Category Archives: Food

Homemade pizza with homemade pizza dough.

On a day off from work, where I worked all morning in the garden, and now it’s too hot and humid to be out-of-doors I decided to make pizza from scratch this afternoon for dinner.

The recipe for the dough I used is a Basic Grilled Pizza Dough from Martha Stewart’s website. The link is below. I roasted tomatoes from the garden. The remainder of the ingredients are caramelized onions and pepper-jack and parmesan cheese with a prepaired tomato sauce.

Roasted tomato and caramelized onion pizza.

Preheat the over to 500f.

1) Make the dough and allow it to rest and rise. I used Martha Stewart’s Basic Grilled Pizza Dough.

20120809-222531.jpg

2) While the dough is rising, cook the onions and tomatoes.

Cut the cherry tomatoes and place them cut side up on aluminum foil to speed the roasting and dehydration. Sprinkle with salt. Roast for about 30 to 45 minutes at 375f.

20120809-223358.jpg

Heat oil in a wide pan on a medium stove. You may add butter if you wish. Prepair the onion by removing the root and top of the onion and remove the skin. Save them for your compost bin. Cut the onion in half. Lay the flat side down and cut the onions with the blade parallel to the top and bottom of the onion to make long strips. It’s important to have them the same size so they cook evenly. Pull the onions apart and then add them to the hot oil. Stir to coat with oil. Stir them often to brown evenly and to prevent them from burning. When they have browned on all sides turn down the heat and cover the pan with a lid. Cook for about 20 minutes to a golden brown.

20120809-224653.jpg

3) Remove the dough from the bowl and knead flat helping it to become a square with the edges raised to fit in your sheet pan.

20120809-224950.jpg

4) Use a spoon to spread the sauce up to the raised edge. I am using a tomato sauce but you may use an Alfredo sauce or any other sauce of your choice.

20120809-225240.jpg
5) Spread a layer of cheese evenly to create a base for your items.

20120809-225435.jpg
6) Add the roasted tomatoes.

20120809-225525.jpg
7) Add caramelized onions and a cover layer of cheese.

20120809-225710.jpg

8) Bake in a 500f oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the crust is browned and cheese is melted.

20120809-230111.jpg

8) Yum! Homemade Pizza! I like the corner pieces because the crust is so good!

20120809-230221.jpg

8) I suggest Bad Penny dark brown ale to wash it down!

20120809-234444.jpg

Leave a comment

Filed under Food

Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits

Anyone who knows me knows I love Ina Garten. I recently came across one of her recipes for a buttermilk cheddar biscuit that I had to try. I am a typical Southerner and I eat biscuits all the time. Any time of the day. On the coast of North Carolina, where I was raised, the people are descended from Irish fishermen who would have biscuits with every meal. It’s a given. My family from Ocracoke, Hatteras, and Beaufort would always have some type of bread with each meal.

Ina Garten’s Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuit

– preheat the oven to 425f
– place two cups flour, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of the mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. On low, add the butter and mix until the butter is the size of peas.

20120726-184835.jpg20120726-184857.jpg
Combine the buttermilk and egg in a small measuring cup and beat lightly with a fork. With the mixer on low, quickly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and mix only until moistened.

20120726-185224.jpg20120726-185257.jpg

With the mixer still on low, quickly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and mix only until moistened.

20120726-185315.jpg20120726-185347.jpg
In a small bowl, mix the cheddar with a small handful of flour and with the mixer still on low add the cheese to the dough. Mix only until roughly combined.

20120726-185628.jpg
Dump out onto a well-floured board and knead lightly about six times. Roll the dough out to a rectangle about 10 by 5 inches.

20120726-185931.jpg20120726-185953.jpg
With a sharp knife that has been floured, cut the dough lengthwise in half then across in quarters, making roughly 8 rectangles.

20120726-190238.jpg20120726-190305.jpg
Transfer to sheet pan. Brush tops with egg wash, sprinkle with salt, if using, and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the biscuits are cooked through. Serve hot or warm. I served these with homemade chipotle ranch dressing.

20120726-191030.jpg20120726-191053.jpg
For extra security, while baking, have a Pitt bull/ black lab mix guard dog, named Gus, keep watch while they are baking!

20120726-193123.jpg20120726-193142.jpg

Leave a comment

Filed under Food

Bruschetta

An easy and quick meal or snack that is also healthy! Top your favorite bread with fresh veggies and flavor with your favorite spices, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheese (think mini-pizzas), and you have a quick snack or dinner. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cheese is melted!

20120719-090305.jpg20120719-090328.jpg

Wash and cut your veggies to top the bread.

20120719-090355.jpg20120719-090433.jpg

Blend olive oil or balsamic vinegar with spices or garlic and brush on the bread.

20120719-090458.jpg

Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

20120719-090521.jpg

Experiment with different cheeses and spices to have fun!

Leave a comment

Filed under Food