Italian vs American Pizzas

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Italian vs American Pizzas

It’s fairly well established that the first pizza as we know it today was created by a man named Esposito from Naples, Italy. Esposito’s creation was designed to honor the visit of Queen Margherita to Naples in 1889, and he decorated it with the colors of the Italian flag. The most traditional pie is the pizza Napolitano, or Neapolitan pizza. Common varieties of Neapolitan pizza include marinara, made with tomato, olive oil, oregano, and garlic, and margherita, made with tomato, olive oil, fresh basil leaves, and mozzarella cheese.
Italian immigrants brought this recipe with them to America. The first pizzeria was opened in America in 1905. It remained popular almost exclusively among immigrants until the end of World War II, when American soldiers returned to their home soil and brought back a love of the pizza they had discovered overseas. With that, the pizza boom in America began.

New York was home to the first pizza parlor in the United States, opened in Little Italy in 1905 by Lombardi. Chicago is also home to a major variety of pizza. The Chicago-style pizza is deep dish, meaning it is made in a pan with the crust formed up the sides, or even with two crusts and sauce between, a so-called “stuffed”. The Midwest also plays host to the St. Louis style pizza. This thin-crust delicacy is made using local cheese instead of mozzarella, and is very crispy. Heavily seasoned with oregano and other spices, with a slightly sweet sauce, it is difficult to fold because of the crust and is often cut into squares, instead of served in slices. A Hawaiian pizza is an American invention that has nothing to do with Hawaii save that one of the main ingredients is pineapple. The pineapple is put atop the pizza, along with bacon, giving a rather sweet taste very different from pizzas closer to the Italian original. A number of esoteric pizzas are common on the West coast, and “gourmet” pizza is often referred to as “California-style” pizza. This is an example of fusion cuisine.

Ingredients of Californian pizza:

Dough
1 cup lukewarm water (110 degrees)
2 packages yeast
3 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons cornmeal

Pesto
1 cup olive oil
2 cups fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Topping
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 sweet red pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
1 green peppers, seeded and sliced into strips
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1/2 pound garlic and fennel sausage or sweet Italian sausage
3 ounces goat cheese
10 ounces Mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Preparation: Mix flour, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Make a “well” in the center, pour in yeast solution and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Blend in the flour using a fork, working towards the outside of the well. As dough becomes stiff, incorporate remaining flour by hand. Gather into a ball and knead eight to ten minutes on a floured board. Place in an oil-coated bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, approximately two hours.

Prepare pesto sauce using a blender or food processor. Combine all ingredients except cheese. Process but do not create a puree. Stir in cheese.

Prepare toppings: Saute onions and peppers in olive oil and water in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently until peppers are soft. Drain and set aside. Brown sausage, breaking into pieces as it cooks. Drain off excess fat. Chop coarsely.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spread remaining tablespoon of olive oil evenly over a 12 inch pizza pan. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Punch down pizza dough, flatten lightly with a rolling pin, turn and flatten with fingers. Place dough in pan and spread to edges with fingertips. Bake five minutes. Spread pesto sauce over dough. Crumble goat cheese evenly over pesto. Add onions and peppers, sausage, and cheeses. Bake 10 minutes or until crust is slightly brown and cheese is bubbly.

If you are looking for La Jolla Italian Restaurant you should visit Lupi Cucine Restaurant one of the best San Diego Italian Restaurant . Casual, contemporary and urban describe the setting, which is highlighted by modern art on warm colored walls enhanced by dark wood. Menu features house-made pastas and pizzas, fresh seafood, roasted meats and poultry, house-made breads and desserts.

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Californian vs Italian Pasta

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Californian vs Italian Pasta

Italy, a nation of 58 million people, is a patchwork quilt of 20 distinct regions. All Italian cooking relies on olive oil, grains and fresh, seasonal produce, but each region has its own preferences and specialties. California and Italy have much in common, which explains why many simple Italian dishes featuring fresh ingredients are popular in the USA.

While red sauce is the most familiar match for Italian pasta, as you move into Northern Italy the tomatoes and olive oil give way to creamy butter as a popular pasta topping. Northern Italy is a major dairy region, much like California.

