Tuesday, 25 November 2014

自家製新鮮意大利粉 Fresh Home-made Pasta (Pasta casareccia)



情迷意大利的我,當然也要學懂一點點廚藝! 而說到廚藝,又怎少得意大利粉呢?

意大利粉其實不難造,沒有麵條機也可! 所以人人也可以在家學做意大利粉! 

PASTA有好多種類,最簡單的,便是大家經常吃到的spaghetti 意粉, linguine 扁意粉, Fettuccine 闊條麵, Stringozzi (像鞋帶FEEL的), Tagliatelle (較闊條麵幼身少少) 及lasagna 千層麵


材料:
00  麵粉         100G
蛋                    1隻
Semolina       1 tbsp
鹽                    少量

其實簡單的說,每100G 麵粉,便用一隻蛋,200G用兩隻蛋,我通常都會視乎麵團質感,如果認為有點硬,搓得有點辛苦,可能是水份少了,我會因應加返一點水,如果太濕的,便要加多點粉! 注意,如果用意大利麵條機切麵的話,麵團不可以太濕 (較做麵包的乾) 否則麵團過機時,會黏著過不到呢!!! 

但麵團太乾的話,在製麵條時才有機會便得太乾,而很易折斷,所以如果製造份量較多時,記得要用保鮮紙蓋著未做的麵團呀!

什麼是Semolina 麵粉? 00 麵粉?
Semolina麵粉是粗粒的小麥粉,00 麵粉中的00 是指幼成度,00是最幼成的,造出來的意大利粉十分幼滑;而為了增加麵條的韌性,一般會加少許Semolina麵粉,增加口感,而且有助防些煮既過程中走樣! 

這兩種麵粉在烘焙店也可買到! 

做法: (機做手做也一樣)
1. 將麵粉過篩,加入蛋、鹽和Semolina麵粉,拌勻,成團變得光滑,不用搓太久 (因為不是做麵包呀!), 質量比麵包麵團會乾一點

2.  放入雪櫃30分鐘讓麵團休息

3. 取出,分割成數少份 (視乎麵團大少),先簡單的幹薄一下,然後放入麵條機,第一次先用1號(最厚的度數) 幹薄,每個度數每回幹2次,然後視乎你想要的麵條厚度,一般我會用3, 4 度再幹薄,同樣地,幹薄2次,至理想的厚薄便成!

4. 將麵皮放入想要的粗度,過麵條機便成!

記得,已成麵條的意大利粉,最好用沾一沾麵粉或用衣架 (對!是衣架!)或掠碗架一條一條的分開掠起來,吹乾,否則會十分容易黏在一起的!

新鮮手製的意大利麵條,只需用滾水煮3至4分鐘便可! 記著,意大利人煮意大利粉,只需要在深鍋滾水中下鹽,而不用下油的!

完成後加上自己喜歡的汁醬,或用其他方式烹便可了!!!



As an “Italian food lover”, PASTA is something I shouldn’t be missed.
 
I would say, it’s not difficult to make Pasta at home, even without pasta machine. Everyone can just do it at home!

There are various kinds of pasta, more than what you can think of. And for beginner, long pasta like, spaghetti (a long, thin, cylindrical pasta of Italian origin), linguine  (Flattened spaghetti), Fettuccine (Ribbon of pasta approximately 6.5 mm wide), Stringozzi (Similar to shoelaces), Tagliatelle (generally narrower than fettuccine), lasagna (Very wide pasta that often have fluted edges; this is much easier, as you just need to roll it into thin pasta sheet!) are those simple one you can just make with your pasta machine or even with your hands!!

Long pasta is easy to made, just roll the dough, and slice it!

