Thanks to a recent trip to a fabulous Proms Night I made an interesting discovery into the most basic of meals: the boiled egg. 

Try boiling an egg in the usual way, but as soon as the water boils, turn it down to a simmer and start to play The Marriage of Figaro Overture by Mozart (obviously, you do need to be a bit organised and have set it up in advance!) By the time it’s over, you’ll have the perfect soft-boiled egg.

Delia says to use an egg timer, I’d go for Mozart every time.

We always knew that our Vialone Nano risotto rice is a bit special and it is nice to have it comfirmed…… 

Giorgio Locatelli mentioned it in the Sunday Times Style magazine last week as one of “the products that I always make sure I have in my larder.”

At Just So Italian we like to think we always try that bit harder to uncover the hidden gems of Italy and Vialone Nano risotto rice from Cascina Veneria is definitely one of those gems!   Click Here to take a closer look

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Italian Restaurant vouchers – Just So Italian

Moneysupermarket have teamed up with Just So Italian to give you access to the best Italian restaurant vouchers so you never have to pay full price for a meal again!

Italian food is so diverse no wonder it is one of the most popular types of food in the world.  Most families will have at least one Italian dish per week, whether it be pizza, pasta, spaghetti bolognaise or lasagne- as these are tastes that every member of the family will enjoy.  The popularity of eating out at Italian restaurants has grown over the past 10 years, and more and more restaurants are jumping on the band wagon.  The recession has had a negative effect on the numbers of families who eat out which has meant that the vouchers industry has doubled year on year since 2007.  Many Italian eateries are now offering money-off vouchers to lure you into their restaurants.  Here are some of the best Italian restaurant offers, to save you and your family money when enjoying an evening out…

Ask vouchers - Ask is a modern Italian restaurant who specialise in pastas, pizzas and and risottos, and is a very popular choice for Birthday outings and special occasions.  Ask frequently have brilliant deals and vouchers to ensure that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for your favourite Italian cuisine, for example 2 for 1 on main meals.  Before heading down to Ask always check if there is a discount voucher available. Remember, Dads eat free this Father’s Day at Ask!

Pizza Express vouchers – Pizza Express has become one of the nation’s favourites when it comes to pizza.  The whole family will love this restaurant, whether you visit on a Wednesday after a movie (Orange Wednesdays) or any other day when they regulary offer discounts such as buy one pizza and get another for £1.  This is the place for you if you enjoy the fancier pizza- not just your run of the mill pepperoni!

Prezzo vouchers – Prezzo has a wide range of Italian cuisine to choose from; whether you fancy pasta, pizza, al forno or something from the grill- they are sure to have something to tickle your taste-buds!  Prezzo frequently offer 2 for 1 on main meals and are offering 50% off food tonight for all those football phobics!

Bella Italia vouchers – For a more traditional approach to the Italian menu, Bella Italia may be the place for you.  Enjoy all of the Italian favourites for less will a voucher from moneysupermarket.com.  We regularly have a range of vouchers for you to use at your local Bella Italia. 

Pizza Hut vouchers – Whether you’re going out for a quick bite to eat or ordering in, Pizza Hut is the perfect antidote for your pizza cravings.  If pizza isn’t your thing then there is a range of pasta and salad to choose from too- and the kids will love the ice-cream factory!  Check for discounts before you head out as there are regularly 2 for 1 offers and special offers on delivery- especially throughout the World Cup!

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The next time you make a risotto take a moment to consider which type of rice would suit you best.

By far and away the top two types of risotto rice are Vialone Nano and Carnaroli. Carnaroli being the creamier of the two.

Indeed our producer in Piemonte in Northern Italy tells us that because the number of broken grains in his rice is so low it is very easy to create a beautiful risotto that is not too heavy.

As an alternative why not try one of our ready made risotti. Made with Carnaroli rice and conatining all the other ingredients that you need, all you have to do is add water and stir over a moderate heat.

More more information visit our Just So Italian online deli.

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We’ve just got Christmas out the way and now Easter is only round the corner.  

To celebrate, we will be stocking a delicious range of Colomba, the traditional Italian Easter cake, made for us by our producer in Piemonte. 

