Pizza dough - Mario Batali,

Simple Pizza dough
Prep - about 10 min
Wait for rise 45 min
Toppings... about 5 min


When you have the time to put it together and the time to let it rise, it is incredibly delicious and a fun activity

Notes from the times I have made it -- recipe at bottom

• Flour: recipe calls for AP flour, I usually try to find the 00 (extra fine ground) flour, usually something Italian import or named something Italian, it usually comes in one of the smaller little paper folded bags of flour -- it has a higher protein content and will allow for very stretchy dough
• Method: I usually add the honey into the warm water/wine mix to give the yeast a bit of extra food, and to let the honey dissolve and make easier to incorporate later
• Yeast: this recipe calls for 1.5 oz -- which doesn't make sense to me... 
• most common yeast is "active dry yeast" that comes in packets or a little jar (Fleichman's or Red Star), and is in .25oz envelopes
• The cake/fresh yeast is in little cubes of 0.6 oz 
• QED Mario Batali just uses so much yeast he gets it in bulk and if you were to use the active dry at 1.5 oz you'd have 6 envelopes and that seems nuts.
• My assumptions
• I think it makes most sense that he would use the fresh cubes of yeast, and that means about 3 cubes -- and the dry packets are equivalent to 1 cube 
• According to this reference https://www.kingarthurflour.com/pro/reference/yeast the weight is divided by 3, meaning .5 oz -- with packets that is 2 packets
• I use a yeast spoon (2.25 tsp) which gives an equivalent of 0.25oz of the dry active yeast packet --- which has come in handy since United is only selling yeast in 0.25lb rationed baggies in bulk.... and you can only buy one/customer
• Today I made it with one spoonful and it was ENOUGH -- you can do more- but it got huge and tasted great -- so just do what you want -- follow the recipe or be yeast-frugal
• Wine: notice it calls for 1/4 cup of wine... yep... so you *have to* open a bottle (darn!) or you can use this when you've got some extra white laying around that you don't want to waste -- assuming leftover rose or sparkling would work great; honestly probably red too since it is so little but i haven't tried it.
• Salt -- don't forget to add salt with the flour after the yeast is all proofed up - it will impact it proofing if you add to the liquid
• Sauce -- i'm partial to the cheap Italian canned pizza sauces 
• The dough will feel lumpy/shaggy before you let it rest the 45 min -- after you let it rest it will be very smooth
• BAKING
• I like to line a cookie sheet/pizza pan with foil and stick it in the oven to get hot (because i don't have a pizza stone :( but my bday is coming up...)
• I would stretch the dough out on parchment, so that it was easy to slide the parchment on top of the hot pan and get it back in the oven
• I prefer to blind bake my dough (add some docking to the dough) for 5-8 min (until it looks like it is getting mostly cooked but not golden) and then add the pizza sauce and toppings -- this is because i can't usually feel like with the amount of sauce i like lets the dough in the middle cook
• if you make smaller pizzas, like 2-4 out of this recipe, you might be fine to not blind bake the crust
• this recipe doesn't have a temp/time to cook....
• In the past I would turn it up to 500 F and check it a couple of times, but ended up being 10-15 min depending on size and toppings
• if you had a wood oven that gets 700-900 F it would take minutes
• Don't cook under 400, i'd even say 450 -- it's not hot enough and everything gets soggy
• My method: blind bake your crust for 10 min at 450-500, add toppings, bake another 5-10 min, let it get well tanned on the crust bits and be sure center is cooked

My favorite toppings...

• (obligatory lots of red sauce and mozz)
• red peppers
• goat cheese or ricotta
• roasted mushrooms (or thinly sliced ones)
• pancetta or Italian sausage

or...

• Topped after cooking with raw prosciutto and arugula....

from NYTimes.com

Mario Batali’s Pizza Dough

Published: August 16, 2007

¼ cup white wine

¾ cup warm water

1 ½ ounces yeast

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

3 cups all-purpose flour

Method:

Combine wine, water and yeast in a large bowl and stir until dissolved. Add the honey, salt and olive oil and mix thoroughly. Start by adding 1 cup of flour and make a wet paste. Add remaining flour and incorporate.

