Saturday, October 29, 2011

Homemade Stuff Crust Pizza

This pizza is easy to make and will definitely impress others.  Feel free to top your pie with your choice of ingredients.

Ingredients:
7-8 low moisture, part skim mozzarella cheese sticks
Pre made pizza dough
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1.5 cups Quattro farmagio cheese
1/4 teaspoon Oregano
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Garlic powder

Toppings:
Pre cooked Canadian bacon
Canned pineapple pieces

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spray 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. Unroll dough onto pan. Starting at the center of the pan, press dough towards edges of pizza pan extending dough 1 inch beyond pan edge.
Place string cheese around inside edge of crust.  Fold edge of dough over cheese and pinch to seal.
Note: You should only fold about 2 inches of dough over cheese to keep the pizza light.  Any excess dough can be saved for a separate recipe.  The pizza will get crispier if you go liberal on the dough.  
Bake the plain pizza for 5 minutes.  Top with pizza sauce and oregano.  
Top pizza with one half of the cheese.  Top with the toppings of your choice.  I used Canadian bacon and pineapple chunks.  Cover toppings with remaining cheese.  Lightly coat pizza crust with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt to taste.
 Bake pizza 12-16 minutes.
Crust should be a deep, golden brown when pie is done.
Now that is an impressive pie.

    Boneless Buffalo Chicken Bites Made Easy

    I love chicken wings, but seeing the cartilage as I rip the meat of the bone leaves me a little uneasy.  This recipe packs the same punch as traditional buffalo chicken bites, but has far less fat since they are baked.

    Ingredients:
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Wash the chicken and pat dry.  Cut the chicken into bite size pieces.
    In a large plastic bag (most boxes of coating mix come with a plastic bag or two) add the chicken and coating mix.  Shake until the chicken pieces are evenly coated.
    Spread out chicken pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Note: Chicken will get crispier if pieces are not touching one another.
    Bake chicken for 20 minutes.
    A few minutes before the chicken is done combine Frank's Red Hot with the honey in a microwave safe bowl.  Heat on high for 2 minutes.  Add cooked chicken bites to sauce, mixing until each piece is coated.  Serve with a side of blue cheese for dipping.

    Thursday, October 27, 2011

    Hot Cookies

    I wish I had made these cookies, but I cannot take credit for them.

    The picture was forwarded to me in an email that read, "The church threw my cookies out of the bake sale again!"

    So brilliant.  I have to make these for a future event since the look very easy.  My guess is to roll out dough for a sugar cookie.  Cut out heart shaped pieces and chop off the bottom of the heart near the tip.  Cook as directed, cool, and decorate to your hearts content.

    Friday, October 21, 2011

    Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers

    My inspiration for this dish is my mother's stuffed bell peppers.  The cinnamon in them fills the kitchen and the complex sweet (raisins) and savory (feta cheese) flavors leaves you wanting more.  I took her basic idea and made my own version.

    My Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers
    Ingredients
    • 1.5 cups bell pepper, chopped into bite size pieces
    • Olive oil
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1/2 cup chopped onion
    • 1.5 cups Israel Couscous
    • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 3/4 cups low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
    • 1/4 cup chopped spinach
    • 1/4 cup raisins
    • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
    • Fat free Feta cheese
    • Parsley, chopped

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Lightly coat bell peppers with oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Bake for 30 minutes or until tender.
    Meanwhile melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.  Add onions and saute until golden.  Add couscous, cinnamon, and bay leaf to the pot.  Stir often until couscous lightly browns.  Add chicken broth, raisins, spinach and bring to boil.  Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed.  Remove from heat and stir in roasted peppers and cumin.
    Season with pepper and salt to taste.  If desired add feta cheese and parsley.
    Now that dish is good, and my coworkers can confirm that it smells amazing, but eating the same dish for multiple meals becomes old.  I added some additions to the above dish and it is out of this world good.

    If using leftover couscous mixture (sans feta cheese) add the following ingredients:
    1/3 cup chopped carrots
    1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
    Olive oil
    Salt
    Mozzarella cheese

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper coat carrots and cherry tomatoes with olive oil.  Season with salt.  Roast for about 30 minutes or until carrots are tender.
    Heat up leftover couscous mixture.  Mix in the roasted tomatoes and carrots and top with mozzarella cheese.
    Trust, this is a healthy veggie dish that is sure to impress.

    Monday, October 17, 2011

    White Chocolate Wonderful

    Last year I dabbled in the gluten free world.  What that really means is that I thought I might have had a gluten intolerance, panicked, and went on a shopping rampage buying as many gluten free items as I could find.  Most of these items were non memorable (save yourself the disappointment and do not even try gluten free pasta).  However I did develop a powerful addiction.  

    It all started with Peanut Butter & Co's Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter.  The website describes the mix perfectly: It's like spreading your peanut butter on cinnamon raisin bread—without the bread.  Some can resist bread, but carbs make me happy.  Thus I started eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches with the zeal of a first grader.  Curiosity, however, got the best of me and I decide to try Peanut Butter & Co's White Chocolate Wonderful.  

    Holy beep!  White Chocolate Wonderful is the most delicious peanut butter concoction on the planet.  Apples taste sweeter, carrots go down smoother, and a PB and J has never been this fancy.  If you are tired of your normal peanut butter, want a sweet treat, or are curious to try something new, then splurge on this fancy variation.  However I do warn that you may have an uncontrollable urge to eat this peanut butter scoop after scoop from the jar.  

    Sunday, October 16, 2011

    Let the adventure begin

    Every week I receive a box of organic vegetables from Honey Brook Organic Farms. My goal over the last few months has been to eat all the vegetables in my box share. Generally the box has tons of veggies, some I'm familiar with, and other types that are new to me. Less often I receive fruit. Experimenting in the kitchen has allowed me to healthfully enhance the dishes I know and love and create new recipes.

    This weeks feast:
    • Bell Peppers
    • Bok Choy
    • Carrots
    • Cilantro
    • Lettuce
    • Hot peppers
    • Parsley
    • Spicy Mix
    • Tomatoes
    • Turnips
    Spicy Mix? This should be interesting.