Ingredients (for 1 person):
“00” flour   100G

Egg             1 pc
Semolina     1 tbsp
Salt             little
 
For every 100 g of flour, we use 1 pc of egg; 200g of flour, we use 2 eggs! Just mix all the ingredients together into a smooth lump of dough, depends on the texture of the pasta dough, it should be a little bit dryer than bread dough. If you find it too sticky and difficult to knead, you may add some more flour; or if you find it too dry and hard to knead, just add a little bit water!

NOTE: pasta dough should be dryer than bread dough, especially if you cut it with your pasta machine, otherwise the dough may be too sticky during rolling or cutting. However, if it’s too dry, then your pasta may be broken when slicing from the machine, thus, remember to cover the rest of the dough with a cling film or a damp cloth to stop it from drying when you are doing other portion of the dough
 
What is Semolina? "00" flour?
Grains of crushed wheat, used especially in making sweet dishes and pasta, it can help produce a thicker, crispier product than other types of flour, e.g. pasta, or pizza crusts. It  can even hold the shape of paste during cooking.


“00” flour” is a very finely sieved flour, which is usually used for making egg pasta;
 
Semolina and “00” flour can be bought in bakery shop.


Method: (same for both using your hands or pasta machine)

1. Sift the flour, make a well in the middle, add in egg, salt and semolina, knead until it becomes a smooth lump of dough (You don’t have to knead it too long like preparing bread dough); the texture of the dough should be smooth, silky and little bit dryer than bread dough

2. Wrap the dough with fling flim to stop it from drying and put it in the fridge to rest for about 30 mins 

3. Take out from the fridge, cut them into few pieces (depends on the size of your dough). Roll them with your rolling pin to a thin dough circle so that it is easier for you to put into the pasta machine

4. Dust your work surface (pasta machine or table) with flour, take the pasta dough, press it out flat and put in the pasta machine. First, set the machine at its widest setting (#1 for my machine), roll twice; if it sticks, put on some more flour; then set the machine to a narrower setting (e.g. #3, 4, or #5, depends on the thickness you want; roll twice. Repeat this step until the pasta sheet is smooth and silky

5. Then, adjust your pasta machine to your desired pasta-width setting. Roll in the pasta sheet and DONE!

Once the pasta is done, dust them with flour or you may hang it up with your hanger to avoid them sticking together!


Freshly made pasta just take few mins to cook! Remember, Italian usually just cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water (NO olive oil) for 2-4 minues just until AL DENTE!

將所有材料混合,搓至成團 Mix and knead all the ingredients together until a smooth dough is formed
將麵團擀薄 Roll the dough into thin sheet
再將麵條機調至喜歡的麵條闊度便可! 若麵團太濕,可在麵團或麵條機加少少麵粉
Set the pasta machine to the desired pasta-width setting, put in the pasta sheet, and DONE! If the dough or pasta sheet is sticky, add in some flour


最簡單易做的便是長意大利粉 Long pasta is the easiest pasta we can make at home!





 
加點點創意,也可變成更具營養價值的意大利粉! 例如,可以加入蕃茄、甘筍、菠菜等等,將材料攪碎成汁,相對減少水份,便可!
Make your own pasta with creativity! You can add tomatoes, carrots, spinach, just dice and add water, mix becomes juicey, add into pasta dough (reduce water or less 1 egg), knead until it’s smooth and silky

Monday, 24 November 2014

意大利境內航班 Travel within Italy ( Trasportare in Italia)


內陸航班

到歐洲旅行,我通常都會有一程內陸機要搭。當然,也一定會選擇一些廉價航空公司,如Ryan Air, EasyJet等,呢類航空公司通常在出發日期前早幾個月,會有特價,有時可以是9磅一程! 加埋行李費、行政費、上網預訂費等等,數百元便有!!


但在意大利,有時意大利國家航空公司意大利航空(Alitalia)也不太貴,而且始終是大航空公司,假如廉航不是特別便宜,也值得試試Alitalia!


