rome and Milan, strong heat islands can exist, so that inside the urban area, winters can be milder and summers more sultry.
On some winter mornings it can be just −3 °C (26.6 °F) in Milan's Dome plaza while -8 to -9 °C (17.6 to 15.8 °F) in the metropolitan outskirts, in Turin can be just −5 °C (23.0 °F) in the city centre and -10 to -12 °C (14 to 10.4 °F) in the metropolitan outskirts. Often, the largest snowfalls happen in February, sometime in January or March; in the Alps, snow falls more in autumn and spring over 1,500 m (4,921 ft), because winter is usually marked by cold and dry periods; while the Apennines see many more snow falls during winter, but they are warmer and less wet in the other seasons.
Both the mountain chains can see up to 5–10 m (16 ft 4.85 in–32 ft 9.70 in) or 500–1,000 cm (196.9–393.7 in) of snow in a year at 2,000 m (6,562 ft); on the highest peaks of the Alps, snow may fall even during mid summer, and glaciers are present.
The record low is −45 °C (−49 °F) in the Alps, and −29 °C (−20.2 °F) near sea level (recorded on January 12, 1985 at San Pietro Capofiume, hamlet of Molinella, in the Province of Bologna), while in the south cities like Catania, Foggia, Lecce or Alghero have experienced highs of 46 °C (114.8 °F) in some hot summers.
Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco), the highest mountain in Italy and Western Europe.
Between the north and south there can be a considerable difference in temperature, above all during the winter: in some winter days it can be −2 °C (28.4 °F) and snowing in Milan, while it is 8 °C (46.4 °F) in Rome and 20 °C (68.0 °F) in Palermo. Temperature differences are less extreme in the summer.
The east coast of the italian peninsula is not as wet as the west coast, but is usually colder in the winter. The east coast north of Pescara is occasionally affected by the cold bora winds in winter and spring, but the wind is less strong here than around Trieste. During these frosty spells from E–NE cities like Rimini, Ancona, Pescara and the entire eastern hillside of the Apennines can be affected by true "blizzards". The town of Fabriano, located just around 300 m (984 ft) in elevation, can often see 0.5–0.6 m (1 ft 7.7 in–1 ft 11.6 in) of fresh snow fall in 24 hours during these episodes.
On the coast from Ravenna to Venice and Trieste, snow falls more rarely: during cold spells from the east, the cold can be harsh but with bright skies; while during the snowfalls that affect Northern Italy, the Adriatic coast can see a milder Sirocco wind which makes snow turn to rain—the mild effects of this wind often disappear just a few kilometres inside the plain, and sometimes the coast from Venice to Grado sees snow while it is raining in Trieste, the Po River mouths and Ravenna. Rarely, the city of Trieste may see snow blizzards with north-eastern winds; in the colder winters, the Venice Lagoon may freeze, and in the coldest ones even enough to walk on the ice sheet.
Tuscan landscape.
Summer is usually more stable, although the northern regions often have thunderstorms in the afternoon/night hours and some grey and rainy days. So, while south of Florence the summer is typically dry and sunny, in the north it tends to be more humid and cloudy. Spring and Autumn weather can be very changeable, with sunny and warm weeks (sometimes with Summer-like temperatures) suddenly broken off by cold spells or followed by rainy and cloudy weeks.
In the north precipitation is more evenly distributed during the year, although the summer is usually slightly wetter. Between November and March the Po valley is often covered by fog, especially in the central zone (Pavia, Piacenza, Cremona and Mantua), while the number of days with lows below 0 °C (32 °F) is usually from 60 to 90 a year, with peaks of 100–110 days in the mainly rural zones.[2] Snow is quite common between early December and early March in cities like Turin, Milan and Bologna, but sometime it appears in late November or late March and even April. In the winter of 2005–2006, Milan received around 0.75–0.8 m (2 ft 5.53 in–2 ft 7.50 in) or 75–80 cm (29.5–31.5 in) of fresh snow, Como around 1 m (3 ft 3.37 in) or 100 cm (39.4 in), Brescia 0.5 m (1 ft 7.69 in) or 50 cm (19.7 in), Trento 1.6 m (5 ft 2.99 in) or 160 cm (63.0 in), Vicenza around 0.45 m (1 ft 5.72 in) or 45 cm (17.7 in), Bologna around 0.3 m (11.81 in) or 30 cm (11.8 in), and Piacenza around 0.8 m (2 ft 7.50 in) or 80 cm (31.5 in).
