Spinocolli Pizza

|
By
|
4 comments

It’s funny how the internet can connect us to places we’ve never been to. To people we’ve never met. Such is the case with this wonderful pizza. Whenever I make it, I think of the lovely Annie and the little pizzeria in her hometown that came up with this wonderful pie. I’ve always been a fan of a good white pizza. But the spinach and broccoli which adorn the top of this really make it unique and memorable.

The sauce is rich and creamy, with just a hint of garlic. The spinach is nice and tender, and the broccoli gets slightly roasted – intensifying  the flavor. The combination of mozzarella and cheddar on top is definitely the win, too. Did you know that cheese is actually better; gooier and stringier, when a combination of cheeses are used? Alton Brown. Most pizza dough recipes yield enough dough for 2 pizzas, so I’ll usually do one standard pepperoni and then mix it up with something like spinocolli. It’s become a favorite here on pizza nights. Thanks so much, Annie!

Spinocolli Pizza

For the white sauce:
1 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. flour
3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
1 clove garlic, smashed
Salt and pepper, to taste
6 tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

For the pizza:
Pizza dough
Olive oil, for brushing
1/2 cup packed baby spinach leaves, torn
1 cup very small broccoli florets
2 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
Grated Parmesan

To make the white sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until bubbling and light golden, about 1 minute.  Whisk in the heavy cream and garlic, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and bubbles.  Remove from the heat and whisk in the grated Parmesan until completely melted and smooth.  Discard the garlic clove.  (Note: This will make a bit more sauce than you need for the pizza, but with a little extra cheese it makes a great dipping sauce for crust.)

To make the pizza, preheat the oven and a pizza stone at 500? F for at least 30 minutes.  Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-14 inch round.  Lightly brush the perimeter of the dough with olive oil.  Spread a thin layer of the white sauce over the crust, leaving a border clear around the edge for the crust.  Sprinkle the torn spinach leaves over the white sauce.  Evenly distribute the broccoli florets over the dough.  Layer evenly with the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.  Finish with additional grated Parmesan, if desired.  Transfer the pizza to the preheated pizza stone and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the crust is lightly browned, about 10-12 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Source: Annie’s Eats

Fresh Pasta

|
By
|
8 comments

I’ve been having a lot of fun making pasta at home these days. I’ve had a pasta machine for a few years now, the kind with the handle you crank. It was a great little machine, but I never found myself getting it out to use.  I’d wanted the attachment for my stand mixer for a while now, but it was pricey – and, not really something I’d buy for myself. Well, my mom and dad were really good to me this year and gave it to me for Christmas! Since then, I’ve been making pasta probably once a week. It’s been so wonderful. While dried boxed pasta is very affordable, and you can even get high-quality imported pasta at your regular grocery store now…there is just something to be said for fresh pasta.

Tender, yet firm. Finally, the term “al dente” makes sense! I’ll be honest with you guys, my first attempt was a bunk. I used the recipe that came with KitchenAid attachment instructions, and it was a complete wreck. It used 100% all-purpose flour. I had to add a considerable amount more water than the recipe called for, and it just kept tearing when I tried to roll it out. That batch ended up in the trash can. But, I didn’t give up. I turned to Annie, who can always be counted upon for a great recipe. This dough came together beautifully, rolled out beautifully, and cut beautifully. I happened to have semolina on hand from a previous trip to the “big city”, and used what I had in a couple weeks. I had to poke around a bit to find it close by, but I found it at a health food store. The 50/50 ratio of all-purpose flour to semolina is just perfect. I’m looking forward to trying some flavored pastas as well. I think I’ll mix some chopped fresh herbs into the pasta next time. With some sautéed garlic and olive oil. Perfect, simple dinner! Enjoy.

Fresh Pasta

Yields about one and a half pounds fresh pasta

1½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surfaces
1½ cups semolina flour
pinch salt
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon water, plus more as needed

Combine the flours and salt in a bowl or on a work surface, creating a well in the center.  Crack the eggs into the well.  Using a mixer or by hand, slowly mix, incorporating the flour into the egg mixture a little bit at a time.

Once you have a dry, shaggy dough, mix in the olive oil and water and knead by hand until the dough is fairly smooth and homogeneous.

Divide the dough into four portions and cover with a damp towel.  Let rest for 20 minutes.  At this point, proceed with thinning and cutting as desired, depending on equipment available.

To cook, cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water for 3-5 minutes or until al dente.  Drain well and serve immediately.

Chipotle Honey Roasted Peanuts

|
By
|
10 comments

The past couple of years for Christmas, we’ve received a big tin of these wonderful  spicy peanuts from a family member. Sadly, this year she was not able to attain a tin. I look forward to them all year, so I must admit I was a little bit disappointed when they weren’t under the tree for us. However, it got me to thinking – how hard could they be to make at home?

After a little bit of recipe sleuthing, I found a recipe that seemed that it fit the bill.  I’m happy to report that I like this homemade version just as much, if not more, than the original. With just the right amount of kick from the chipotle powder, and a nice background sweetness from the honey – you’ll find yourself reaching for another handful.  Consider yourself warned, they are addicting! It makes a big batch, great for snacking on all week long. While I’ll still gladly accept a tin of Hot Honeys if gifted to me, I’m happy to know that I’ll be able to make my own at home all year long.

Chipotle Honey Roasted Peanuts

1/3 cup white sugar
1½ teaspoons chipotle chile powder
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound skinless peanuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Stir together the sugar, chipotle powder, chili powder, and garlic powder in a small bowl; set aside.

Stir together the butter, honey, and kosher salt in a large saucepan over medium heat until the butter has melted, and the mixture is bubbly. Stir in the peanuts until well coated, then pour out into a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven until the nuts are golden brown, about 30 minutes. Stir the mixture 2 or 3 times to ensure even cooking. Once done, scrape the peanuts into a large metal bowl, and sprinkle with the spice mixture. Toss the peanuts to evenly coat with the spice mixture. Allow the peanuts to cool to room temperature, tossing every few minutes so the nuts do not stick together.

Source: Allrecipes

Guacamole

|
By
|
8 comments

In my noobular years, I disliked avocado.  I know, I know. Shame on me! Thank Heavens I came around. Like most people, it was guacamole that brought me around. Rich, creamy, and cool – it’s pretty much the perfect condiment. Lots of people have their own spin on guacamole, and mine is no exception. It’s similar to most guac recipes, but, I like to add a little bit of sour cream. It gives it a nice tangyness, and lightens it up a bit. I’m sure you could also use Greek yogurt, and get the same effect. We put it on everything; enchiladas, tacos, even scrambled eggs. Which, incidentally, I also add a bit of sour cream to. That’s a tip I picked up from Ralph Cifaretto in “The Sopranos”, right before he got whacked (one of my favorite episodes, btw, for all you Sopranos fans out there). Ahh, I miss that show!

I digress. The guacamole. With all the football game goodness we have to look forward to in the coming weeks (Go 9ers!), save room on your table for a big bowl of guacamole and tortilla chips. It’s always one of the first things to go! I’ve also got another great munchie coming up tomorrow that’s perfect for football snacking. Stay tuned!

Guacamole

3 ripe Haas avocados, seeded and meat removed (see here for a great rundown)
juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons sour cream (reduced fat is fine)
1/2 cup pico de gallo
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Mash avocados and lemon juice well with a potato masher. Add in remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Add additional salt to taste.

Place in serving bowl, and cover the surface of the guacamole with plastic wrap to prevent oxidation. Refrigerate until ready to serve.