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Beautiful Things About Learning Italian
By Shareen Aguilar

Ever considered learning to speak, read and write another language? If you have, the Italian language is a good pick. The language alone is being spoken by over 70 million speakers and the country where this romantic language came from speaks for itself. Going down the records of history, Italians have contributed major events to the people of this generation. has many of its glorious achievement in the major districts of the country for all to see. And the food is undoubtedly loved by everyone from anywhere in the world.

If these reasons aren’t enough for you to realize how interesting to learn the language is going to be, then you just probably don’t get it or you’re just not interested at all. Moving forward, the Italian language can be learned as well by anyone. Obviously, the internet and modern life of today play a big role in these aspects of learning any self-help subjects and the very reason why almost anyone given a chance can learn not just the Italian language but all the other languages possible to learn today.

The good news just doesn’t end there. Out of passion and mere interest to learn the Italian language, an individual can earn a career boost by just being fluent with this language. Of course it isn’t easy to have everything done

On Italian Meals
I recently got a note from James, who says: I enjoy things Italian, not the least of which is its food. Part of that enjoyment is the proper presentation of its food in the context of meal time. There is some information as to what constitutes proper form of the meal: hors d'oeuvres, courses, etc. Not so much info regarding the recipes of the menu items, what is an acceptable first course, and what would be an appropriate second course, in light of the first course, etc. I suppose it seems as though I'm overly interested in food, but it is more important to me that I have presented a meal in what is considered good form. It goes without saying that the meal should be well cooked, but more important, it should be well presented. Could you direct me to any publication or organizations that address this issue? To which I replied: Dear James, I do discuss the organization of an Italian meal (the meals of the day, actually) <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/menues/a/aa112499.htm">here</a> . In terms of form, it's important to remember that Italian cooking is quite seasonal, with people tending to cook the vegetables in season (<A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/eggplant/Vegetables_Eggplant.htm">eggplant</A> in summer, <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/anitalianenglishglossary/g/cabbage.htm">cabbage</A> in winter), and make much lighter dishes during the summer months than they do in the winter. Exactly what combination of dishes gets served depends upon the tastes of the cook, but in Italy cooking tends to be local. Neapolitans cook <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/regionalcuisines1/ss/southern_2.htm">Neapolitan</A>, Tuscans cook <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/regionalcuisines1/ss/central_2.htm">Tuscan</A> and so on. People do occasionally cook favorites from elsewhere, and there are some standard dishes, e.g. the <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/beefbracioleetc/r/blr0050.htm">cotoletta alla milanese</A>, but most dishes are local. So if you're preparing a <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/regionalcuisines1/ss/islands_2.htm">Sicilian</A> first course, you probably won't want to follow it with a second from <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/regionalcuisines1/ss/northeastern_9.htm">Friuli Venezia Giulia</A>. I hope this helps! Adding to my reply, in the past I did put up meals for the week, and will resume doing so now. Among the meals posted to date are: <UL> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/06/18/an-italian-meal-for-the-week-38.htm">Summery, with pappa al pomodoro followed by scaloppine</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/03/12/an-italian-meal-for-the-week-37.htm">Wintery, revolving around oranges</A> </LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/03/05/an-italian-meal-for-the-week-36.htm">Pasta and meat to serve with Chianti</A> </LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/02/05/an-italian-meal-for-the-week-34.htm">A cold weather meal revolving around broth and boiled meats</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/01/29/an-italian-meal-for-the-week-33.htm">Fish, and more specifically salmon</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/01/09/an-italian-meal-for-the-week-31.htm">A meaty fall meal, for when the mist comes in</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/b/2009/10/30/an-italian-meal-for-the-week-and-gavi.htm">Another early fall meal, featuring fish and Gavi wine</A></LI> </UL><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/04/on-italian-meals.htm">On Italian Meals</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 05:04:33.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/04/on-italian-meals.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/04/on-italian-meals.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/04/on-italian-meals.htm&zItl=On Italian Meals">Email this</a>
