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March shopping: fruit, vegetables and seasonal recipes – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay


Meteorological spring begins today, March 1; the astronomical one with the equinox on Wednesday 20th of this month. There March spending It therefore reveals this moment of transition towards the new season: we still find abundant fruit and vegetables typical of winter and spring products are already appearing on the shelves.

Wild, cultivated, green and white

But we’ll be there soon. In March the first “official” announcements of spring come with asparagus: those cultivatedbut also those wild (pungent asparagus, Asparagus acutifolius) widespread throughout central-southern Italy, especially suitable for the preparation of excellent first courses with tagliatelle, macaroni (in Marche), Pici (in Tuscany) e you strangulate (in Umbria). The variety commonly cultivated in Italy, especially in Campaniait is thecommon asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), selected for cultivation already in Roman times. Among these, the varieties are valuable whitelike theasparagus from Bassano del Grappa in Veneto, that of Tavagnacco in Friuli and that of Cantello in Lombardy, which grow largely underground. White asparagus was selected much later, in the 16th century, when a hailstorm devastated the asparagus crops and the farmers made do by consuming the roots not yet emerged from the ground. In addition to traditional first courses, cultivated asparagus can be used for recipes such as asparagus cream and fried cream puffs; crepe lasagna with asparagus and taleggio cheese; soft eggs with asparagus cream; bruschettona, hummus, asparagus and courgettes.

Those cute beards

Next to asparagus, the other symbol of March dishes is made up of agretti or friar beards or negus beards. A very common ingredient in Roman cuisinebut who is meeting a growing success throughout Italy for its dietary qualities (just 17 kcal per 100 g): they are rich in water and fibre, have an excellent effect on diuresis and intestinal regularity. They also contain vitamin A, C and group B, especially B3. Mineral salts include potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. In addition to their diuretic properties, they have purifying properties, thanks also to the high presence of chlorophyll and remineralising properties. Agretti usually go boiled and sautéed in a pan with garlic and oil, but in the first courses they also act as scenographic “green spaghetti” along with the “normal” ones. Or in the filling of ravioli or gods cannelloni. With their slightly bitter flavor they are also excellent in savory pies, such as in tarts with stracchino and agretti; in the flans; with the trout; with the potatoes; or with raisins and lettuce dressing. But be careful: the agretti season begins at the end of March and is very short. In May they will already be nowhere to be found.

March spending
Agretti with olives and dried tomatoes

Agretti, a rare and delicate first fruit, to be combined with olives and dried tomatoes for a simple and seasonal recipe

Go to the recipe

March’s shopping: spinach and Brussels sprouts

March is the right time for children too spinachas well as some spring onions. Excellent time for artichokes, with the violets, the thorny ones and the various violets present almost everywhere at the same time. The reign of winter vegetables, the family of damn in the lead, even if the season for them is now in its waning phase. With the exception of Brussels sproutsespecially good in February, but which are also appreciated in March, as well as the chard and the leek. Green light also at Fava beans.

Shopping in February, love on the table – Italian Cuisine

Shopping in February, love on the table


Fruits, vegetables, fish, snacks to munch in front of the TV and aphrodisiac foods: the smart shopping cart of February

New tv series, Saint Valentine, Carnival, Sanremo and again twenty-eight days on the calendar. Welcome back February, a month of great "commitments" that have an excellent relationship with food. So what shouldn't be missing in the shopping cart for the next few weeks?

Fruit to buy in February

A Apple a day, you know, never hurts. Contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium and can be used with imagination in the kitchen. Cakes, tarts, strudel but also salads. Pears are no exception, but under the fruit item, for this month, there are also grapefruit, tangerine and i persimmon, essential for preparing a gluttonous jam, ideal accompaniment to aged cheeses. But you can also simply spread it on rusks for breakfast.

Seasonal vegetables

Cabbages, Brussels sprouts, Romanesco cabbage, cauliflower. And the broccoli, which is not to be missed on the shopping list. As well as its "cousins", very useful for a soup that for lunch, at least one day a week, also fits perfectly in February. The other vegetables and vegetables of the season not to be forgotten? Fennel, radicchio, spinach, artichoke, leek, turnips and pumpkin. Yeah, the pumpkin, a winning ingredient for delicious tortelli with orange filling. The recipe is typical of the area between Emilia and lower Lombardy; their flavor bitter-sweetinstead, it is perfect at any latitude. And for one dinner romantic, on Valentine's Day, can be a great idea.