Place dough on a lightly floured board and knead for 2 to 3 minutes.

Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel. Let rise for 45 minutes
.

for more info on types of yeast: https://www.thekitchn.com/baking-school-day-11-all-about-yeast-and-baking-222489

Dinner Staple - Basic Risotto

Recipe from Everlasting Meal

The recipe for this risotto is a base .The book recommends it is served topped with simple roasted beets that are tossed in a little bit of olive oil and red wine vinegar and salt/pepper - it is a very simple and perfect meal
Recipe starts toward the bottom of the first photo/page below

the recipe in the book has no measurements... and it forced me to review other recipes I have used successfully and the directions on the bag of risotto rice... but the book really does describe it all the est.

I would recommend a loose interpretation of the book's recipe to be:

• 1 c rice
• 2 to 3 cups broth -- I think i used about 2 cups broth and a cup of water (warmed, nearly hot)
• half an onion, chopped (dice to the smaller side)
• handful of Parmasan cheese (shreeded/shaved/grated/etc) --> about 1/2 cup at least
• 1/4-1/3 c white wine
• 2-3 T butter

The key is really the constant stirring... takes at least 25-30 min

when it tastes done (about al dente rice cooked), stir in the cheese, turn heat off, cover the pot, and leave it to sit at least 5-10 min

At this point you can add other bits if you want to add seasonal flavots

• spring
• add 1/2 cup frozen peas, stir
• add handful of asparagus, chopped in large chunks, UNCOOKED, sitr in, it'll cook off enough from the rice heat if the veg is not too cold
• summer
• corn 
• halved cherry tomatoes
• chopped spinach
• fall & 
• winter
• sauteed chopped mushrooms, add toward the beginning
• if you use dried porcinis, strain the liquid and add to the hot broth 
• use red wine instead of white
• or
• roasted butternut squash
• chiffonade kale or other sturdy green

Weeknight Waste-Not-Want-Not -- Greens Grantin

Recipe from one of my favorites - Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace

Recipe calls for 2 c of stems from greens -- its ideal for when you have random stems or greens leftover. Ela wanted beets, I wanted to use the beet greens and the stems.

I had approx 2 c. greens and stems, I think this could work with up to twice as much greents/stems. I used the recommended 6"x4" dish, and with how much the greens cooked down I might double the recipe or at least double the greens.

Keep it simple and follow the recipe, or double the greens...
if you want to add complexity:

• add a minced garlic clove to the bechemel in the last 5-10 min
• add some fresh ground (or not fresh ground) nutmeg -- maybe 1/4 tsp
• top with the Parmesan and some breadcrumbs or torn bits of leftover bread

this is really tasty on its own, but I imagined it woul dbe really tasty...

• tossed with pasta -- i would use penne or other shaped pasta and add a little bit of pasta water so that you end up with a alfredo like sauce with the greens
• as a base with some poached eggs on top
• served over some quinoa or cous cous or other pasta/grain (with the egg)
• added to a pasta sauce (or that tomato soup base!) and
• tossed with pasta
• used as a base for poaching eggs
• served on toasted fresh bread....

Weeknight Quickie - Milk Bar Life's Tomato Soup

Recipe taken from Milk Bar Life -

Scroll down for photo of recipe from the cookbook to follow original guidelines



Modifications: (I try to stick to the recipe the first time I make it, and I didn't do that here...)

• I used a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, so I doubled the recipe
• it was too rich and thick - I think would have been better keeping everything the same and using a 28oz can instead of 14 oz can
• I used very chunkily diced tomatoes -- Ela didn't like them, I should have pureed it (ideally with the immersion blender, because using a regular blender would be extra)

I had leftovers... here's what I did:

• I had ~8oz left over, I reheated it with ~ 2 spoons (regular spoon you have in your drawer and set the table with-- whatever those are called) of tomato paste and 1.5 c water, about 1/2 tsp salt, result was more what I think I would have wanted in the first place

When I make this soup next time...