不過,買Alitalia機票,也有些少「tricky」位就是你要選Alitalia意大利文網站,一般價錢會教International、美國、英國版本便宜很多! 我之前試過也是的~ 但近來再上去網站看看~就好像沒有問題了~ 但如果有時間~不妨試試比較一下~

還有就是行李重量問題~

雖然廉航好像較便宜,但SHOW出來的只是機票價錢,還沒有交行政費, 行李寄倉費, 上網CHECK-IN費 (而且大多是要你網上CHECKIN, 不可以在機場CHECK-IN的), 所以加起來最後也可能和ALITALIA 一樣價錢~!

但ALITALIA 和一般大航空公司一樣,行李也包括至少20KG 的可寄倉行李,. 而不用另行購買! 所以如果是要去長途旅行而又帶/買很多東西的話,價錢若是差不多, 我也會選擇ALITALIA呢! 因為廉航的行李費是按重量計算的, 由15KG, 20KG 不等!


火車 / 長途巴士

稍後再UPDATE!



Mainland Flight
For most of my trips in Europe, it usually includes a trip with mainland flight. Most of the times, budget airlines, such as Ryan air, Easyjet, are the best choices, these kinds of airlines usually have some special promotions, like 9Euro tickets for purchasing tickets few months in advance. It just costs you a few hundred dollars (HKD) after adding the baggage, administration, online check-in fee, etc.

However, in Italy, the national airlines - Alitalia is also one of the airlines we should consider when planning our trip. Sometimes, its fare are quite competitive with those budget airlines.


However, there is a "tricky" tool when searching the flight details on Alitalia website. In the past, there was chance that the fares for the same route shown in the Italian website is much cheaper than the fares shown in its Internationa/ US/ England version. I booked a ticket from Rome to Cantania which just costed around 60 Euro while it costed 99Euro in Internaitonal website. I tried again recently but it seems this problem is removed (or no longer exist) anyway, if you have time, suggest you can go to have a look and compare the prices before making any booking!

Another issue is the baggage problem~


Although budget airlines are usually cheaper than Alitalia, but the fare it shows is the flight fee, excluding administration, baggage, online check-in fee, etc (Please be reminded that you have to check-in online instead of at the airport or you will be fined!), therefore, the total price may be just similar to the fare at Alitalia!

However, like other big airlines, the fare of Alitalia is already included 20 kg baggage allowance and you don't have to spend a penny if your luggage is not over-weighted. So this is much convenience for those, especially who like to buy souvenirs during the trip, that they may carry heavier luggage! (As you have to pay the baggage fee according to the weight, e.g. 15kg, 20kg for budget airlines in advance)

Train/ Coach 

Will update later!



Sunday, 23 November 2014

住進世界文化遺產 - Matera (Living in a UNESCO World Heritage - Matera)

位於意大利高跟鞋的鞋弓處 (在Basilicata 區),Matera舊城區的石頭洞穴叫Sassi, 在舊石器時代,這裡火山爆發,噴出的火山灰形成丘陵地,然後人們便開始挖洞建房子。

到1950年代,當地政府為左改善居民生活,迫令居民遷往新城區,至1993年,Sassi就被正式納入為世界文化遺產之一。
要真正感受到世界文化遺產的魅力,住進由世遺改建而成的酒店絕對會是一個好選擇。今次到Matera,專登挑選了由史前穴居遺址改建的Sextantio le Grotte della Civita,為了保留石窟的特色,以及盡顯古代居民的原始生活特色,酒店花了數年時間改建、修繕,盡量不破壞石窟本質,甚至仍然保留了一些當時所用的家具,如桌子、椅子等。但由於石窟的溫差大,酒店將石窟內的大石頭地下拆起,全部鋪上發熱管,再將原有石頭鋪回原位,令到不用改變石窟原有的面貌,同時卻能為住客提供舒適的住宿環境,因此整過改建過程便用上了數年時間才完成。