Almost Wordless Wednesday: Tris di Sughi
<IMG SRC="http://0.tqn.com/d/italianfood/1/0/m/A/1/trissughiww.jpg" BORDER=0 HEIGHT=232 WIDTH=298 ALT="Tris di Sughi"> Or Three Sauces, and this is what you'll get with your bigoli (thick-stranded pasta) if you order them in a traditional eatery in the Veneto: <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/vegetablesauces/r/blr0022.htm">Tomato Sauce</A>, <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/library/weekly/aa061703.htm">Peas</A>, a Tomatoless Meat Sauce, and you sauce your pasta as you see fit, adding grated cheese to taste. It can be very nice! The meat sauce, you wonder? If the restaurant is very traditional it will be made from rovinazzi, or chicken giblets: 2/3 pound (300 g) chicken giblets (gizzards, cockscombs, hearts, and livers) A sprig of fresh sage A sprig of fresh rosemary 1/2 cup (100 g) unsalted butter 1 cup (50 g) freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano Salt Clean and wash the gizzards. Bring a small pot of water to boil, salt it lightly, and simmer them for 10 minutes. Remove them from the water with a slotted spoon, and dice them finely. Use a needle to prick the cockscombs and boil them for 5 minutes. Drain them, skin them, and chop them. Wash the hearts and livers under cold running water, removing filaments and fat, and all traces of bile (greenish spots on the livers). Chop the hearts, and crumble the livers with your fingers. Heat the butter with the sage and rosemary, and when it begins to crackle add the chopped gizzards, cockscombs and hearts, and simmer for about 15 minutes over a low flame. Remove the herbs, add the livers, season to taste, and cook, stirring, over a brisk flame for about 3 minutes. It's done! Serve your bigoli (figure 3/4 pound, or about 320 g for 4 people, and time the cooking so they will be done when the sauce is), with the giblet sauce, tomato sauce, peas, and grated cheese on the side for those who want it. The wine? Red, and <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/library/weekly/aa041297.htm">Valopicella</A> will be perfect.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/01/almost-wordless-wednesday-tris-di-sughi.htm">Almost Wordless Wednesday: Tris di Sughi</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 05:19:48.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/01/almost-wordless-wednesday-tris-di-sughi.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/01/almost-wordless-wednesday-tris-di-sughi.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/09/01/almost-wordless-wednesday-tris-di-sughi.htm&zItl=Almost Wordless Wednesday: Tris di Sughi">Email this</a>
Peperoni...
<IMG SRC="http://italianfood.about.com/library/pics/peper.jpg" BORDER=0 HEIGHT=187 WIDTH=244 Align="left" ALT="Peppers">It suddenly occurred to me that I have yet to say much about peperoni, bell peppers, this summer. A serious failing on my part because they have been good. But there's still time, and should you pick up a few at your market (the ones shown here are Corno di Bue, or Bull's Horn peppers, from Piemonte), you have many options, including these, most of which will also be nice at a cookout or picnic: <UL> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/bellpeppers/r/blr0182.htm">Bell Pepper Rollups, or Involtini</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/bellpeppers/r/blr1802.htm">Goria-Style Marinated Grilled Peppers</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/bellpeppers/r/blr1483.htm">Grilled Bell Peppers</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/bellpeppers/r/blr0273.htm">Neapolitan Stuffed Peppers</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/bellpeppers/r/blr0825.htm">Peperonata Rustica</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/bellpeppers/r/Peppers-Stuffed-With-Tuna-Mozzarella-And-Pine-Nuts.htm">Peppers Stuffed with Tuna, Mozzarella and Pine Nuts</A></LI> </UL> <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0168.htm">More Ideas for Bell Peppers</A><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/30/peperoni.htm">Peperoni...</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 10:25:09.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/30/peperoni.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/30/peperoni.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/30/peperoni.htm&zItl=Peperoni...">Email this</a>