Hearty enough to serve as a main course with a green salad on the side, California pasta is also a perfect accompaniment to any type of meat or chicken dish. It also goes well with fish because its rich yet subtle flavors do not overwhelm even the most delicate fish. This recipe works best with slightly wider forms of pasta, such as linguini or fettuccini, which provide a nice balance between the pasta and butter coating.

Californian pasta ingredients:

1 pound (16 ounces) dried or fresh linguini
2 tablespoons salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
1 cup (4 ounces) Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup toasted bread crumbs
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation: In a large (6-8 quart) pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add salt and pasta. While pasta is cooking, cut butter into 1-inch pieces and set aside to soften. When pasta is cooked to desired doneness, drain in a colander, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Return drained pasta to the cooking pot and add butter, half the grated cheese and half the bread crumbs. Add the reserved pasta water to moisten. Put it t to a serving bowl or portion into individual pasta bowls and sprinkle remaining cheese and bread crumbs on top. Serve immediately.

Italian pasta ingredients:

12 large ripe plum tomatoes
1/2 cup olive oil
3 large cloves garlic
1/2 cup black olives, pitted and sliced into thin strips
3 tbsp minced fresh basil
1/4 cup minced Italian parsley leaves
Salt
1/2 tsp freshly milled black pepper
1 lb fusilli (twists)
Freshly grated Romano cheese

Preparation: Blanch fresh tomatoes in boiling water for 1 minute. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold water. Peel skins with a small paring knife. Cut each tomato in half lengthwise. Squeeze each half and discard all of the seeds. Slice into 1/4-inch strips, place in strainer set over a bowl and reserve juice. In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, olives, basil, parsley, 1 tsp salt and pepper; mix well with wooden spoon. Transfer to a 1 1/2 quart jar with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate sauce for at least 6 hours or overnight, turning jar 3 to 4 times so that tomatoes will be well coated with marinade. Remove sauce and reserved juice from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours before serving. Discard garlic from sauce just before tossing with pasta. Cook pasta in 6 quarts boiling water with 1 tbsp salt. Drain pasta in a colander, transfer to a bowl containing 1 tbsp olive oil and toss quickly. Toss pasta with 3/4 of the sauce.

If you are looking for La Jolla Italian Restaurant you should visit Lupi Cucine Restaurant one of the best San Diego Italian Restaurant . Casual, contemporary and urban describe the setting, which is highlighted by modern art on warm colored walls enhanced by dark wood. Menu features house-made pastas and pizzas, fresh seafood, roasted meats and poultry, house-made breads and desserts.

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Mobility Scooters

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

Those who suffer from health problems and issues that affect their mobility often have trouble walking and moving. This makes it very difficult to go to the store, the mall, or other areas that require a lot of walking. A mobility scooter can be used to help retain your independence and mobility.

Mobility scooters were first introduced in the 1960’s. Since then their popularity and the technology behind them has greatly improved. Mobility scooters are personal movement devices that are powered by battery and can be used both indoors and out. If you frequently travel, then it is possible to purchase a travel scooter, which can be disassembled into several easy to handle pieces. Travel scooters are great for most indoor and paved areas, but if you plan on using it outdoors over rough terrain then you would probably be better off with a heavy duty mobility scooter. There are several different types in between as well, so it is possible to find one that will fit your specific requirements.

While now almost all mobility scooters are battery powered, a few still can be found that use gasoline as their power source. These types can be dangerous though for several reasons. You are at greater risk of fire, they can get very hot, and due to the fumes put off by these units, they can not be used indoors or in areas with poor ventilation. Instead battery power is much more reliable and safer. Some units can travel over 30 miles per charge and if you plan on doing a lot of traveling, you can always purchase an extra battery.

Deciding on the right mobility scooter for you will depend on several factors. Of course price is always a consideration, but most are very affordably priced. The places that you intend to use the unit and whether you need to be able to transport it easily are two important considerations.

