Traditional Italian Frittata with TECHEF Frittata pan

Follow the step by step in the video to create a quick and easy meal that's going to please everybody in the family!



Frittata is traditionally something you prepare with leftover bits and pieces you have in the fridge. Today for me it was:



Red Peppers

Onions

Spinach

Cheddar Cheese

and of course 4 Eggs



You could cook it in a regular pan, but if you find yourself making this particular dish often like I do, you'll love the TECHEF frittata pan. I hate flipping the frittata so much in fact that I had to transition to baked frittata. The TECHEF pan makes life easy, it has a nice little handle that you hold on to and that helps you flip the pan, so you can cook your Frittata on both sides.



If I may point out one small fault of the pan is that it's too small,  it fits max 4 eggs, so it can feed max 2 people. But I do like how practical it is and I'm going to buy one for my Nonna for Christmas, she loves making Frittatas and I think she will love the flippable pan.



Enjoy the video and if you decide to acquire the TECHEF pan let me know  how it works out for you!



Valentina

RealItalianKitchen

Natural Remedies to Improve your Skin - PART 2: Outside going in

(to read the previous article about "Natural Remedies To Improve your Skin - PART 1: Inside Going Out" click here)

Now that we've covered what goes into your body let's talk about what you can do to your exterior to look radiant right away!

SCRUBS

                                          

I make my own because I'm poor. Here are a few alternatives that are great for the whole body, safe to use in the shower because sugar and salt base. I suggest scrubbing your face and body after a hot steamy shower, so that your pores will be nice and open (yeah baby, open those pores!) and you'll achieve a really deep peeling.

FOR DRY/DELICATE SKIN:

Sugar scrubs are better for you. Mix a tbsp of cane sugar with a little of flax seed oil (enough to get the sugar a little wet) and massage it into your face. It should feel a little scratchy but not uncomfortable. 

FOR COMBINATION SKIN:

Salt scrub (my personal favorite). You can use fine salt or course salt, depending on the level of scrub you want to achieve (bigger salt = mild scrub / fine salt = heavy scrubbing experience). I like to mix it with Jojoba oil and vitamin E oil, keep reading to learn more about these oils.  

FOR THICK RESILIENT SKIN

Combine the salt with a few lemon drops, it's astringent, will cleanse your pores and then close them forever. Well maybe not forever, but for a week or so for sure.

Try this recipe:

WHY SALT?

1. It brightens the skin color

2. It's rich in minerals

3. Combined with oil, it leaves your skin feeling soft

DO NOT ABUSE THE POWER OF THE FACE SCRUB!!! Or else... your skin will get overly sensitive and you don't want to strip it of all the good oils that it naturally creates to lubricate itself. Shiny skin is good, it means it's healthy. Fuck powder. Let your skin shine! 

FACE MASKS

Two words: clay powder. I started using this 10 years ago to make my own face masks and I never went back to buying a pre-made mask. Invest in some high quality one, cause a little goes a long way. I prefer green clay, I buy it in bulks (500gr at the time) and it lasts me about two years. It doesn't spoil. It's dry powder, why would it? 

Here are some recipes. Add the liquids little by little, until it reaches the desired consistency.

Here's a demonstration of that:

HYDRATING MASK

1tbsp clay powder, yogurt, vitamin E oil. 

MILD HYDRATING MASK

1tbsp clay powder, jojoba oil, water  

SUPERSTRONG ASTRINGENT MASK

1tbsp clay powder, lemon juice, water

I'M FEELING LAZY MASK

1tbsp clay powder, water.

Apply on freshly scrubbed skin and let it sit until it dries out. Then wash it with warm water, one of those little face sponges usually helps. 

Other ingredients you can use for a scrub or a mask: coffee grounds, leftovers from juicer.

DAILY FACE ROUTINE

This is a delicate topic because every person has different needs and I don't feel comfortable making  a blanket recommendation. 

But I can tell you what I use! 

I'm allergic to EVERYTHING (soap, alcohol, scents, parabens, dies) so I have to invest in a face cream that has basically nothing in it. 

For body and face soap I use Seba  Med, free of everything, works very well as a make up remover as well. For tougher make up and lipstick I put some coconut oil on a cotton swab and finish cleaning my face with that. 

For face cream I use a brand called La Roche Posay, it's not the cheapest but it works for me. 

I don't use any toners, makeup removers, eye creams or anti wrinkle creams (yet). When I need a little extra moister I mix a drop of my vitamin E oil with my moisturizer before I go to bed. 

BODY OILS, BODY BUTTERS

Here are some body oils that I recommend using instead of body lotions. 

Jojoba Oil (has the same PH as the skin and has been used for centuries to cure skin irritations)

Almond Oil (great emollient, known to prevent stretch marks even during pregnancy)

Coconut Oil (anti microbial and it smells so good!)

Raw Shea Butter (super hydrating, I use this for dry heals, cuticles and as lip balm)

You can also make your own blend, try following this recipe:

As for something that's already blended try New York Biology ANTI-CELLULITE Massage oil

I buy everything organic and fair trade, in bulks, to save some money, cause as I was saying before I'm poor.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Beside the wonderful scent that they provide, essential oils can be very powerful both on the mind and on the body. 