Dining at the Shore
<IMG SRC="http://z.about.com/d/italianfood/1/0/4/y/bright.jpg" BORDER=0 HEIGHT=167 ALIGN="LEFT" hspace="5" vspace="5" WIDTH=200 ALT="Fresh fish">August is traditionally the month Italians head for the shore, and this of course means eating fish. That people now stay at the shore for days rather than weeks doesn't change the picture much -- people simply enjoy as much fish as they can in the time they have. I know we're at the end of the month, but there's still time for one more weekend meal. One might start out with <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/shellfishrecipes/r/blr0931.htm">Cozze al graten</A>, a classic Neapolitan recipe for baked mussels (or go with a <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/shellfishrecipes/r/blr0932.htm">Sicilian variation</A> that also has tomato), followed by <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/shellfishrecipes/r/blr0930.htm">impepata di cozze</A>, a peppery mussel stew (if you really like mussels) or the classic <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/fishsauces/r/blr0058.htm">spaghetti alle vongole</A>, spaghetti with clams, and finish with <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/freshfishthebasics/r/blr0851.htm">grilled fish</A>, perhaps an orata or a spigola (sea bass or snapper, respectively) and a zesty tossed salad. The wine? I'd go with a Falanghina, a delightful white from Campania. And dessert? <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0115.htm">Gelato</A>. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/fishdishes/ig/La-Galleria-del-Pesce/">La Galleria Del Pesce, The Fish Gallery</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/aboutingredients/ss/aa081106.htm">How To Select Fresh Fish</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/27/dining-at-the-shore-2.htm">Dining at the Shore</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 18:39:51.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/27/dining-at-the-shore-2.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/27/dining-at-the-shore-2.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/27/dining-at-the-shore-2.htm&zItl=Dining at the Shore">Email this</a>
Almost Wordless Wednesday: Piadine!
<A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/breadspizza/ss/aa072507.htm"><IMG SRC="http://0.tqn.com/d/italianfood/1/0/h/A/1/piadina10ww.jpg" BORDER=0 HEIGHT=231 WIDTH=300 ALT="Piadine"></A> Piadine are the wonderful flatbreads made in Romagna (east of Bologna), and though one might expect them to be an old, old tradition, their status as the day-to-day bread Romagnoli enjoy is fairly recent, because they contain lard that few could afford (except for special occasions) until after WWII. <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/breadspizza/ss/aa072507.htm">Piadine are quite easy to make</A>, and quick too, because there's no rising involved. Tradition dictates that they be slathered with a spreadable cheese, for example stracchino, topped with prosciutto, and folded in half, but I have also enjoyed a piadina folded around grilled sausages and onions -- it made for a different and quite invigorating breakfast, and was just what I needed after a night in the rain at Imola, where my friends and I had gone to see a Formula 1 race. If you serve piadine at a cookout or picnic, expect people to wonder at their appearance, and then gobble them up! Some other Hearth Breads <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/breadspizza/ss/aa051906.htm">Panigacci are Ligurian</A> <A HREF="http://indianfood.about.com/od/breadrecipes/ig/How-to-Make-Chapatis/">Chapatis are Indian</A> <A HREF="http://mideastfood.about.com/od/breadsrice/r/pitabreadrecipe.htm">Pita Bread is Middle-Eastern</A><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/25/almost-wordless-wednesday-piadine.htm">Almost Wordless Wednesday: Piadine!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 07:08:50.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/25/almost-wordless-wednesday-piadine.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/25/almost-wordless-wednesday-piadine.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/25/almost-wordless-wednesday-piadine.htm&zItl=Almost Wordless Wednesday: Piadine!">Email this</a>
Got Fruit? Make Mostarda!