If you need more information on mobility products like mobility vans or any kind of mobility vehicles visit http://www.betterlifemobility.com/

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Business Insurance Online

Friday, April 8th, 2011

What do you know about business insurance? What you should know about business insurance are two things that are important when you are out to get business insurance for yourself. There are many factors that you will need to take into consideration. But the most important of them are:

1.            Price: You need to know you are getting the best quote available. The only ways to ensure that is by getting quotes from at least five different insurance companies and compare them. When you do that, check all the pros and cons so you get the complete picture. Some insurance agencies charge a very small fee upfront but has a lot of other fees such as processing fees, inspection fees, documentation fees, etc which will take the price through the roof. Better still run a search through the Internet and get savvy about the running rate. Another good way to find a good quote is to ask around from friends and relatives. There is nothing better than a tried and trusted hand.

2.            Stability: professional companies such as Standard & Poor’s Insurance Rating Services, AM Best, Weiss Research, etc rate all insurance companies’ performances.   Make it a point to get sufficient information about the company you choose for your business. Be warned that there are millions of scams out there and unless you are very careful, you will end up in many more woes than without insurance. Be careful when you make the decision – a wrong decision can be the road to bankruptcy.

3.            Service: Everyone in this world who buys something looks forward to have the best value for their money. When it comes to insurance the best value is synonymous with service. You can decide how good is your company through the way they answer to your queries and their patience in explaining the nitty-gritty of the insurance policy and its alternatives. You can also gauge the quality of their service from their references. You make it a point to ask for references and follow up on them. Make enquiries and decide only after you are thoroughly satisfied. Once you sign with the insurance company, you cannot do much if you find it giving you horrible service. Be sure before hand.

4.            Be informed: All insurance companies need to be registered with the National Insurance Producer Registry. You should not look at insurance companies with a rating of less than B+ as they might be spelling trouble. You want to make sure there is no major black spot on your company; you need to check it out here whether the insurance company has any complaints against it. The Registry will also confirm the validity of the complaints and you can get a pretty accurate picture about the said insurance company from here.

Insurance agent: You can get your business insured through an insurance agent as well.  They work on commission basis with the major insurance companies and if you get a good agent he will be able to guide you that can be the best policy and scheme for you. However, keep in mind that he works for commission and he will definitely be interested to earn the highest amount. Hence he will be more likely to promote the company that pays him the highest commission more aggressively. You accept his advice, and run your check on the company as well. When buying an insurance policy through an agent, you will have to ensure two things, i.e. (i) that the agent is a good worker and has a good reputation and (ii) that the company he is representing is above reproach. Ask references from the agent, ask for names of at 5-10 clients and check up on them. If the agent refuses to cooperate, change him/her immediately.

For more on business insurance visit San Diego Business Insurance.

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A Basic Guide To Home Contents Insurance

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Basically, home contents insurance is insurance protection against the replacement cost that you would otherwise have to pay to replace the contents of your home in the event of then being lost, damaged or stolen. As is the case with home buildings insurance, the main factors contributing to grounds under which you can make a claim against your home contents insurance include theft/burglary, damage due to floods, burst water pipes or boilers, etc.

First, in the case of home contents insurance, it is rarely the case that your mortgage provider is going to insist that you have this type of insurance as part of your mortgage agreement;

Second, regardless of whether you own or rent the property you are currently living in, you should still be looking to insure the contents of your home – as these are your personal possessions.

Two further aspects of home contents insurance also need to be considered carefully when you are checking out the different kinds of policies on offer. In some, but not all, cases you can be insured for your home contents even when the items listed in your home contents insurance policy are not actually physically located on the home ‘property’. So, for example,

First, it is possible to claim when you are transporting items from one place to another and they are stolen.

Second, home contents insurance is insurance against the replacement cost of the item being insured.

It does not, nor is it intended to, insure you against the nostalgic value of the item damaged/lost. So, for example, if you insure a picture your deceased grandmother gave you, which would cost 20 to replace, it makes little difference that it was your deceased grandmother who gave it to you and that it cannot, therefore, be replaced.

Although home contents insurance is, in all but a few very rare circumstances, a completely voluntary scheme of insurance to subscribe to, if you are in any doubt as to the value of this insurance scheme, take a quick mental inventory of the contents on your home and their value and then get a few quotes off the internet and you’ll soon be seeing the value of having your home contents properly insured.

