Foody Friday

We love pizza around here! I’ve perfected a pizza dough (see below), and we’re constantly experimenting with the toppings. Last month we discovered the wonder of grilled chicken breast with mango and fresh jalapenos. This week was our first attempt at “Seafood Alfredo”. The idea of a Seafood Alfredo pizza is not mine. You can find them in many popular pizzerias. These specific recipes and suggestions, however, are straight from the Valente kitchen.

Alfredo Sauces are pretty straightforward: butter, cream, Parmesan. Few vary except by slight measurements. I wanted a thicker sauce for the pizza, however, so I started with a rue of 3T butter and 1T flour. Then I whisked in 1 C. of cream and 1 C. of milk for a creamy bechamel. To that I added 1 full C. of grated Parmesan cheese. I generously seasoned the sauce with salt, pepper, chopped fresh garlic (about three cloves), and a dash of oregano. If you have a favorite jarred Alfredo sauce, its thickness should be perfect for this pizza as well.

Before baking, I spread a thin layer of room temperature sauce over the prepared dough and topped the sauce with 1/4 pound of grated mozzarella cheese, a generous piling of white fish–imitation crab meat (lightly mixed with a jarred seafood seasoning), and a chifanad of fresh basil. Baked at 400 degrees until fully cooked*.

 

*When the crust is evenly golden, the center crust should be done as well.

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Sarah’s Pizza Dough (makes 4 large crusts – 6 very thin crusts)

Start with –

3 1/2 C. Warm Water
2 Pkg. Yeast (minus one teaspoon) = 3 1/2 t.
4 T Sugar
8 T Olive Oil
1 ½ t. Salt

Stir.

Add in –

2 C. Wheat Flour
5 C. White Flour (you may need more or less depending on altitude and humidity, add slowly until you reach a sticky dough)

Stir.

Add in –

½ C Parmesan
1 T Oregano
1 T Parsley
1 T Basil (optional)
1 T Sesame Seeds (optional)
½ t. Pepper

Knead in additional flour until soft dough forms. Place in slightly oiled bowl to rise for one hour. Punch down, and knead with more flour if necessary. Let rise second hour.

Ready for fridge, freezer, or pizza pan. Prick thoroughly with a fork and dust with corn meal before baking. Bake @ 400 degrees.

Makes great bread sticks, too (brush with melted garlic butter after baking)!

 

Foody Friday

___ Crock Pot Bbq Chicken

___Cook chicken in crock pot until it begins to separate from the bone. Remove from pot. Place in baking pan and smother with bbq sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min.

Bbq Sauce

Blend:

1 28 oz Can Whole Tomatoes

1/2 Large Onion

6 Cloves of Garlic

1 Jalapeno (seeded and deveined)

Pour into sauce pan.

Add:

1 T. Teriyaki Sauce

1/2 T. Liquid Smoke

2 T. Apple Cider Vinegar

2/3 C. Brown Sugar

1 t. Salt

1 t. Parsley

1/4 t. Garlic Powder

1/4 t. Celery Salt

1/4 t. Pepper

Simmer for two hours.

Scalloped Potatoes

____5 Potatoes – peeled and sliced thin

Melt 3 T. Butter in oven-safe, deep skillet

Stir in 2 T. Flour

Cook mixture on low heat for 1 min.

Whisk in 3 C. Milk

Add:

1 C. Grated Sharp Cheddar

1 C. Grated Monterrey Jack

1 t. Parsley

1/2 t. Salt

1/2 t. Pepper

5 Slices of Ham Luncheon Meat (Chopped)

Stir. Gently fold in potatoes and simmer covered for 35 min (stirring occasionally). Finish in oven, 350 degree for 10-15 minutes.

Sauteed Carrots

___6 Carrots – peeled and sliced into long quarters

Saute in:

1 T. Olive Oil

1/2 t. Chopped, Fresh Rosemary

1/2 t. Oregano

1 t. Parsley

1 t. White Wine Vinegar

1 t. Salt

1/2 t. Pepper

Cook until tender.

White Rolls

___1 ¾ C. Warm Water
1 Pkg. Yeast
4 T Melted Butter
¼ C. Sugar
1 ½ t. salt


Add in white flour till soft dough consistency: 4 – 5 1/2 cups, depending on location and humidity. Start with 4 cups and add very slowly from there.


Knead lightly, let rise for one hour.

Punch down and knead lightly; form into rolls. Let rise 2nd hour before baking at 350. Bake until the tops are golden brown.

Unless noted, all “Foody Friday” recipes are 100% original. Please do not share these recipes online, or in print, without linking (or otherwise referring) to this blog.

Sure, Honey.

If your child told you that she just,”took off the boo-boo cap,” would you know what she meant?

CB was in the bathroom carrying on about who-knows-what. I hollered down the hall to ask what was wrong, and she replied that she had just taken off the boo-boo cap.

“Oh no! Why did you do that?” I yelled back.

“I don’t know!” She replied.

All the while Papa Bear was looking on in total confusion, until I said, “Oh, she has a boo-boo on her hand. She must have picked the scab.”

“Oh.” He replied, bewildered.

Girl Party

A great “couple friend” of ours came to visit weekend before last. It was Saturday night when they arrived, and the older girls and I were having some “girl time.” Fortunately they thought the event was worth capturing on camera.

Thanks Renee for the pics. They are adorable! We can’t wait to see you guys again!