<A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/saucescondiments/ss/aa121305.htm"><IMG SRC="http://z.about.com/d/italianfood/1/0/-/G/most10s.jpg" BORDER=0 HEIGHT=164 ALIGN= "LEFT" WIDTH=200 ALT="Jars of Mostarda"></A>The end of summer is one of the richest periods of the year for fruit, and your markets may be overflowing with all sorts of things that would be nice to carry into the winter months. What to do? Make <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/saucescondiments/a/aa121405.htm">Mostarda</A>, a traditional Italian fruit condiment that's perfect with boiled meats or vegetables (and is also nice with a roast); it gains a healthy kick from ground mustard seed or mustard oil, but otherwise has little in common with the yellow stuff the French call Moutarde and Italians call Senape. Though it will take you several days to make a batch of mostarda, the actual process is quite easy and the steps only take a few minutes per day. <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/saucescondiments/a/aa121405.htm">More about mostarda, and several recipes</A>. <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/saucescondiments/ss/aa121305.htm">Making mostarda: the steps, illustrated</A>. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/24/got-fruit-make-mostarda-2.htm">Got Fruit? Make Mostarda!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 04:41:40.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/24/got-fruit-make-mostarda-2.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/24/got-fruit-make-mostarda-2.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/24/got-fruit-make-mostarda-2.htm&zItl=Got Fruit? Make Mostarda!">Email this</a>
Making Jam And Have A Bad Seal?
It's wild berry season in Italy now, and this especially means blackberries; the brier patches are heavy with ripe black berries, and you'll find people happily picking them if you drive out into the country. What next? They're wonderful over <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://">gelato</a> or with whipped cream, but the best thing to do with a blackberry (I think) is <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/preservesetc/r/blr0507.htm">make jam</A>. For that matter, buy other ripe fresh fruit while you're at it (Italian markets sell it by the case at this time of year, especially <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/preservesetc/r/blr0795.htm">peaches</A>) and make <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/library/weekly/aa053099.htm">lots of jam</A>. It's important to sterilize home made jams, and after the jars have cooled you should tap the lids to make sure the seals ring true. If one doesn't you simply open it first. Got two that don't ring? Use one to make a <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0253.htm">crostata</A>, the classic central Italian jam tart. They're wonderfully tasty, and you may find yourself hoping more jars clank.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/20/making-jam-and-have-a-bad-seal.htm">Making Jam And Have A Bad Seal?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 01:58:06.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/20/making-jam-and-have-a-bad-seal.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/20/making-jam-and-have-a-bad-seal.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/20/making-jam-and-have-a-bad-seal.htm&zItl=Making Jam And Have A Bad Seal?">Email this</a>
Almost Wordless Wednesday: Basilico!
<img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/italianfood/1/0/S/8/1/basilicogal.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="351" alt="Basil"> It was overcast today, so Elisabetta and I took Daughter C to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.comune.sarzana.sp.it/citta/Default.htm">Sarzana</a>, a pretty town just across the border into Liguria. As in much of Liguria, the cuisine is strongly vegetarian, and most every restaurant offers a dish, or perhaps many, with pesto sauce. In Particular: <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/greenvegetable/r/blr0013.htm">Trenette al Pesto</a>, with green beans and potatoes too.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/bakedpasta/r/blr0012.htm">Lasagne al Pesto</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/bakedpasta/r/Pesto-Vegetable-Lasagna.htm">A slightly richer Lasagne al Pesto</a></li> </ul> A couple of non-pasta recipes with pesto sauce or basil: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/heartysoups/r/blr0153.htm">Minestrone al Pesto</a> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/turkey/r/blr0154.htm">Tacchino al Basilico</a>, Turkey with basil<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/18/almost-wordless-wednesday-basilico-2.htm">Almost Wordless Wednesday: Basilico!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 at 17:34:16.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/18/almost-wordless-wednesday-basilico-2.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/18/almost-wordless-wednesday-basilico-2.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/18/almost-wordless-wednesday-basilico-2.htm&zItl=Almost Wordless Wednesday: Basilico!">Email this</a>