Lake Garda from Riva del Garda.
Summer temperatures are often similar north to south. July temperatures are 22–24 °C (71.6–75.2 °F) north of river Po, like in Milan or Venice, and south of river Po can reach 24–25 °C (75.2–77 °F) like in Bologna, with fewer thunderstorms; on the coasts of Central and Southern Italy, and in the near plains, mean temperatures goes from 23 °C to 27 °C (80.6 °F). Generally, the hottest month is August in the south and July in the north; during these months the thermometer can reach 38–42 °C (100.4–107.6 °F) in the south and 32–35 °C (89.6–95 °F) in the north; Sometimes the country can be split as during winter, with rain and 20–22 °C (68–71.6 °F) during the day in the north, and 30–40 °C (86–104 °F) in the south; but, having a hot and dry summer does not mean that Southern Italy will not see rain from June to August.
The coldest month is January: the Po valley's mean temperature is between -1–1 °C (30.2–33.8 °F), Venice
2–3 °C (35.6–37.4 °F), Trieste 4 °C (39.2 °F), Florence 5–6 °C (41–42.8 °F), Rome 7–8 °C (44.6–46.4 °F), Naples9 °C (48.2 °F), and Cagliari 12 °C (53.6 °F). Winter morning lows can occasionally reach -30 to -20 °C (-22 to -4 °F) in the Alps, -14 to -8 °C (6.8 to 17.6 °F) in the Po valley, −7 °C (19.4 °F) in Florence, −4 °C (24.8 °F) in Rome, −2 °C (28.4 °F) in Naples and 2 °C (35.6 °F) in Palermo. In cities like Rome and Milan, strong heat islands can exist, so that inside the urban area, winters can be milder and summers more sultry.
On some winter mornings it can be just −3 °C (26.6 °F) in Milan's Dome plaza while -8 to -9 °C (17.6 to 15.8 °F) in the metropolitan outskirts, in Turin can be just −5 °C (23.0 °F) in the city centre and -10 to -12 °C (14 to 10.4 °F) in the metropolitan outskirts. Often, the largest snowfalls happen in February, sometime in January or March; in the Alps, snow falls more in autumn and spring over 1,500 m (4,921 ft), because winter is usually marked by cold and dry periods; while the Apennines see many more snow falls during winter, but they are warmer and less wet in the other seasons.
Both the mountain chains can see up to 5–10 m (16 ft 4.85 in–32 ft 9.70 in) or 500–1,000 cm (196.9–393.7 in) of snow in a year at 2,000 m (6,562 ft); on the highest peaks of the Alps, snow may fall even during mid summer, and glaciers are present.
The record low is −45 °C (−49 °F) in the Alps, and −29 °C (−20.2 °F) near sea level (recorded on January 12, 1985 at San Pietro Capofiume, hamlet of Molinella, in the Province of Bologna), while in the south cities like Catania, Foggia, Lecce or Alghero have experienced highs of 46 °C (114.8 °F) in some hot summers.
Geography of Italy
The diverse and exquisite nature of the Geography of Italy accounts for its attractiveness which has made the country a popular traveler's destination. The country is basically a peninsula with a unique boot shape, extending into the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Surrounded by seas on all three sides, Italy possesses a distinct beauty of its own.
The geographical features of Italy are varied; the south-western corner of the country is enveloped by Tyrrhenian Sea, while Adriatic Sea takes care of its north-eastern parts. The south-eastern Ionian Sea and the Ligurian Sea located in north-west Italy encircle the country from al possible sides and act as a shield of safety for Italy.
The Geography of Italy has two mountain ranges, namely the Alps and the Apennines. The Apennine mountain range is the literal backbone of the country, surrounding the north-western parts, from where it goes to join the Alps. The natural position of both these mountain ranges acquires the shape of an arc and this semicircular topography strengthens the northern boundaries of Italy against ant possible foreign invasions and encroaches.
