Mushroom Pizza

This a delicious pizza.


MUSHROOM PIZZA


Serves 4-6 people.

Mushroom

2                                       Pizza Dough (please refer to
                                        previous recipe on how to make
                                        pizza dough)
4 tbsp.                              Butter
2 lbs.                                Beech (leave whole), Shiitake
                                        (tear into stems, slice 1/8"), Baby
                                        Bella mushroom (tear into stem,
                                        slice 1/8")
2 tsp.                               Thyme
                                        Kosher salt and pepper
                                        Olive oil
3/4 lb.                              Fresh mozzarella, tear into
                                        pieces
Handful                           Cornmeal

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
2. Put the butter in the pan and saute the mushrooms on low heat for 15 minutes. 
3. Add the thyme, salt and pepper and remove pan from stove top. 
4. Spread the cornmeal out on a wooden baking paddle.
5. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a circle that is 7 inches and 1/4 inch thick.
6. Place the pizza dough on top of the cornmeal.
7. Spread olive oil and spoon mushrooms on the dough. 
8. Sprinkle the mozzarella on top.
9. Put the paddle in the oven for 7-10 minutes.
10. Serve and enjoy. 

Mushroom Pizza

I USE ONLY MY LEFT HAND !!!

Beef Ragu Bologese with Cavatelli

A very, very nice dinner.

BEEF RAGU BOLOGESE WITH CAVAILLI



Serves 8-10 people.

                                       Olive Oil

Beef Ragu Bologese with Cavatelli

1                                     Large onion, cut in half, peel
3                                     Large cloves of Garlic, minced
2 lbs.                               Ground beef
2 cups                              Beef broth- see recipe for Osso
Bucco with Saffron Risotto
24 oz.                             Passata, Italian tomatoes crushed
28 oz.                             Peeled tomatoes, San Marzano,   crushed
                                       Salt and pepper
1 tbsp                              Basil
1 t                                   Oregano
                                       Hot pepper flakes
1/4 cup                           Creme fraiche
1/2 cup                           Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
                                       Parsley

1. Heat oil and add onion, cook for 8-10 min on med. heat. Increase heat, add meat, cook for 5-7 min., and then add garlic.
2. Add beef broth 1 cup, 8-10 min., add another 1 cup, 8-10 min.
3. Turn down and add all of the tomatoes. Add salt, pepper, basil, oregano, hot pepper flakes, and creme fraiche. Add 1/4 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano.
4. And simmer for 1 hour 
5. Stir pasta, meat, and tomatoes together.
6. Garnish with a 1/4 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano and parsley. Serve.

By Deborah Mele, Italian Food Forever (a blogs),  August 9, 2009.

How to Make Cavatelli di Ricotta Step by Step

Serves 8-10 people.

4 cups                             Tipo "00" flour
1                                     Egg
1 lbs.                               Full fat Ricotta cheese
1 tsp.                               Salt
1/3 cup                            Heavy cream

1. Measure and assemble your ingredients - flour, ricotta cheese, salt, cream and egg.
2. Make a well in the flour and add the other ingredients into it. Begin to mix until the dough comes together.
3. Dump the dough onto a lightly floured counter and knead for 2 to 3 minutes with your hands until you get a smooth dough.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rest 15 minutes on the counter or for hours in the refrigerator.
5. Cut the dough into workable pieces and roll on a floured surface until your dough is about 1/3 of an inch thick.
6. Use a sharp knife and cut the dough into 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick strips. Flour the strips well before using to prevent sticking.
7. Use one hand to feed the strip between the wooden rollers while using the other hand to turn the crank clockwise.
8. As the dough passes through the rollers it is then cut into cavatelli which fall out onto the surface below.
9. Place the completed cavatelli onto a lightly floured tray and cook immediately or store in the freeze until needed.

Cavatelli Maker

Cavatelli Maker

I USE ONLY MY LEFT HAND!!!

Basil

This is how basil is made.

BASIL

1. Remove all of the basil leaves from one plant. 
2. Put the leaves in a 24" x 18"  tray. 
3. Preheat oven to 250 degrees and then place the tray in the oven. Remove after one hour, add more time if it is not dried.
4. Will make about a 1/2 cup of dried basil.
5.  Store in a zipped lock bag.

Fresh

Dried

I USE ONLY MY LEFT HAND !!!

Brussels Sprouts

I hated brussel sprouts until I had them this way, now I love them!

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Serves 2 people.

Brussels Spouts, at the Public Market

                           Olive oil                                
15                       Brussels sprouts
1                         Pancetta, have the deli cut it into 1/4" slices,                              then you cut the slices into 1/4" cubes
4-4" long            Scallions, sliced, into 1/4" pieces
                           Salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Tear the brussel sprouts off of the stalk. Cut the top off to get rid of the stem and some leaves will fall off, but that's okay.
2. Cut each in half.
3. Add olive oil in small pot. Add sprouts, pancetta, scallion, salt and ground pepper. Turn on HIGH. 
4.  Cook for about 4 minutes. Serve.