An End of Summer Recipe: Mediterranean Cuscus, or Cuscus Mediterraneo
To begin, a quick aside: The Contrada della Tartuca won <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.seetuscany.com/culture/palio.htm">Siena's Palio dell'Assunta</a> this year, after a fairly quick, clean start. Quick race too, and no injuries to horses or jockies. Auguri <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.tartuca.it/">Tartuca</a>! Cuscus may bring the southern shores of the Mediterranean to mind, but has long been eaten in Italy too, both by Sicilians, who tend to make theirs <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/od/primivari/r/blr0712.htm">with fish</A>, and by Italian Jews, who tend to make theirs <A HREF="http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0711.htm">with meat</A>. But there are other things one can do with cuscus, and this salad is extremely refreshing. Easy to make, too, and quick as well. You'll need: <UL> <LI>1 pound (450 g) precooked cuscus</LI> <LI>8 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil</LI> <LI>4 small eggplants</LI> <LI>6 ripe salad tomatoes</LI> <LI>3 spring onions, finely minced</LI> <LI>3 heaping tablespoons freshly minced basil</LI> <LI>6 ounces (150 g) aged ricotta, grated (this is firm; use a couple of ounces of salted ricotta or pecorino Romano if need be)</LI> <LI>More basil leaves for garnishing</LI> <LI>Salt and pepper to taste</LI> <LI>8 elegant (ideally) clear glass individual-sized salad bowls</LI> </UL> Bring a cup of lightly salted water to a boil. Put the cuscus in a broad, not-too-deep bowl and sprinkle the water over it. Cover the bowl with a sheet of aluminum foil and let it rest 10 minutes. When the time is up, separate the cuscus grains with your fingers or a fork, and mix the minced spring onions and basil into it. Wash the eggplants, pat them dry, cube them, and saut?hem in 3 tablespoons of hot oil for about 10 minutes, or until they are golden. Season them to taste with salt and pepper and set them aside. Wash and dry the tomatoes, dice them, and but them in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Take your salad bowls and evenly distribute the cuscus, eggplant, and tomatoes, layering them in the bowls, and sprinkling some of the cheese over each bowl when you're done filling them. Season with the remaining olive oil and a healthy grating of black pepper, distribute the basil leaves as garnish, and enjoy! <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/16/an-end-of-summer-recipe-mediterranean-cuscus-or-cuscus-mediterraneo-2.htm">An End of Summer Recipe: Mediterranean Cuscus, or Cuscus Mediterraneo</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 18:53:47.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/16/an-end-of-summer-recipe-mediterranean-cuscus-or-cuscus-mediterraneo-2.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/16/an-end-of-summer-recipe-mediterranean-cuscus-or-cuscus-mediterraneo-2.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/16/an-end-of-summer-recipe-mediterranean-cuscus-or-cuscus-mediterraneo-2.htm&zItl=An End of Summer Recipe: Mediterranean Cuscus, or Cuscus Mediterraneo">Email this</a>
Falsomagro from the Islands
Falsomagro is generally a rich meaty Sicilian pasta sauce. However, on the smaller islands around Sicily meat was rare enough that people had to use fish. The results are quite different, but every bit as suited for a festive meal.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/13/falsomagro-from-the-islands.htm">Falsomagro from the Islands</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/">About.com Italian Food</a> on Friday, August 13th, 2010 at 01:30:55.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/13/falsomagro-from-the-islands.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/13/falsomagro-from-the-islands.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italianfood.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italianfood.about.com/b/2010/08/13/falsomagro-from-the-islands.htm&zItl=Falsomagro from the Islands">Email this</a>

but in due time, speaking the romantic language is a piece of cake. With that mentioned, career opportunities comes easy too, there are many career areas an Italian speaker can try. A foreign language translator here and abroad is a possibility. Even being a teacher for a second language is also an option.

When Italian basic is learned, learning advanced Italian later on can even increase one’s career development. Although, there are some pre-requisite qualifications, it’s not very difficult anymore these days to enhance one’s learning since the convenience and availability of trusted language programs online is abundant. It’s also a hassle-free approach to learn at home since there’s no pressure and interruption from the usual day’s schedule.