Food, TV and love

Given the schedule for February, it is better to find a good compromise: in front of the TV, yes, but without the usual guilt-inducing diet. Dried fruit, crackers, strawberries, yogurt and even dark chocolate. Which then, returning again to the February 14, it can also become useful for a dessert to share. A Dark Chocolate Cake also requires butter, sugar and eggs: marked?

Not just fish

Sole, sea bass and sea bass, fish lovers are warned: here are the ones that should not be missing on the shopping list. To add to the shopping list also artichokes, rocket, lettuce and chicory. As well as the chili, ginger and oysters, aphrodisiac foods that for the feast of lovers are a must at the table. This completes an ideal shopping cart to face the second month of the year in the best possible way.

Christmas shopping: how to save without giving up anything – Italian Cuisine

Christmas shopping: how to save without giving up anything


Goal of the upcoming holidays: spend less, eat better, don't waste anything, make everyone happy, pamper yourself at the table

During the Christmas holidays inevitably a lot of money is spent, often uselessly and often on the kitchen.
You buy too much and badly, you don't consume everything and a lot of things go to waste.
Our advice? Take your measurements for this Christmas.

The essentials on the Christmas table

Let's start with what we believe should not be missing at Christmas at the table.
For the Vigil fish of excellent quality, no doubt, but don't overdo the quantities.
Better to cook less, but better. So a good appetizer, perhaps with several appetizers, a first and a second. Stop!
For the Christmas lunch follow the tradition because in general the dishes of the classic Italian cuisine of Christmas are not always super expensive.
Also in this case we recommend rich appetizers, a first course, a second course and a side dish.
Obviously, the dessert cannot be missing and in addition to the traditional sweets that from north to south make the end of every holiday meal special, it cannot be missed. panettone, or the pandoro if you love the genre more.
In this case, you can spend a little more for a quality handmade product because it is always worth it.
Same thing goes for wines. Few but good.

It is not necessary but it does party

There dried fruit and the dried one have a fairly high cost, but often during the holidays it is possible to take advantage of the offers. Are these ingredients necessary for our table? No, but if not at Christmas when?
In this case, then make a good supply to put at the center of the table together with coffee and bitters after the party lunches and dinners and also during the bingo because munching on almonds, walnuts, dried figs and dates puts you in a good mood.
And then some delicious sweets also for breakfast or for a snack with friends, a special tea or herbal tea, some cuddles that can make the holidays even more special for us and for our guests.
Ponder these expenses well, but treat yourself to one comfort food that warms the heart this Christmas.

The one you can save on

Do you want your table to be unique, beautiful and elegant?
Well, this is how the Christmas table should be, but it is not necessary to buy something new for the table every year, a new set of plates, glasses and tablecloths.
If you have any household items to which you are emotionally very attached, use them and everything will be more intimate and beautiful.
Then you play a lot with the decorations that don't necessarily have to be bought, but you can make them yourself with pine cones, dried leaves and flowers, candles and fruit, Christmas balls and garlands to eat.

Some advice for a careful expense

Go at the supermarket a few days earlier of the holidays, at least for everything that is not fresh.
For fruit and vegetables, however, it is always better to buy them at the market.
Buy locally when possible, and we're not just talking about fruit and vegetables, but also products such as meat, bread, pasta, cheeses and cold cuts. Choose the quality closest to you.

At the supermarket, on the other hand, take advantage of the offers if there are any and go shopping following one exact list that you have prepared with great care at home, trying not to let yourself be tempted by everything you don't need.
Establish menus of the holidays and go on your way, without second thoughts otherwise you will spend days shopping without ever having at home everything you really need to cook what you have in mind.
What you absolutely must get, if you don't already have them, are box for storing leftovers or to prepare small gifts for your guests when there is too much food at the table, even if after all that we have just said it shouldn't happen. Obviously, freeze and do not throw away, when possible!

Greedy gifts

If you love to cook, do it for Christmas gifts too.
Instead of spending money on useless gifts that may not even be appreciated, why not prepare some delicious packages? Here are some ideas:

Pistachio cookie
Christmas liqueurs
Christmas cookies
Homemade panettone
Homemade Pandoro

Scroll through the gallery above to get some other savings ideas

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