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Pizza Dough

Pizza Dough
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Homemade Pizza is great. Here is a good recipe for the dough.
Prep Time
45 minutes
Prep Time
45 minutes
Pizza Dough
Print Recipe
Homemade Pizza is great. Here is a good recipe for the dough.
Prep Time
45 minutes
Prep Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4-cup warm water.
  2. In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and the salt. Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and mix on low speed until the dough comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook, about 5 minutes. (The pizza dough can also be made in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse once or twice, add the remaining ingredients, and process until the dough begins to form a ball.)
  3. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and firm. Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes. (When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).
  4. Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute.
  5. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 15 to 20 minutes.
  6. At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
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Four-Cheese Pizza with Pesto Sauce

Four-Cheese Pizza with Pesto Sauce
Print Recipe
There is nothing like homemade pizza! Here is a great recipe for four cheese pizza with a pesto sauce.
Servings Prep Time
3 people 180 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Servings Prep Time
3 people 180 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Four-Cheese Pizza with Pesto Sauce
Print Recipe
There is nothing like homemade pizza! Here is a great recipe for four cheese pizza with a pesto sauce.
Servings Prep Time
3 people 180 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Servings Prep Time
3 people 180 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Ingredients
For the pizza Dough
For the pizza
Servings: people
Instructions
For the pizza dough
  1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4-cup warm water.
  2. In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and the salt. Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and mix on low speed until the dough comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook, about 5 minutes. (The pizza dough can also be made in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse once or twice, add the remaining ingredients, and process until the dough begins to form a ball.)
  3. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and firm. Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes. (When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).
  4. Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times.
  5. Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 15 to 20 minutes.
  6. At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
For the Pizza
  1. Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
  2. To prepare each pizza, dip the ball of dough into flour, shake off the excess flour, place the dough on a clean, lightly floured surface, and start to stretch the dough. Press down on the center, spreading the dough into an 8-inch or 10-inch rounds, with the outer border a little thicker than the inner circle. If you find this difficult to do, use a small rolling pin to roll out the dough.
  3. Brush lightly with pesto and scatter the oven-dried tomatoes evenly around the inner circle of the pizza. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Fontina, arrange the slices of the Roma tomatoes, and then sprinkle with the goat cheese, oregano, thyme, and finally the Parmesan.
  4. Bake on the pizza stone until the pizza crust is nicely browned, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  5. When the pizza is removed from the oven, transfer to a cutting board and garnish with the chiffonade of basil leaves, cut the pizza into slices, and serve immediately.
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Oven-Dried Tomatoes

Oven-Dried Tomatoes
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An easy way to dry tomatoes. Can be used in your favorite recipes.
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Oven-Dried Tomatoes
Print Recipe
An easy way to dry tomatoes. Can be used in your favorite recipes.
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
60 minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Preheat the over to 250 degrees F.
  2. In a pot of boiling water, blanch tomatoes. Drain and refresh in ice water. Drain. Peel, core, cut into quarters, and remove seeds.
  3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange the tomato quarters on the tray, cut side down. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with thyme and garlic.
  4. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and sugar, and sprinkle evenly over the tomatoes.
  5. Bake until the tomatoes begin to shrivel, about 1 hour.
  6. When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, transfer to a container. Pour olive oil over and cover the container.
  7. Refrigerate and use as needed.
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Pesto

Pesto
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Fresh basil, garlic, and pine nuts.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Pesto
Print Recipe
Fresh basil, garlic, and pine nuts.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. In a blender, pour in the oil first, then the garlic, nuts, and finally the basil leaves.
  2. Blend on low to a smooth paste. Season with the kosher salt.
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Asparagus Lasagne

Asparagus Lasagne
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Lasagne made with Asparagus and goat cheese.
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Asparagus Lasagne
Print Recipe
Lasagne made with Asparagus and goat cheese.
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Cut the tips off each asparagus spear and reserve them.
  2. In a large shallow baking pan toss the asparagus stalks with the oil, coating them well, and roast them in a large shallow roasting pan in a preheated 500 degree F. oven, shaking the pan every few minutes, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until they are crisp-tender.
  3. Sprinkle the asparagus with salt to taste and let it cool. Cut the roasted asparagus into 1/2-inch lengths and reserve it.
  4. In a large bowl of cold water let the sheets of lasagne soak for 15 minutes, or until they are softened.
  5. In a saucepan melt the butter, add the flour, and cook the roux over moderately low heat, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the broth and the water in a stream, whisking, simmer the mixture for 5 minutes, and whisk in the goat cheese, the zest, and salt to taste, whisking until the sauce is smooth.
  6. Drain the pasta well, arrange 1 sheet of it in a buttered 8-inch-square baking dish, and spread with one fourth of the sauce. Top the sauce with one fourth of the reserved roasted asparagus and sprinkle the asparagus with 1/4 cup of the Parmesan. Continue to layer the pasta, the sauce, the asparagus, and the Parmesan in the same manner, ending with a sheet of pasta.
  7. In a bowl beat the cream with a pinch of salt until it holds soft peaks. Arrange the reserved asparagus tips decoratively over the pasta, spoon the cream over the pasta and the asparagus tips, spreading it with the back of the spoon, and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top.
  8. Bake the lasagne in the middle of a preheated 400 degree F. oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until it is golden and bubbling, and let it stand for 10 minutes before serving.
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Bruschetta With Tomatoes, Cucumbers, And Basil

Bruschetta With Tomatoes, Cucumbers, And Basil
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A Wonderful Italian Appetizer!
Servings Prep Time
4 30 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 30 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Bruschetta With Tomatoes, Cucumbers, And Basil
Print Recipe
A Wonderful Italian Appetizer!
Servings Prep Time
4 30 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 30 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. 1. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and basil; season lightly with salt and pepper. Add olive oil and vinegar, and toss well to combine. Let stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour, but no longer than 2.
  2. Heat broiler or grill pan.
  3. Cut bread diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brush both sides lightly with olive oil; grill or broil on both sides until toasted.
  4. 3. Rub hot bread lightly with garlic cloves on one side only. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with tomato mixture. Let stand a few minutes to allow juices to soak into bread before serving.
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