Posts

Featured Post

Powdery mildew of the sage

Image
  Powdery mildew or white sickness is a cryptogamic disease, that is of fungal origin, which can affect sage plants and occurs on the leaves. This is the most frequent pathology among those that can affect this aromatic herb and occurs in particular with mild temperatures and high humidity. It is a very simple disease to identify: because the white patches that are seen on the leaves of the sage are very characteristic. A reader of Orto Da Coltivare, Barbara, asks me exactly what her plant can have, describing the symptoms of powdery mildew. I answer publicly because I think it may be useful for many to know how to defend themselves from this problem with natural methods and above all how to prevent it. Recognizing powdery mildew on sage Those who cultivate the vegetable garden will already know powdery mildew because it is a frequent pathology also on other cultivated plants, in particular on pumpkin and courgette. Powdery mildew is also called white sickness precisely because it ...

Zucchini sauce

Image
Zucchini sauce is an easy recipe, perfect for dressing a plate of tagliatelle, baked pasta or for making lasagna. Preparing the ragù is really simple. Just make a good sauté, brown the diced zucchini, add some tomato puree and you will make a tasty and delicious pasta sauce. The zucchini sauce can be used to season a good plate of fettuccine, to enrich baked pasta or lasagna, or it can become the filling for a delicious potato flan. Indulge your imagination and use this sauce for a thousand different recipes; whoever tastes it will be won over! Cooking time: 45 min Ready in: 45 min Yield: 4 servings Ingredients 4 courgettes 700 g tomato puree 150 g mixed fried (celery, carrot, onion) 1/2 glass counter wine Salt and pepper to Taste Olive oil to Taste Basil to taste Instructions For Zucchini sauce 1. In a large pan, pour a little oil and fry the celery, carrot and onion well chopped. Ready the sauté, add the courgettes cut into very small cubes and sauté over high heat for 5 minutes. Add...

PEACHES IN SYRUP: A SWEET WINE FOR EVERYONE!

Image
The peaches in syrup of homemade preserves from Special Food The preparation of canned peaches is a family ritual to which we have dedicated ourselves for generations. Too often modernity distracts us from traditions, but in the case of peaches in syrup, goodness and sweetness are a good incentive to perseverance! When in summer the peaches are in season and maybe we have the opportunity to draw directly from the tree, we like to make a nice load, collect more than necessary and work some with the syrup and sugar (so as to make them last in the following months). These peaches are a real resource for our pantry! We can eat them simply, by extracting them from the syrup or use them for other recipes and preparations. As with any home preserves, however, certain precautions regarding the sterilization rules are indispensable. We strongly recommend that you follow these instructions in detail to sterilize the airtight cans, so as not to run into the botulinum which can be really dange...

Sea buckthorn juice, a delicate cocktail

Image
Why isn't sea buckthorn and orange juice a cocktail like any other? Sea buckthorn and orange juice is a very special cocktail from Special food , as it makes extensive use of "unusual" ingredients for a drink, and is based on a very sui generis combination of flavours. I specify that it is an absolutely non-alcoholic cocktail, therefore it can also be consumed by those who are not used to taking liquors or drinks containing alcohol. It is a cocktail with citrus flavours, but also distinctly sweet. To make it so, is the presence of honey, which is a formidable natural sweetener, and cinnamon. The citrus component is given by orange, the fruit of a thousand properties and not sufficiently appreciated. With regard to orange, the content of vitamin C is often emphasized, which in fact is useful because it strengthens the immune system, but does not honour it with as much attention to the other elements. Above all, flavonoids, important antioxidants that intervene in particula...

EGGPLANT CHUTNEY, A SPICY DRESSING

Image
Eggplant chutney from South Asian tradition to our table Today we will focus on the beaded eggplant chutney, a particular type of aubergines with a characteristic thin shape and intense flavour. At the base of chutney, a South Asian dressing with a grainy puree consistency, there are always vegetables and spices blended together and juxtaposed. This tasty, nutritious and healthy dressing can be enjoyed together with simple croutons. By spreading a portion of this cream, which can also be stored for a few months in the pantry, we are able to obtain excellent bruschetta in a few seconds for an aperitif. With the eggplant chutney, you will get an appetizer that is not trivial and your diners will be eager to discover all the secrets! This same dressing can be served alongside meat or rice, so as to suggest its pairing during the tasting. You will be amazed to taste this chutney in a different way, depending on the composition. Chutney: a seasoning made from spices, fruit and vegetables Th...

SAUSAGE AND CHEESE CANNOLI, AN EASY AND FAST DELIGHT

Image
Sausage and cheese cannoli, simple ingredients for a delicious appetizer The sausage and cheese cannoli is a simple but ingenious idea for an appetizer that knows how to conquer the palate and sight. They have a soft and colourful appearance, as befits - among others - the moments of carefree children. Also, for this reason, I recommend these sausage and cheese cannoli for special occasions, such as children's parties. Among other things, the recipe is very simple, ready in a few minutes, and is made with a handful of easily available ingredients. In its own way, it is also a nutritious snack, in fact, there is no shortage of carbohydrates , provided by sandwich bread, and proteins, provided by cheese and frankfurters. There is also a certain amount of fat, but we still speak of moderate quantities. As for the recipe, it is definitely child-proof. It is sufficient to flatten the bread so as to give it the appearance of a sheet of pastry, then lay the slices of cheese and sausage an...

WILD AND LEVISTIC GARLIC CREAM: A REFINED SALINA

Image
Wild garlic, lovage, potatoes and milk: a happy combination Wild and lovage garlic cream from Special food it's a very simple sauce to prepare, healthy, tasty and versatile. It can be used to embellish many dishes, but it is also very good consumed with a little bread. It is, however, excellent on meat or, why not, on pasta. The secret of this recipe lies in the happy combination of the ingredients. In addition to wild garlic and lovage, potato and milk are used. The delicacy of the lovage enhances and balances the decisive flavour of wild garlic, the potato adds body (and taste), the milk gives the final sweet touch. Wild and lovage garlic cream is also characterized by excellent nutritional properties. In fact, both wild garlic and lovage are medicinal herbs , and therefore bring various benefits to the body. The properties of lovage Lovage is a medicinal plant that can be compared to celery for taste and appearance. It grows mainly in the mountains. For this reason, it is also...

MELON JAM YELLOW, EXCELLENT FOR BREAKFAST

Image
Why is yellow melon jam so different from the others? Yellow melon jam is not a jam-like any other. First of all, because it is made with a rare fruit for this kind of preparation. The most common jams, in fact, are made with berries, cherries etc. Secondly, because it is a particularly rich jam, the result of the union of several ingredients. In addition to melon and sugar, which obviously cannot be missing, ginger and vanilla cream are used. These substances add flavour and aroma to the jam, which however has its main flavour in the melon (and it could not be otherwise). Melon is a precious fruit, with a full and at the same time sweet taste. The yellow variant is characterized by a firmer consistency and a more decisive flavour, slightly less sugary than the white variant. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals, the reference is to vitamin C , present in doses that do not make you regret citrus fruits, and vitamin B3 . In addition, it is rich in potassium, phosphorus and calcium....