Posts for September 13th 2011

recipes

Pizza With Smoked Salmon and Caviar

From Wolfgang Puck Pizza With Smoked Salmon and Caviar Ingredients1 recipe (24 ounces) pizza dough (see recipe below) Flour, for dusting 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium red onion, julienned 1/4 bunch fresh dill, minced, plus 4 small sprigs for garnish 1 cup sour cream or crème fraîche Freshly ground pepper, to taste 16 ounces smoked salmon, sliced paper-thin 4 heaping tablespoons domestic golden caviar or salmon caviar 4 heaping teaspoons black osetra caviar Directions 30 minutes before you're ready to bake the pizzas, preheat the oven to 500ºF with a pizza stone inside.

Pizza With Smoked Salmon and Caviar

Ingredients

1 recipe (24 ounces) pizza dough (see recipe below)
Flour, for dusting
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, julienned
1/4 bunch fresh dill, minced, plus 4 small sprigs for garnish
1 cup sour cream or crème fraîche
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
16 ounces smoked salmon, sliced paper-thin
4 heaping tablespoons domestic golden caviar or salmon caviar
4 heaping teaspoons black osetra caviar

Directions

  1. 30 minutes before you're ready to bake the pizzas, preheat the oven to 500ºF with a pizza stone inside.
  2. Prepare pizza crust: 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 circle, with its outer rim 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. After the dough has been rolled or stretched into four 8-inch circles, place the pizzas on a lightly floured wooden peel. Brush the center of each pizza to within 1 inch of the edge with olive oil and sprinkle it with some of red onion. Slide the pizza onto the stone and bake 8 to 12 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
  4. Make the dill cream: Mix the dill with the sour cream or crème fraîche and freshly ground pepper to taste.
  5. Arrange the pizzas: Transfer the pizzas to heated dinner plates and spread them with the sour cream mixture.
  6. Divide the salmon, and arrange decoratively over the cream.
  7. Place a spoonful of golden caviar in the center of each pizza, then spoon a little of the black caviar into the center of the golden or salmon caviar. Cut each pizza into fourths and serve immediately.

Makes 4 8-inch pizzas.

pizza dough

Pizza Dough

From Wolfgang Puck Pizza Dough Ingredients1 package active dry or fresh yeast 1 teaspoon honey 1 cup warm water (105º to 115ºF) 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Toppings of your choice Directions In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4 cup warm water.

Pizza Dough

Ingredients

1 package active dry or fresh yeast
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup warm water (105º to 115ºF)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Toppings of your choice

Directions

  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, 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; dissolve the yeast as above, combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse once or twice, add the remaining ingredients, and process until the dough begins to form a ball that rides around the side of the bowl on top of the blade.)
  3. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should feel 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 should stretch easily 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 to form a smooth, even, firm ball. 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. Use as directed for smoked salmon pizza; dough may be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Makes enough dough for 4 pizzas.

How To

Hate Squeezing Out Spinach? Use Cheesecloth

Grating onions, hauling out trash, squeezing out frozen spinach — when it comes to least favorite kitchen tasks, these have all been at the top of my list.

Grating onions, hauling out trash, squeezing out frozen spinach — when it comes to least favorite kitchen tasks, these have all been at the top of my list. A new kitchen technique I've recently learned, however, might've just changed that. Thanks to my friend, cheesecloth, I no longer dislike wringing out spinach.

I hate the idea of squeezing the moisture out of chopped spinach. How is it possible to wring out a mass of minced greens? Inevitably, everything falls apart and results in a mess. Then I was looking up spinach dip recipes online and spotted a picture of someone using cheesecloth. My life will never be the same again.

Have you ever had a lightbulb-kitchen moment like mine?

cooking tips

7 Tips For Gluten-Free Entertaining

Did you know that today's National Celiac Disease Awareness Day?

Did you know that today's National Celiac Disease Awareness Day? Neither did I — but then again, I didn't know that imitation crab meat, oyster sauce, and licorice all have gluten, either. Gluten may seem innocent enough — it's a protein composite found in all wheat products — but for an estimated 3 million Americans with celiac disease, it can have devastating effects if consumed.

A whopping one in 133 Americans has this autoimmune disease, so if you're big on entertaining at home, chances are, you'll need to be equipped to go gluten-free at some point or another, whether it's an intimate dinner, tailgating bash, or Christmas party. I asked Alice Bast, president of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and a sufferer of the disease herself, for some advice on doing just that. Keep reading to see her tips for gluten-free entertaining at home.

recipes

Get Hooked On Zucchini With This Salad

I'm convinced that nature knows best, because just as I started brown-bagging my lunch again, my local supermarket was offering late Summer vegetables at rock-bottom prices.

I'm convinced that nature knows best, because just as I started brown-bagging my lunch again, my local supermarket was offering late Summer vegetables at rock-bottom prices. Zucchini at 59 cents a pound? I decided it was time to start hoarding.

Ideally, zucchini has a nice crunch and a subtle, botanical flavor that's best brought out with a minimalist dressing like this one — olive oil, lemon, dill, and a sprinkling of feta. Eat it right away, or better yet, bring it to work or school, and over the course of a few hours the flavors will meld together nicely. Read ahead for the recipe.

recipes

Zucchini Salad

Adapted from Everyday Food Zucchini Salad Ingredients2 small or 1 medium zucchini, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes 3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons small dill sprigs 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon thin strips lemon zest Directions Toss together zucchini, cheese, oil, dill, and lemon juice.
Zucchini Salad

Zucchini Salad

Zucchini Salad Recipe

Ingredients

2 small or 1 medium zucchini, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons small dill sprigs
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon thin strips lemon zest

Directions

  1. Toss together zucchini, cheese, oil, dill, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with lemon zest.

Makes 3 cups, or enough to serve 4 as a side salad.

Food News

Link Time: From PB&J Pie to Momofuku Milk Bar Treats

POPSUGAR Food

Aida Mollenkamp on Healthy Cooking and Her Next Big Project

Aida Mollenkamp's convinced you don't have to sneak cauliflower into your eggs or beets into your chocolate cake in order to get your fill of healthy food.

Aida Mollenkamp's convinced you don't have to sneak cauliflower into your eggs or beets into your chocolate cake in order to get your fill of healthy food. We caught up with her at the Taste in Los Angeles, where she explained her holistic approach to cooking wholesome, delectable food for friends and family. Also, find out what big project she's been keeping busy with. Plus, learn the biggest things beginners do wrong when they're cooking at home.