Food and Cooking
Glossary
I
Ice cream
Ice cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from
dairy products such as cream (or substituted ingredients), combined
with flavourings and sweeteners. This mixture is cooled while
stirring to prevent large ice crystals from forming. Although
the term "ice cream" is sometimes used to mean frozen
desserts and snacks in general, it is usually reserved for frozen
desserts and snacks made with a high percentage of milk fat.
Frozen custard, ice milk, sorbet and other similar products
are often also called ice cream.
Ice Milk
Ice milk is a frozen dessert with less than 10 percent milk
fat and the same sweetener content as ice cream. Ice milk is
typically priced lower than ice cream and is typically sold
as a generic product.
Illawarra Plums
Illawarra plums are composed of two segments; a hard, dark inedible
seed about 1 cm in diameter, and a large, fleshy, purple-black,
seedless, grape-like "modified stalk" about 2.5 cm
in diameter, all with a waxy coating.
Indian Fennel
Ancient Indians used fennel as a condiment and culinary spice.
In Greece, it was a symbol of success. In Rome, the young fennel
shoots were used as food. Pliny considered it good for improved
vision. Culpeper recommends it as an antidote for poison. In
India, it thrives in the sunny, limey, well-drained loam. The
pleasingly warm, sweet smell and the clean appearance are clear
indications of how well Indian fennel retains its exclusive
quality even after drying.
Infuse
To extract the flavour from herbs, spices, tea or coffee either
by pouring on boiling water and allowing the water to take on
the flavours before drinking hot, or by bringing the mixture
to the boil and allowing it to cool.
Insalata
Insalata Caprese (Salad in the style of Capri) is a simple salad
of sliced fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes and basil from the
Italian region of Campania. It is seasoned with salt, black
pepper, and olive oil. Oregano can be added as well. The main
ingredients are similar to Pizza Margherita. Ideally, the mozzarella
is di bufala della Campania, the olive oil is extra virgin from
the peninsula of Sorrento and the tomatoes and basil are grown
in the full sun of the mezzogiorno. The dish reproduces the
colours of the flag of Italy. In a variation, mustard can be
added between the slices of tomato and mozzarella.
Irish Coffee
A coffee drink made from strong black coffee, sugar and Irish
whiskey, topped with fresh whipped cream and sometimes garnished
with a coffee bean. It's served in a warmed Irish coffee glass
- a tall glass with a handle.
Invert Sugar
Inverted sugar syrup is sucrose-based syrup treated with the
enzyme invertase, and/or an acid, which splits each sucrose
molecule into one glucose and one fructose molecule, giving
a more rounded sweetness and preventing crystallization. This
property is valued especially by bakers, who call the products
trimoline. Inversion can be partial as in products like Golden
syrup or complete (100% conversion to glucose and fructose)
depending on the functional properties required,
Italian Dressing
Italian dressing in United States cooking is a vinaigrette-type
salad dressing consisting of an emulsion of water, oil, vinegar
or lemon juice, salt, pepper, minced onions and bell peppers,
and a variety of herbs and spices including garlic, oregano,
fennel, and dill. It is often bought bottled, or prepared by
mixing oil and vinegar with a packaged flavoring mix consising
of dehydrated vegetables and herbs.
Italian Sausages
are fresh pork sausages that include those in the style of northern
Italy, which are sweet and mild, and sometimes flavored with
fennel seed. Southern-style sausages, such as Neapolitan varieties,
are often flavored with dried chili pepper flakes and tend to
be hot.