The Colomba is a light cake with candied peel and a crunchy almond crust.  It is similar in texture to a panettone, but baked in the shape of a dove symbolising peace. 

 Traditionally served at the end of the meal, the cake is just as tasty with a cup of tea at anytime

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For Valentine’s Day 2010 we’ve made some special heart shaped biscuits based on our popular ‘Baci di dama’ range. The original recipe from Tortona in Piemonte dates back over 150 years. We’ve hand made our chocolaty version in our kitchen in the UK.

They are hand made buttery almond biscuits,  sandwiched together with dark chocolate in a heart shape. 

Cuori di Dama (200g) – £3.95

They come in a tied cellophane bag together with one of our tags. Ideal as a Valentine’s day gift together with a nice bottle of Prosecco.

For that special person why not choose the “Create your own Hamper” item in the Gifts section on our web site and we will gift wrap your choices in a lovely gift box complete with ribbon.

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A Wonderfully different version of a traditional dish and an excellent use for any leftover Christmas Panettone.

2 apples
1 tbsp caster sugar
1 tbsp water
1 cinnamon stick

80g sultanas
100ml Vin Santo or other sweet wine

100g butter, softened
300g panettone*
600ml single cream
4 eggs
60g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp demerara sugar

The products marked with * are available from our online deli. Just click on the link for more details.
 

Serves six people

• Soak the sultanas in the Vin Santo overnight
• Peel the apple and cut into small cubes. Put into a small saucepan with the sugar, water and cinnamon stick and cook for about 10 minutes or until the apple is soft.
• Grease an ovenproof dish (about 25cm x 25cm), with a little of the butter.
• Cut the panettone into slices about 1.5cm thick and spread the rest of the butter evenly over them.
• Arrange a layer of panettone in the dish, buttered side up and sprinkle over the apples and sultanas. Finish with another layer of buttered panettone.
• Whisk together the cream, eggs, caster sugar and vanilla extract and pour over the panettone. 
• Sprinkle over the demerara sugar and cook at 160 degrees for 30 minutes.

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Just So ITALIAN

As well as the usual Panettone Classico, this year we have quite a few different speciality cakes for you to consider.

We have panettone from Piemonte; they are notable for its hazelnut and almond crust. We have chocolate pannetone, gianduja panettone and even an alcoholic Zabaglione panettone (pictured).

Or as an alternative why not go for a Pandoro or maybe the Tuscan cakes – Panforte & Pampepato.

Click here to go to the Just So ITALIAN web site………….

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Strawberry & Acacia Honey

We are very pleased to announce that our Strawberry and Acacia Honey was awarded four stars in last month’s edition of ITALIA magazine.

Here is what they had to say…..

While many of the honeys on test here come purely from one plant, this offering from Just So Italian has a unique edge – the addition of strawberries to the acacia honey.

While this provides an interesting colour as the five per cent strawberry gives the runny honey a slightly reddish hue, it also adds to the flavour.

The first thing you taste is strawberry, and only a few seconds later does the honey taste come through.

One taster commented that this “added another level of sweetness to the acacia, complementing each other perfectly.”

For more information click here

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Why not take advantage of the broad bean season by making this simple but tasty salad with a lemony twist. Just right for adding to your hamper and heading off for a picnic!

Some of the ingredients in the recipe are available from our just so ITALIAN online deli. Where this is the case we have linked them so you just need to click on the name of the ingredient to take you straight to the shop.  

300g broad beans, fresh if possible but if not use frozen

100g taggiasche olives

3 tomatoes

120g Pecorino Vinacce, cut into 1cm cubes

2 tablespoons lemon oil

salt & pepper

•    Bring a small pan of salted water to the boil and add the broad beans.

•    Cook the beans for about 2 minutes, or until tender, then run under cold water. Gently remove the outer pods and put the beans into a large bowl.

•    Add the olives, tomatoes cut into pieces and the cubed cheese.

•    Drizzle over the lemon olive oil and season with salt & pepper to taste.

Either serve immediately with some warm crusty bread or if the weather’s nice why not allow it to cool, pack it in your hamper and head off for that well deserved picnic….