Mont Blanc, popularly known as Monte Bianco, 4810 meters or 5,781 feet above sea levels, is the highest Italian mountain summit. The land also has two reputed volcanoes, among which Mount Vesuvius (1,281 m) close to Naples is presently in a dormant state. The other volcanic peak in Sicily, Mount Etna (3,326 m) is still very active, that seldom poses threat to the inhabitants of Italy.
Next to the mountains and the seas, come the valleys and the plain lands in the Geography of Italy . The Italian plain known as the Padan Plain is drained by the longest river of Italy - the Po (652 km) and its numerous tributaries and distributaries, mostly flowing down from the Alps and Apennines to join it. Some of the tributaries of Po River like Mincio, Dora Baltea, Trebbia and Secchia bring in extensive alluvial deposits on the plain, increasing its fertility and making it appropriate for cultivation. Some other notable Italian rivers include:
- Tiber or Tevere
- Volturno
- Tagliamento
- Liri-Garigliano
- Isonzo
- Adige
- Arno
- Piave
- Reno
Italy is also a land of lakes. The largest lake in Italy - Lake Garda covers a land area of370 km². Mention may be made of some other lakes in the country too like:
- Northern Italy
- Lake Como
- Lake Iseo
- Lake Maggiore
- Central Italy
- Lake Bolsena
- Lake Bracciano
- Lake Trasimeno
All these fresh water lakes add to the scenic beauty of the land, making it more and more alluring to international tourists.
More or less, the Geography of Italy is such that it has led to the growth and development of tourism industry in the country, Travelers from all over the globe visit this place to glance through its picturesque sceneries. This is a land which receives real admiration and acclaims from the ardent nature lovers.
History of the Italian language
The main language of Italy is Italian (a recent proposal aims to declare it the official language), a descendant of the Tuscan dialect and a direct descendant of Latin, but several regional languages are also spoken to varying degrees. Other non-indigenous languages are spoken by a substantial percentage of the population due to immigration.
The Tuscan dialect (or Florentine language) spoken in Tuscany was promoted as the standard due to the socio-economic power associated with Florence as well as its literary heritage (Dante's Divine Comedy is often credited with the emergence of the Tuscan dialect as a standard). Pietro Bembo, a Venetian influenced by Petrarch, also promoted Tuscan as the standard literary language (volgare illustre). The spread of the printing press and literary movements (such as petrarchism and bembism) also furthered Italian standardization.
When Italy was unified in 1861, Italian existed mainly as a literary language. Many Romance regional languages were spoken throughout the Italian Peninsula (Italian dialects), each with local variants. Following Italian unification Massimo Taparelli, marquis d'Azeglio, one of Cavour's ministers, is said to have stated that having created Italy, all that remained was to create Italians (a national identity).
The establishment of a national education system led to a decrease in variation in the languages spoken across the country. Standardization was further expanded in the 1950s and 1960s thanks to economic growth and the rise of mass media and television (the state broadcaster RAI helped set an Italian standard).
The Tuscan dialect (or Florentine language) spoken in Tuscany was promoted as the standard due to the socio-economic power associated with Florence as well as its literary heritage (Dante's Divine Comedy is often credited with the emergence of the Tuscan dialect as a standard). Pietro Bembo, a Venetian influenced by Petrarch, also promoted Tuscan as the standard literary language (volgare illustre). The spread of the printing press and literary movements (such as petrarchism and bembism) also furthered Italian standardization.
When Italy was unified in 1861, Italian existed mainly as a literary language. Many Romance regional languages were spoken throughout the Italian Peninsula (Italian dialects), each with local variants. Following Italian unification Massimo Taparelli, marquis d'Azeglio, one of Cavour's ministers, is said to have stated that having created Italy, all that remained was to create Italians (a national identity).
The establishment of a national education system led to a decrease in variation in the languages spoken across the country. Standardization was further expanded in the 1950s and 1960s thanks to economic growth and the rise of mass media and television (the state broadcaster RAI helped set an Italian standard).
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