Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Let's try an inverted pizza pie!

Pepperoni Calzones Delicious pockets filled with fresh mozzarella, pepperoni and carmelized onions
Ingredients:
-2 teaspoons yeast
-2 teaspoons sugar
-1/2 to 1 cup warm water
-2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
-1 tablespoon honey
-1 pinch salt
-1 to 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
-1 16-oz can pizza sauce
-6 to 8 oz fresh mozzarella, chopped
-15 pieces of pepperoni
-2 garlic coves, minced
-1/4 cup carmelized onions
-1/4 teaspoon oregano
-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Directions:
-Pour between one half and one cup warm water in a mixing bowl. [The more water you use, the more flour you use, so it depends on how thick you want the crust.]

-Add yeast and sugar. Mix with whisk until bubbly or frothy. Let sit and mix occasionally for 5 or so minutes.
-Add pinch of salt, one tablespoon oil and the honey. Pour in flour with a large spoon - or straight out of the bag - a little bit at a time. Mix with a large spoon. It will look globby and watery at first, but it will get thicker the more flour you add. When it becomes sticky and thick, put the spoon aside and kneed with your hands. Keep adding the flour until the mixture is smooth, cohesive and not too sticky. Cover, put in a cool and dark place, and let sit a half-hour to an hour.
-Sautee onions until carmelized, about 15-20 minutes. Set aside.
-After yeast has risen, roll it out on a cookie sheet - but I prefer a baking stone. Preheat your oven to 425 or so. If you use a cookie sheet, cover it with cooking spray first. If you use a stone, cover it lightly with the whole wheat flour so it doesn't stick. You can roll out with a pin, but I find it easiest to simply push the dough across with my hands. It's good exercise for your hands and arms, actually. Flatten the dough into three flat circles.
-Combine mixture of onions, pizza sauce, cheese and spices into a mixing bowl. Pour a third of the mixture on one half of each circle. Fold the empty half of the circle over the mixture, and then bind the edges together with a fork. Cut a small slit into the top of each calzone so steam can escape.
-Brush with olive oil and place calzones in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Yields 3 servings.
Cheers! Pizza and calzones are easy to pair. Any white or red table wine, or a pale ale, should do.
Nutrition Info: About 450 calories per serving.
Source: Me! It's all me!
Notes: Obviously, the internal toppings are up to you. If you dislike onions, try something else. Experiment until you find the right combo, or just change it up every time. That's what I like to do. And if you like crumbled cheeses, try adding some feta or goat cheese in there.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

And on the subject of salads...

Southwest Salad A tangy, spicy and fiber-filled alternative to your average greens
Ingredients:
-1/3 cup fat-free salsa, medium or spicy
-3 tablespooons reduced-fat sour cream
-1 tablespoon white wine or apple cider vinegar
-3 cups (or 2 15-oz cans) black beans, drained and rinsed
-1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
-3/4 cup canned yellow corn (or fresh, or frozen & thawed)
-1/2 cup diced avocado
-1/2 cup sliced green onions
-1/8 cup chopped fresh cilantro
-6 cups baby spinach
-2 oz pepper jack cheese, cubed or shredded
-24 baked low-fat tortilla chips
Directions:
-In a large bowl, stir together salsa, sour cream and vinegar until blended. Add beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, green onions, cheese and cilantro; toss to coat and mix.
-Place 1 1/2 cups spinach on each of four serving plates; top each with 1 1/2 cups of bean mixture. Arrange 6 chips around each of each plate. Yields 4 servings.
Notes: This should go without saying, but use a salsa that you like for the dressing. Otherwise you won't like the dressing. I usually use homemade salsa for this. Either kind of vinegar should be fine; just use what you have.
Cheers! Since this is a summary meal, go with a nice white table wine.
Source: Weight Watchers
Nutrition info: About 350 calories.