I buy mine from Amazon, my favorite brand right now is NEW YORK BIOLOGY.

Here are just a few suggestions, for more infos check out this chart.

GERANIUM, TEA TREE: antimicrobial, antibacterial, controls oil production, clears out acne.

ROSE: great for dry aging skin

LAVANDER: the smell of lavender is believed to relieve stress, which is one of the main causes of bad skin. 

SANDALWOOD, YLING YLANG: Anti aging, regulate the PH (so great for any skin type).

So experiment and let me know how it goes. 

Have you been using any of these methods? Anything in particular that you have been doing that has made your skin look amazing? 

Feel free to leave a comment below or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram..

I hope this was helpful! 

Valentina

RealItalianKitchen

How to make Frittata with Zucchini and Potatoes

A simple frittata can really get you all set for a great light lunch or dinner! Or breakfast... I guess...!

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I enjoyed making it and eating my grandma's Frittata!

 Valentina and Mimmi'
Real Italian Kitchen

How to make short bread cookies with heavy cream - Ricetta per le Macine della Mulino Bianco

I say screw Barilla after the statements made against gay people, I do not support them anymore. I've never liked their pasta anyway. DeCecco is so much better!!

Here are the ingredients to make Macine

500gr Flour - Farina
200gr Butter - Burro
150gr Sugar - Zucchero
50gr Potato Starch (you can buy it at www.SuperMarketItaly.com) - Fecola di Patate
16gr Baking Powder - Lievito per dolci
Salt - Sale qb
Vanilla Extract - Estratto di Vaniglia o vanillina

Watch the video for the step by step instructions

Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm2xudOF2g0&feature=youtu.be

How to make Biscotti - Original Tuscan Recipe - Real Italian Kitchen

Here's the blog page connected to the YouTube video below.

Ingredients: 

400gr Flour
250gr Sugar
150gr Peeled raw almond
3 whole eggs + 2 yokes for the dough (if it's still two crumbly add another yoke)
1 egg to brush the top of the rolls before they go in the oven
1tsp baking powder
orange zest (one orange worth)
salt

Utensils:

1 large bowl
nonstick baking sheet :  Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Baking Sheet - 15" x 10" - Cuisinart (Google Affiliate Ad)
whisk : Silicone Rainbow Whisks, Balloon Whisk, 10" (Google Affiliate Ad)
a dough scraper or a sharp large knife :MIU France 94009 Dough Scraper - 6-Inch - High Carbon Stainless-Steel (Google Affiliate Ad)


Enjoy!
Valentina
RealItalianKitchen

Vellutata di Porri e Patate - Leak and Potato Cream

Leaks are a winter vegetable here in Pennsylvania and this is one of the things I like to cook with them.

I porri sono una delle verdure tipiche della Pennsylvania in inverno, questa e' una delle ricette che amo preparare

It's a very delicate soup that has the consistency of a cream because of the potatoes, but also both a sweet and tangy flavor given by the white part and green part of the leaks. 

E' una vellutata molto delicata che ha la consistenza di una crema grazie alle patate, pur mantenendo il sapore dolce e allo stesso tempo leggermente agro della parte bianca e verde del porro. 

Ingredients for 2 people / Ingredienti per due persone:

2/3 leaks /porri

1 large potato / patate 

water or broth / acqua o brodo

extra virgin olive oil / olio extra vergine d'oliva

salt / sale

pepper /pepe

Utensils / Utensili :

One large pot / una pentola

knife and a cutting board / coltello e tagliere

1. Cut the leaks down the middle, remove the toughest green part on the top and around the root but save the light green heart you'll find between the leaves. 

Tagliate i porri nel mezzo, rimuovete la parte piu' dura verde ma salvate il cuoricino verde chiaro che trovate all'interno delle foglie. 

2. Rinse them thoroughly and cut in circles

Sciacquate bene e tagliate a rondelle. 

3. Soften the leaks in the pan with a bit of oil, salt and a splash of water (so it doesn't stick or burn)

Mondate i porri nella padella con un po' d'olio, sale e un pochino di acqua

4. Once the leaks are soft, add the potatoes (pealed and cut in squares), top with water or broth, cover with a lid and let it cook until the potatoes are fully done. 

Quando i porri sono morbidi aggiungete le patate (pelate e tagliate a cubetti), coprite con acqua o brodo, coprite e lasciate cuocere finche' le patate risulteranno cotte. 

5. Hit everything with the food processor until is nice and creamy. 

Passate le verdure nel mini miper o passatutto finche' otterrete una bella crema. 

6. Serve with pepper if you like, or a spoon full of Philadelphia cream cheese....mmmm... Yummy!!!! 

Servite con una sgranata di pepe o un cucchiaio di formaggio cremoso Philadelphia.....mmmm... che buono!!!!

Enjoy! 

Valentina

RealItalianKitchen