    I USE ONLY MY LEFT HAND !!!

Cooked

Potaotoes and Tomatoes

I forgot the parsley in the picture!!!

POTATOES AND TOMATOES

Potatoes, tomatoes, onion, cheese

Serves 6 people.

                                    Olive oil
2 medium                    Onions, cut in half then peeled, sliced                                       in 1/4" slices
2 large                         Potatoes, white, cut in half, slice in                                          1/4" slices
3 medium                    Potatoes, red, cut in half, slice in 1/4"                                       slices
1 large                        Potato, stew, peeled, cut in half, slice in                                    1/4" slices
1/2 cup                        Parmigiano Reggiano, grated cheese
1 qt.                             Small tomatoes
                                    Kosher salt and pepper
                                    Chopped parsley to sprinkle on top

1. Olive oil in a large oval pan. Onion, white and red potatoes, stew potatoes, salt and pepper, and mix it up. 
2. In a bowl, combine the tomatoes and cheese. 
3. Pour the cheese and tomatoes on top of the potatoes. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top.
4. Oven 350 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes.
5. Serve. 

Finished

Raw

I USE ONLY MY LEFT HAND !!!

Chicken Cacciatora

If you smelled it... terrific!


CHICKEN CACCIATORA

Serves 4 people.

6 oz.                                   Medium egg noodles
                                           Olive oil
1 medium                          Onion, cut in half, peeled, slice
1/2                                     Green pepper, slice and then cut the slices in half
1/2                                     Red pepper, slice and then cut the slices in half
6                                        Chicken thighs, boneless, slice into 1/2'' cubes
2                                        Garlic, minced
1-28 oz.                             Peeled tomatoes, San Marzano
1/2 cup                              Parmigiano Reggiano, grated cheese
1 tablespoons                    Basil
1 tablespoons                    Oregano
1/4-1/2 teaspoon               Hot pepper flakes
                                          Kosher salt and pepper
                                          Fresh basil

Cacciatora

1. Boil water in a stock pot strainer. Once it is at a boil, turn it off.
2. While the water is boiling, crush tomatoes using your hands in a bowl.
3. Saute the peppers and onion on slow for 5-8 min. Add chicken, 10 min. Add garlic, 1 min. Add crushed tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano, basil, oregano, peppers, salt and pepper. Set 30 min.
4. Turn the water back on, once it is at a rapid boil, cook egg noodles for 6 minutes. Add the pasta to the sauce and mix.
5. Garnish with fresh basil.
6. Eat!

I USE ONLY MY LEFT HAND!!!

Gazpacho

I didn't cook a thing.

GAZPACHO

Serves 25 people.


8 pounds                          Tomato, cored (Cut the white core away from the sides of the tomato)
5 pounds                          Roma tomato, cored
4                                      Cucumber, peeled, halved and seeded
3                                      Green bell pepper, halved, cored and seeded
1                                      Red bell pepper, halved, cored and seeded
4 small                             Red onion, peeled and halved
8                                       Garlic cloves, peeled
4 large                              Long green peppers, stemmed and halved lengthwise
1 1/2 cups                         Extra virgin olive oil
8 tablespoons                    Red wine vinegar
4 tablespoons                    Basil, finely minced
4 tablespoons                    Parsley, finely minced
                                         Kosher salt and ground black pepper
                                         For garnish, chopped chives and Tabasco

All of the Ingredients

1. Roughly chop 6 pounds of tomatoes, 4 Roma tomatoes, 3 pounds cucumbers, 2 pounds green bell pepper, 1/2 pound red bell pepper, 3 small red onion and place in large bowl. Add garlic, long green peppers, and 6 teaspoons salt and toss until well combined. Set aside for 1 hour.
2. Dice remaining tomatoes, Roma tomato, cucumber, green bell pepper, red bell pepper and red onion into 1/4-inch pieces and place in medium bowl. Toss with 2 teaspoons of salt and transfer to strainer set over medium bowl. Set aside for 1 hour. 
3. Roughly chopped mix: Use a Vitamix on the 6-8 speed setting. Pour a 1/4 cup of olive oil SLOWLY into the hole in the lid. Blend until liquified. *The whole mix will not fit into the blender at one time. You will need to pour the liquified mix into a bowl and then add more of the roughly chopped mixture into the Vitamix. Repeat until the whole mixture has been through the Vitamix.
4.  Diced mix: Add red wine vinegar, basil, parsley, kosher salt and ground black pepper.
5. Add the diced mixture into the liquified mixture and stir.
6. Freeze the soup (about 4-5 quarts) if you aren't eating it. If you are eating it, chill and serve cold.
7. Garnish with chopped chives and Tabasco.

Vitamix

Roughly Chopped Mixture before the Vitamix


















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Diced Mixture

Gazpacho