All information you need find at San Diego Home insurance.

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San Diego Business Insurance

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

At the beginning you need to know some basic terms when it comes to insurance. An insurer is a company selling the insurance and an insured is the person or entity buying the insurance policy. The insurance rate is used to determine the amount to be charged for a insurance coverage, we call it premium. So business insurance is form of business risk management.

When you start a business you need to have insurance – it’s a simple fact. But before you buy small business insurance, it’s wise to shop around for the best rates to ensure that you have a clear understanding of what needs to be covered.

Business Owner Policy (BOP) was designed to provide business owners with a package of coverage with options necessary to meet a wide variety of insurance needs. Standard business owner’s policy (BOP) provides coverage for property from fire, wind and theft, liability (injury of someone in your business or by your product), business interruption, and in some cases, workers’ compensation. The components of each BOP differs significantly and your agent need to ensure that your policy contains all the components your business requires. Some of this business includes: bakery’s, retail stores, beauty/barber salons, restaurants, garage operations, car washes, apartments and many more.

Some state may require insurance of specific business activities. For example, if you own a car or truck and use it for business purposes, you may be required to purchase commercial auto insurance.

Types of Business Insurance

General Liability Insurance
Product Liability Insurance
Professional Liability Insurance
Commercial Property Insurance
Home-Based Business Insurance

Different types of coverage fit the different needs you might have. To determine what type of coverage applies to you, consider your individual situation. Once you have all the information you’re looking for, you are ready to get a quote.

Businesses need to be protected from the consequences of crime too. BOP’s will give you protection from all kinds of crimes including burglary, theft, and robbery…
Liability Protection is very important too. BOP’s provide liability protection against civil suits for accidents, product liability, slander, copyright infringement…

San Diego business insurance offers a wide variety of insurance needs. For more please visit San Diego Business Insurance.

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San Diego Auto Insurance

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Auto insurance helps you meet whatever is coming down the road with a greater peace of mind.
Whether you’re buying your first car or your teenager is about to hit the road, your car insurance needs will vary.
You want to protect the people and things that are important to you. Auto insurance can help you:
protect your investment in your automobile, pay for medical expenses in case of an accident, provide financial protection from lawsuits, cover losses caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers, pay for damage due to theft, vandalism or natural disasters.

One way to get the car you want and still save a little money is to check out the overall safety of the car. If the car has plenty of safety features (such as airbags, anti-theft systems, etc.) and a good safety rating in crash tests… There are other factors that will influence your insurance rates, such as your age, gender, driving record, and where you live. However, they don’t always play as large of a role as the car you drive. Sporty, fancy car will cost you more than driving a wagon or a nice four door family car.
Types of auto insurance coverage vary from state to state or differ according to the company that does the insuring. California does have a financial responsibility law, but the amount of coverage that is required is ridiculously low compared to the actual amount of coverage you would need to pay for a total loss or a major accident. As a law, drivers in California must have the following insurance coverage:

$15,000 per person injury coverage
$30,000 per accident for injury coverage
$5,000 property damage coverage per accident

There are a variety of coverage options available to you:
Liability Coverage covers damages to others if you’re at fault in an accident,
Collision Coverage will repair or replace your insured car after an accident,
Comprehensive Coverage pays for loss or damages to your car from a danger other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, or national disaster,
Underinsured/Uninsured Motorists Coverage protects you for covered age caused by drivers who don’t have auto,
Rental Reimbursement pays for a rental car when your auto is disabled during a car accident,
Personal Injury Protection covers treatments needed from an accident including medical, rehabilitation, lost earnings, replacement of services, and funeral expenses,
Medical Payments Coverage covers payments for your medical treatment or funeral expenses when bodily injury is caused by an accident.

You should check into available discounts and higher coverage amounts if you are a low-risk driver, because you might be able to get a better policy for less money. Remember, all auto insurance isn’t the same. Different types of coverage fit the different needs you might have. To determine what type of coverage applies to you, consider your individual situation. Once you have all the information you’re looking for, you are ready to get a quote. Auto insurance is imperative, yes, but it’s best to drive safe!

Visit San Diego Auto Insurance for best variety of coverage options available to you.

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