每間「房間」除了加了一些浴缸等衛生設施外,酒店特意沒有放些非不必要的設備,讓住進去的客人能感受到古時居民原始生活的體驗。

另一特色是酒店將石窟教堂改建為用餐的地方,內裡的椅子、桌子、櫃子等更是採用原有的家具,享用早餐時更能感受到原有的特色。

能夠感受古時居民的生活體驗,不得不歸功於酒店的主人翁,Daniele Kihlgren 和他的拍檔 Margaret Berg,其實Grotte della Civita就是一項保育本土古蹟的項目,以保育和活化的理念,把古蹟活代變為整有品味的酒店,讓客人旅遊時也能思考保育的重要。



Matera is one of the popular cities of Basilicata province in Southern Italy. It is famous for its ancient town - "Sassi". "Sassi" are houses dug into the calcarenitic rock, where people started settling themselves during the ancient times. Some suspected that these people are the first human settlements in Italy.


In the 1950s, the government forced the people to relocate to the new town so as to improve their standards of living, and in 1993, Sassi was considered by the UNESCO World Heritage.


To truly experience the charm of the city, living in the "caves" should be the best choice. I stayed at the Sextantio le Crotte della Civita, a luxury hotel reformed from these caves. To protect and restore the historical uniqness, the owners have spent a few year to restore, renovate the caves with the aim to keep the original form of the caves and grottoes, as such, some of the furnitures, such as desks, chairs, etc. were kept. The temperature in the cave varies a lot and in order to provide the guests with proper standards of luxury, all the caves were entirely wired and piped and finally, reassembled with each stone replaced in its original location.


Besides the basic necessities such as toilets, bathtubes, etc, there are no televisions or minibars, and this is how it promises to offer a truly unique experience in a very special historic place.


Another highlight of this hotel is the dining area where it was also converted from the cave churches. The tables, chairs, cupboards are also originated from where they belonged to in order to keep with the atmosphere of the rustic setting.


All these above should be credited to the hotel's owner, Daniele Kihlgren and his partner Margaret Berg. Grotte della Civita is indeed a heritage restoration project with the aim to preserve and restore the heritage into a luxury hotel,  spreading an important message to their guests -- the importance of preserving the heritage.



酒店的「正門」,平常有個守衛看住,因為SASSI四處八達,怕遊客唔知係酒店亂闖
The front gate of the hotel

        
酒店的RECEPTION都是由另一個原本用來養豬的洞窟改建而成
This reception was also reformed from the cave which was used to raise pigs in the past  

 
       我們同另一間共用一個門口 The front door of our Room - "Cave 14"


我們全住的房間比較隱蔽,屬於較大的一間
 We were living in a bigger room


每間"房間"的設計也是根據洞窟原有格局而改建,推開厚厚的實木大門,就如走進另一世紀,讓客人在最原始的居所中感受保育古蹟的重要

 酒店內的每一細微物件也是經過精心設計,如何保留原有物品的同時,又能帶出簡約優雅的一面


酒店既早餐十分豐富



酒店的其他房間,部份有「窗」Some of the other "caves" with windows







Saturday, 22 November 2014

前往意大利交通 Fly to Italy (Viaggiare in Italia)


由香港出發到歐洲,我最喜歡的還是搭乘卡塔爾航空 (Qatar Airways)。原因十分簡單︰


-        價錢經濟實惠
-        對於一些不能十幾個鐘坐在機艙內、膝頭常有酸軟不知放在哪裡感覺的人如我,轉機確是一個好選擇
-        中東航空公司十分有錢,機艙服務一流
-        飛機餐好味,飛一程歐洲,前後共有5餐,食到唔想食
-        經濟艙坐位寬敞
-        電視電影頻道超多選擇


與阿聯猶航空對比,卡塔爾價錢更勝一籌,而兩者的航班時間也差不多。2013,卡塔爾更與國泰航空簽成聯航,去程其實是有機會用國泰機,喜歡國泰的人一定覺得不錯。


(不過,我還是只喜歡卡塔爾,因為國泰經濟艙的位其他都幾狹窄,普遍經濟艙的電視更無甚選擇。卡塔爾呢? 大把好戲任你選,真係唔怕冇野做~而且CHECK IN 時沒國泰那麼多人呢!不用和國泰的其他乘客一起排隊等CHECK IN)


重要一提︰


卡塔爾服務如何一流?
 試過一次乘搭卡塔爾由香港到羅馬航班,因為轉機時間要9小時,到達多哈已是晚上10時多11時,心裡總是猶豫應留在機場或是怎樣?