Learning the Italian language or another foreign language benefits you and you alone. It helps enrich and expand your vocabulary and reduces unemployment vacancy. There are just endless beautiful things to gain from learning the language so allow your self be enthralled by the opportunity.

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Shareen Aguilar is a writer for learn-italian-program.com which has Memory Improvement Books and Memory Game Software for better Italian language memorization.

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Canadian Organization Promotes Italian Language and Literature
The <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://canadiansocietyforitalianstudies.camp7.org/">Societ?anadese per gli Studi d'Italianistica</a> (Canadian Society for Italian Studies in English, and Soci? canadienne pour les ?des italiennes in French) is an international organization composed mainly of academics or those who have a scholarly or professional interest in Italian Studies. Established in 1972, the society: <blockquote>"Aims to foster and advance Italian Studies in Canada by providing venues for the presentation and discussion of research dealing with Italian language, literature, film, politics and culture, and related fields, such as Italian-Canadian studies, and matters pertaining to the teaching of Italian as a second and third language."</blockquote>The official publication of the society, <a href="http://canadiansocietyforitalianstudies.camp7.org/Default.aspx?pageId=137851">Quaderni d'Italianistica</a>, is a peer-reviewed journal published twice yearly in English, French, and Italian.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm">Canadian Organization Promotes Italian Language and Literature</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 02:32:57.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm&zItl=Canadian Organization Promotes Italian Language and Literature">Email this</a>
La Burrasca di Ferragosto ?in Arrivo
If historic weather patterns hold true to form, Italy will experience la burrasca di Ferragosto over the next few days. The storm typically occurs in the last week of August, after the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2009/08/15/ferragosto.htm">Ferragosto</a> holiday, during which an intense rainstorm that lasts a few days is followed by lower temperatures and fresh air, breaking the hot, humid days of summer. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, in: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/cronaca/2010/08/28/visualizza_new.html_1789758259.html">Caldo: la 'rottura' dell'estate, tra domenica e luned?t;/a>, this year's burrasca di ferragosto will affect all of Italy and result in a sharp drop of temperatures (between 10-12 degrees Celsius) and strong winds.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm">La Burrasca di Ferragosto ?in Arrivo</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 02:34:21.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm&zItl=La Burrasca di Ferragosto ?in Arrivo">Email this</a>
McLawyers Contro McPuddu's
If you're looking for a Big Mac in Sardinia and order a <a href="http://www.sardegnaturismo.it/index.php?xsl=87&s=4382&v=2&c=3164&t=1">culurgiones</a>, don't be surprised if there's no special sauce. For that matter, there won't be any beef patties either, because the dish is a Sardinian form of stuffed pasta filled with pecorino sardo (Sardinian cheese made from sheep's milk), potato, and mint.The point is, there's nothing on the menu at McPuddu's restaurant that's likely to be confused with a Big Mac, yet McDonald's lawyers have ordered the tiny Sardinian pasta snack bar in Santa Maria Navarrese to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/gourme/mcdonalds-contro-mcpuddus-imprenditore-sardo-gastronomia-513708/">remove 'Mc' from its name</a>.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm">McLawyers Contro McPuddu's</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 02:01:07.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm&zItl=McLawyers Contro McPuddu's">Email this</a>
De Niro To Take Italian-Speaking Role?
