Italian Cuisine: Osso Buco

Osso Buco:
 Osso Buco is probably one of my favourite dishes and translates to "bone with a hole".It comprises of veal shank but the sauce is debatable,variations can include or exclude Gremolata.Osso Buco can be found all over the world,but originates from Milan,although the best Osso Buco that I've had was in a small family run Italian in Melbourne,Australia.
 Authentic Osso Buco uses the meat from the middle part of the hind shank,which has tender flesh around the bone,unlike the fore shank.
 I prefer Osso Buco with spaghetti but it can be served with rice,mashed potato.

                  

                                                                                                                                                                        

Links to good Osso Buco recipes:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ossobucomilanesestyl_65553
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/14109/osso+bucco

Italian cuisine: Cannoli

  Cannoli:
Cannoli is a Sicilian cream and pastry dessert. The singular of cannoli is cannolo,which means "little tube",cannoli stems from the Latin word "canna" which translates to reed.


Cannoli consists of tubed shaped fried pastry dough,which is then filled with a sweet creamy filling,the filling usually consists of ricotta cheese and chopped succade(candied citrus peel).

     Shell Ingredients:  
  4 cups sifted plain flour.
    2 tablespoons of sugar.
    one quarter teaspoon of salt.
    3 tablespoons of butter,softened.
    2 egg yolks.
    6 ounces of white wine.

  Filling ingredients:
  32 ounces of ricotta cheese.
    12 ounces of icing sugar.
    1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.

   Directions:

   Mix the sugar,plain flour and salt together in a bowl.Then add the softened butter (in pieces). add egg yolks and the stir.Add wine into the mixture while stirring at the same time. Form the dough into a ball and let it rest for half an hour. Roll dough on a floured surface till it is almost paper thin. cut circles out of the pastry using a pastry cutter and the form into an oval,then wrap the pastry around a cannoli tube(metal tube),fry one or two at a time at about 180 degrees celsius for about one minute or golden brown. drain off oil and leave the cannoli till it is cool,then slide it off the metal tube. drain the ricotta cheese if it's watery then mix it in with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. chill the mixture and then pipe it into the shells(also cooled). Cannoli can be garnished with crushed pistachios,chocolate shavings etc. keep it in the fridge till serving time.

How to care for cats

1. Get a covered litter box. The cover will help control odour and keep the cat from urinating over the side. Even if you plan to keep your cat outdoors some of the time, it is healthier for the cat if it can urinate indoors when it needs to. Also, most cats will prefer their litter box to going outdoors. It is cleaner(if you take care of it like you are supposed to) and prevents the cat from catching parasites, such as toxoplasmosis, from digging in the outside dirt.

2. Get some cat litter to put in the litter box. The clumping kind stays cleaner and lasts much longer. Also get a slotted pooper scooper to remove the droppings daily.

 

3. Take the cat for a veterinary check-up and obtain any needed vaccinations. Also have it spayed or neutered in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies or male spraying. Get some topical flea treatment from your veterinarian. You are supposed to apply it once a month, but once every two months will still do the trick.

 4. Get a scratching post with rope. Carpeted scratching posts can make a cat sick if it ingests the carpet. A scratching post will help save your furniture and allow your cat to satisfy its scratching instinct

5. Get some dry cat food from your veterinarian. Some cats prefer dry food, others wet. Dry food is easier for the owner to dispense, doesn't make any mess, and doesn't have as much smell. Always make sure the cat has a fresh bowl of water every day, especially if it is eating dry cat food.

6 Get some balls or cat toys for your cat to play with. Also get a brush to take care of its fur. Stroke your cat and talk to it to show affection.

 

Man's best friend!

How to care for your Dog

1.Wake up your dog and take it out of it's bed in the morning. If it doesn't sleep in a bed, get it a bed!

2.Give your dog some breakfast, it is best to feed your dog half its food in the morning as it has to be at least a bit hungry in the morning like you!

3.Go for a walk. A small walk or a big walk, either is fine. Or, if you don't have the time to take it for a walk, put it in your backyard! If you don't have a backyard, don't get a dog!

4.Come back home and give it some water. It's probably thirsty from all that walking! 

5.Give it a short break. It could also be a long break if you wish. 

6.Brush your dog. If your pet sheds a lot, you should brush it everyday. If not, every other day!

7.Feed your dog. It must be hungry by now. Feed it two cups of food. If your dog is on a diet, give it one cup of food. It might look like it's not a lot, but it's good for your dog!

8.Put it in its bed. Your dog will be tired by then, so pet it on the head and leave the room if not entering again. But, if you are staying up longer, watch television with it, or maybe even let it get on your sofa, but don't do this if it's not allowed to. Even if you let it go on the sofa once, that might teach it that it can go on it when ever it wants!



9.Enjoy your dog and remember:          

"Your dog is a part of your life, but to your dog, you are it's life!"