• Keep amount of roux (1 T flour + 1 T butter)
• cut sugar by 1/2
• double tomatoes to 28 oz can
• either puree, or use "petite diced" style tomatoes
• consider adding 1 T tomato paste

Cooking this soup took about 5-10 minutes, super fast 

In reviewing recipes of tomato bisque (see below for recipe from Food Network), it is not a ton different, so to make the soup extra fancy or add some levels of complexity without adding a ton of extra time... 

• cook the roux longer, to get a more complex and deeper flavor
• add a clove of garlic, chopped or pushed through one of those garlic masher things (make sure you let it cook at least 5-10 with this so it doesn't taste raw)
• add fresh basil or other fresh herbs
• I don't think it needs the cream called for in the recipe below
• top with some bacon
• if you use the Ruhlman method of cooking your bacon, you'll have rendered bacon fat -- if you start with this, you can use bacon fat instead of butter for your roux
• you can top with the bacon, or just start it with the bacon and its fat as long as you don't want the bacon crispy on top
• you can top it with a dollop of mascapone or sour cream ormaybe even greek yogurt

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/tomato-bisque-recipe-2011496

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon minced bacon (about 1/2 ounce)

1 Spanish onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

5 cups chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned

1 (28-ounce) can whole, peeled tomatoes (with liquid), roughly chopped

3 parsley sprigs

3 fresh thyme sprigs

1 bay leaf

1 cup heavy cream

1 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat the butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until crisp and most of the fat has rendered, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Lower the heat to medium, add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft and fragrant, about 8 minutes.
2. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Pour in the broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Tie the parsley sprigs, thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
3. When the soup base is cool, remove and discard the herb bundle. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Using a sieve over a large bowl, strain the tomato puree. Return the puree to the pot and reheat over medium heat.
4. Whisk the heavy cream and salt into the soup and season with pepper to taste. Divide among warm soup bowls, garnish with the crispy bacon, and serve immediately.

Elena Eats - Chicken, Peas, and Penne

It took too long to realize that once E was eating lots of peas, chicken, and pasta, and cheese, i could combine all of these things into a nice easy dish to prep.

This could be combined in a few different ways, base recipe followed by riffs

Ingredients:
- Cooked chicken, chopped into whatever size works for you (I prefer thighs slowly braised, but can do the same with breast, or just buy precooked chicken)
- Cooked pasta. About a cup of uncooked pasta is an adult serving size, you can cook a cup for the kiddo, serve some for the meal and use the extra for a different meal or snack. I prefer using penne and cutting each tube into 4-5 rings. Toss with 1 T or so of olive oil
- 1/2 cup frozen peas, cooked in simmering water for about 2 minutes, rinsed in cool water 
- 2 T cheese in either grated, small chopped bits, etc

* combine all ingredients - serve. Add more olive oil and salt to taste


Ideas for similar combinations
Meat:
- chopped cooked sausage, or sauteed loose sausage 
- browned ground turkey (sautee with an italian herb mix or some other herb or spice mix)
- lentils (can even get precooked lentils)

Veggies
- sautee finely diced carrots/celery
- chiffonade spinach, toss with warm pasta/meat to allow it to wilt

Elena Eats - Fruit braised chicken

Braised chicken thighs are soft, and when cooked with fruit have a sweetness and provide familiar flavors.

Child friendly:
- Thighs (dark meat) have more iron, and some good fat
- Meat soft, easy to eat, can cut into pieces or chop fine

Parent friendly:
- Double/Triple/etc the recipe and eat what they are eating

Etc:
- Serve over rice, or with pasta, or other side (cous cous, potatoes, polenta, quinoa)
- Change fruit/juice for the season's offerings, or necessary vitamins/etc (prunes or P fruits for digestion)

Base recipe:
- chicken thighs (I cook ~4 at a time to give her 1-2 and eat 2 myself. I get bored of food so I don't like to cook too much extra at once)
- 1 cup juice
- 1-3 cups stock/broth or water (enough to bring liquid to about 1/2 way up meat)
- 1-2 cups fruit or veggies (fruit can be fresh or dried)
- 1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)

In a pot (4-6 qt seems to do well), place fruit/veggies on bottom of pan, place meat on top, add liquids until the liquid reaches about 1/2 way up the meat. Bring to a simmer, cover, lower temperature to maintain very gentle simmer (consider using a diffuser), cook about 30 minutes to be done, cook a bit lower and longer if possible. I imagine a slow cooker could take care of business.