Robert De Niro might soon be dusting off his Italian language skills. According to Variety, the actor is in final negotiations to star in the film Manuale d'Amore 3 (Manual of Love 3). In the film, the third in a series of Italian romantic comedies by the same name, De Niro would play a divorced American professor living in Rome. Some of his dialogue would be spoken in Italian.Some people claimed <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/02/dustin-hoffman-needs-italian-lessons.htm">Dustin Hoffman needed Italian lessons</a> when he appeared in a television commercial to promote the Marche region of Italy; maybe he can give De Niro a few pronunciation tips before filming begins in September.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm">De Niro To Take Italian-Speaking Role?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 02:49:38.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm&zItl=De Niro To Take Italian-Speaking Role?">Email this</a>
Study With Meucci and Garibaldi
Looking for a historical setting to study Italian? <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://pub1.andyswebtools.com/cgi-bin/p/awtp-custom.cgi?d=garibaldi-meucci-museum&page=747">Register for the fall semester of Italian language classes</a> at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.org/">Garibaldi-Meucci Museum</a>, in Staten Island, New York. There are classes for both beginner and advanced students as well as classes taught primarily in Italian. The museum is a memorial to inventor Antonio Meucci and Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm">Study With Meucci and Garibaldi</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 02:45:42.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm&zItl=Study With Meucci and Garibaldi">Email this</a>
Chatty in Illinois
<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2006/04/03/italian-language-meetup.htm">Italian language meetups</a> are fairly common nowadays and oftentimes have a specific theme, such as the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2009/10/09/extreme-italian-language-exchange.htm">extreme language exchange</a> held in Rome or the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/07/05/cineforum-italiano-washington-dc.htm">Cineforum Italiano</a> in Washington, DC. One in particular, though, deserves mention if only for its name. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://ichiacchieroni.tripod.com/">I Chiacchieroni</a> is an Italian-language conversation group in Illinois that meets for dinner every month for a casual evening of conversation in Italian. With a name like that, the group is sure to be talkative!<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm">Chatty in Illinois</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 02:18:30.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm&zItl=Chatty in Illinois">Email this</a>
RIP Il Picconatore
Francesco Cossiga, former interior minister, prime minister, and president of the Italian Republic, died in Rome on Tuesday, August 17. He was 82. According to The New York Times, "In later years, he developed a reputation for his outspoken criticism of the Italian political system and its players, gaining the nickname Il Picconatore, or the pickax."Mr. Cossiga was a leading figure in the Christian Democrats, the party that dominated postwar Italy until it crumbled in a kickback scandal in the early 1990s.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm">RIP Il Picconatore</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 02:33:50.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm&zItl=RIP Il Picconatore">Email this</a>
Crema Ghiacciata
According to Corriere della Sera in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/10_luglio_06/serra-nuova-vita-caffe_1e1b06c4-88bf-11df-9548-00144f02aabe.shtml">Nuova Vita per il Caff?t;/a>, the latest coffee craze in Italy is crema ghiacciata. Halfway between a gelato and sorbet, the delicious summer concoction is a mix of milk, cream, and coffee combined in a slush machine (granitore).<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm">Crema Ghiacciata</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, August 15th, 2010 at 02:32:11.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm&zItl=Crema Ghiacciata">Email this</a>
More Reasons To Study Italian
Inflation is ever-present nowadays, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/business/economy/30fed.html">regardless of what economists would have you believe</a>. Case in point: While there might be <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/od/grammar/a/aa082405a.htm">ten top reasons to learn Italian</a>, there seem to be <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.onlinecollege.org/2010/07/26/50-reasons-you-should-learn-a-new-language/">50 reasons you should learn a foreign language</a>. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm">More Reasons To Study Italian</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 02:05:39.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm&zItl=More Reasons To Study Italian">Email this</a>
Rome the Streets of New York
The title is not a misspelling. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.illy.com/">illy</a>, the renowned purveyor of espresso coffee, has launched a new marketing campaign in New York City for their <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.illyissimo.com/">illy issimo</a> line of coffee-flavored energy drinks. The tongue-in-cheek advertising, which appears in subway stations and other heavily traveled locations, also includes the tag lines: "Travel New York in the espresso lane" and "Ciao New York! Try Illy coffee to go." illy issimo is available in three flavors: Caff?Cappuccino, and Latte Macchiato.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/12/rome-the-streets-of-new-york.htm">Rome the Streets of New York</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 02:18:50.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/12/rome-the-streets-of-new-york.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/12/rome-the-streets-of-new-york.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/12/rome-the-streets-of-new-york.htm&zItl=Rome the Streets of New York">Email this</a>