竟然給我們發現,原來在卡塔爾網站上寫明,如果你的航班轉機時間逾8小時,卡塔爾是會在多哈轉機時提供免費酒店住宿的! (當然,有少少條件限制,例如你買的機票是哪一類,要致電卡塔爾服務熱線查詢)
 
到達多哈時,我在ARRIVAL HALL下車(平常記得是要到TRANSFER HALL才下車!)ACCOMMODATION櫃檯,連同出發前由香港服務中心電郵給我的酒店住宿證明,櫃檯服務員便會幫你安排住宿,而且還會有100多哈幣餐膳費用呢!然後,知道是哪一間酒店後,便可辦理出境手續,再到酒店櫃檯,他們便會安全專車送你返酒店!整個過程也不會有賣豬仔的感覺的呀!十分安全!


100多哈幣(qatar rial)可以食到幾多?
我住的那間酒店一個自助早餐只是55!所以,想吃得好一點也可以的呀!

而第二朝早,他們知道你的航班時間,也會安排專車送你回機場,辦理入境手續,便可精精神神準備出發歐洲了!!!!!



ACCOMMODATION櫃檯 (Doha舊airport)

在DOHA 住既酒店, 免費的!但都很舒服! 不過唔記得酒店名


Qatar Airways has always been my favourite airlines travelling to Europe from Hong Kong. There are just several reasons for that:

- reasonable fares
- suitable for those who cannot bear the "pain" from longhaul flight (transit at DOHA)
- wonderful inflight services (bear in mind that this airlines is from MIDDLE EAST!)
- delicious inflight meals, a total of 5 meals in total
- comparatively spacious seat in economy class
- lots of choices of movies, tv show, etc.

as compare with Emirates, the price for Qatar Airways is usually slightly cheaper while the flight time for both airlines are more or less the same. In 2013, Qatar Airways has signed codeshare with Cathay Airways and some of the flights to and from DOHA are operated by CX, it may be a good news for those CX lovers.
(for me, it is not, as the seat of CX flight is not that comfortable and the inflight entertainment is not as attractive as QR, too... even worse is that there is always a long long long queue for check-in at CX counters!)

How good is QATAR's services?

I have once travelled to ROMA from Hong Kong, and I chose the flight with more than 8 hrs waiting during transit. It arrives DOHA at around 10/11pm at night and at first, I just wonder if I can stay overnight at the airport without falling asleep? 

Then I just found out from Qatar's website that, for flights with more than 8 hrs transit time, the airlines will offer a FREE STAY at the hotel in DOHA (of course there are several conditions to whom is eligible for that, you have to call the service hotline to check)

Once arriving DOHA, what you have to do is to go to the arrival hall (NOT transfer hall) and right there is a accommodation counter, show them the email/voucher the service center sent to you and the staff there will find you a hotel!! and it also includes a QR100 (doha currency) for use! They will then check which hotel you will be staying and pass you all the necessary document, then you can go through the custom and go to the hotel counter, you will be arriving the hotel soon! I was doing this alone last time and I think it's better than staying at the airport overnight!

How much can I have with QR100?

Taking the hotel i stayed as example, a breakfast buffet just costs QR55, thus it means that actually you can even call room service, too!

In the next morning, they will arrange hotel shuttle to the airport around 2-3hrs before your boarding time!