Ideas for juice/fruit combinations:
- Orange juice + dried apricots (and golden raisins)
- Pomegranate juice + dried figs, dried apricots
- Cherry juice + stone fruit
- Pear or apple juice + pears/apples
- Pear or apple juice + pineapple (consider adding ginger or cinnamon)

* Add carrots (peeled or unpeeled, chopped into 1-2 inch long chunks) to the bottom along with fruit. Cut into small bits and serve with the chicken, fruit, and side.
* Can use sweet potatoes in the same way

The "Ro-Tel" recipe also fits easily within this same structure. Use a very mild jar of salsa if you or your child do not prefer spiciness. Instead of using fruit + juice and stock, just use a jar of salsa (my favorite is either La Victoria Medium or a yummy mango salsa). When all cooking is complete, add a cup of (frozen?) peas or so, cook another 2 minutes until peas heated through. Be careful to not cook too long or peas will deflate and become wrinkled and overdone.

10 October 21, 2014 - Peach, Basil, and Arugula Salad; Spaghetti and Shrimp "Fra Diavolo"

Salad - The Art of Simple Food II
Rocket Salad with Babcock Peaches and Basil

recommended to use Fine Verde basil leaves

Wash and dry well:
    4 handfuls of rocket (arugula)
Make vinaigrette. Mix together:
   2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or 1 T fruit pickle brine
   1 large vasic sprig, gently smashed
   salt, fresh ground black pepper
Let sit for a few minutes, and whisk in:
   3 T evoo
Taste for salt and acid and adjust as needed
Carefully peel:
   1 large or 2 medium Babcock peaches
If peaches are fully ripe, peels will pull right off. Otherwise, dunk in boiling water for 5 seconds and then into ice water. If not using the peach right away, cover with a damp towel.
When ready to serve, toss the rocket with the dressing and:
   1 T vino verde basil leaves or chiffonade of basil
Arrange on plate.  Cut the peeled peach in two and twist halves apart.  Pry out the stone and slice halves into 1/4" slices. Arrange slices in rocket and serve

NOTES:
* increase red wine vinegar to at least 1 T maybe a little more
* didn't use Babcock, but should use freestone variety for ease
* tossed arugula with evoo, basil, and peaches and salt/pepper, THEN tossed in vinegar and served immediately


Pasta with Shrimp in Spicy Sauce

1/2 sweet onion, diced
1 tsp (about) crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp (about) mixed italian herbs
salt/pepper, evoo
1 large can San Marzano tomatoes
1/4 c white wine (about)
1 lb shrimp (ideally, frozen)- defrosted
pasta noodles

Put shrimp in colander, run cold water over to begin defrosting
Put pasta water on to boil
Puree tomatoes, roughly
Dice onion, add to pan heated with evoo
Salt and add crushed pepper to onion, stirring frequently while sauteing
As onion cooks and the pan dries, add white wine to deglaze
Add a little more crushed red pepper, stir, allow wine to reduce nearly all the way
Add pureed tomato, bring to a simmer, reduce heat and low simmer for 10 min
Add pasta to boiling water, cook according to package (approx 10 min)
Add shrimp, stir, turn off heat, let sit for a few minutes
When pasta has just a minute or so left, turn heat back on for sauce, stir to cook shrimp. Once shimp look opaque and colored, turn off heat.
When pasta is finished, strain it and add to the sauce (can leave some pasta water with pasta)
Toss pasta with sauce and shrimp, reheat if necessary, serve immediately

NOTES:
* taste for spiciness throughout!!