December 29, 2017 Consiglio's Kitchenware

2017 Year in Review

2017 has been an exciting year for us here at Consiglio’s Kitchenware. We’ve continued to bring in a range of exciting, new Italian products, and continued to build our collection of recipes from our very own Chef Angela Consiglio.

This week, we take a moment to reflect on our good fortune and favourite moments of 2017 - including some of our favourite products, recipes and how-to guides.

Thank you to all of our loyal friends and customers for sharing the past year with us. We wish all the best and a Happy New Year, from our families to yours!

Product Highlights

VEGETALIA NATURAL NON-STICK COOKWARE
	Vegetalia is a line of Italian-made cookware that uses a new, patented “Ollia-tech” cooking surface. This surface is incredibly non-stick and highly durable - making it a strong, healthy and eco-friendly alternative to teflon. Ultra non-stick, chemical free, eco-friendly AND dishwasher safe cookware is no longer a myth or dream.
GAGGIA BRERA AUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINE REVIEW
	Last year, the Gaggia Brera took the top spot in our Best Home Espresso Machines article as the best automatic espresso machine under $1000. In this article, we take a closer look at the Brera and what sets it above and beyond competing models.
SAECO VS. DELONGHI AUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINES
	A direct, side-by-side comparisson of two of the biggest brand names in automatic espresso machines - Saeco and DeLonghi. This article details the specs, pros and cons of each brand across the boared, and compares them so you don't have to.
FABIO LEONARDI TOMATO MACHINES AND MEAT GRINDERS
	For over a hundred years, Fabio Leonardi has manufactured the world’s best tomato milling and meat grinding machines. Using Italian stainless steel and niploy-treated cast iron, Fabio Leonardi uses only the very best, industry leading components and materials.
SAECO VS. GAGGIA AUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINES
	Out of all of the espresso machine brands available on the market, Saeco and Gaggia are perhaps the most similar - making the small differences between the two really important. In this article, we line up the specs, pros and cons of each brand and compare them side by side, so you can find the espresso machine that's best for you.
DELONGHI GRAN DAMA 6620
	Here at Consiglio’s we’re pretty spoiled - we’re lucky enough to have one of the DeLonghi Gran Dama 6620 automatic espresso machines set up as a demo in our showroom, and it’s quickly become a personal favourite of mine. Not only does the machine look great, but it’s fast and easy to use and creates the hottest espresso I’ve ever had from an automatic espresso machine.
CONSIGLIO'S COMPREHENSIVE MEAT LOVERS GUIDE
	Whether you're an old hand at making your own sausage, or are just starting out with grinding your own meat at home, we have the tools and equipment you need to prepare and enjoy your own meats!

Recipes

NONNA’S WAY ITALIAN LENTIL SOUP RECIPE
	There’s nothing quite like a good, hearty soup to warm you up and lift your spirits on a cold, dreary day. This lentil soup is easy to make and is a hearty dish that leaves you wanting nothing else for dinner.
CHICKEN ROLL STUFFED WITH FRITTATA AND HAM
	This stuffed chicken roll is guaranteed to be a hit! Not only does it look good, but the chicken is very flavourful and remains moist. The best part is that it can be prepared ahead of time and finished off just before serving!
PASTA AL FORNO- BAKED PASTA WITH EGGPLANT PARM
	Nothing brings friends and family together quite like a hearty Italian pasta dish - and this Pasta al Forno is certainly no exception! Combining layered baked pasta with the classic melanzane parmigiana (eggplant parm), this dish is the ultimate comfort food and is perfect for feeding a crowd at get-togethers or on special occasions.
SCHIACCIATA SICILIANA RECIPE
	Schiacciata (Ski-Yah-Cha-Ta), meaning ‘squashed’ or ‘flattened’ in Italian, is also a name given to an Italian pizza/bread that has a myriad of variations throughout Italy. This recipe for schiacciata with onion, potato, tomato sauce, and ground meat.
GRILLED SARDINES WITH HOT PEPPER DRESSING
	Grilled fish makes for a great appetizer or a light dinner - especially on warm summer nights. This week, we’re firing up the grill for this amazing Grilled Sardines with Hot Pepper Dressing Recipe.
SUGO IN BIANCO WITH BRAISED VEAL RECIPE
	In Italian cooking ‘in bianco’ is a term used when making food with few and simple ingredients . Eating ‘in bianco’ is usually simple food, but definitely not lacking in flavour. Take this dish, for example - a spin on the traditional ‘pasta in bianco’ with seared veal, onion, and white wine.
RUSTIC RASPBERRY CROSTATA RECIPE
	This rustic Italian dessert is fast, easy and delicious. While we use raspberries, this recipe is versatile enough to fit any fresh berries you have on hand!
GOURMET STUFFED PIZZA BUNDLES
	These scrumptious bundles come together in a matter of minutes, and while we use onions, prosciutto and cauliflower, the recipe is versatile enough to make use of any leftovers you might have sitting in the fridge - making it just as convenient as it is tasty. Possible substitutions could include chicken, spinach, ground pork or sweet potato - but, really your imagination is the limit! As a bonus, this recipe is simple enough to have the kids help with the prep process - just be sure to supervise (or takeover) for the cutting the final bundles!

How-To Guides

HOW TO RESTORE AND SEASON CAST IRON COOKWARE
	Traditional cast iron cookware can be intimidating and daunting for those unfamiliar with owning and maintaining it.So, we took an old, rusted cast iron grill pan and restored it - and documented the process.
HOW TO ASSEMBLE FABIO LEONARDI TOMATO MILLING ATTACHMENTS
	In the past we've covered tomato milling buying guides, Fabio Leonardi maintenance tips, tomato milling machine reviews, recipes and more. In this article we address one of the most common questions we get this time of year about the Fabio Leonardi tomato machines - how you put them together!
HOW TO MAKE SPIEDINI
	Nothing says “summer” quite like barbeque, and for us here at Consiglio’s, that means spiedini! Tasty lamb skewers roasted over charcoal, spiedini is a great way to enjoy good food and great summer weather with friends, family, and loved ones. In this article, we take a look at how to make spiedini with the Cubo Spiedini Maker.
HOW TO USE A SPIEDINI BARBECUE AND CHIMNEY STARTER
	Once you know how to make your own spiedini, you’ll want to learn how to cook them! This article lays out the process of using a spiedini BBQ and charcoal chimney starter step-by-step, and includes a helpful video of the process.
HOW TO USE LAMPE BERGER
	Here at Consiglio’s, we’ve been open about our love for Lampe Berger and their gorgeous range of lamps and extensive selection of scented fluids. In this article, we lay out step-by-step how to use your Lampe Berger lamp.