#re.cipes

[salt-and-spice]

Homemade Pizza

Pizza -- it’s filling, it’s delicious, and it’s kinda fun to stuff with since eating the whole thing is a nice concrete goal. It’s also pretty simple to make from scratch, and because homemade pizza less greasy than takeout pizza, maybe you’ll be able to fit an extra slice or two. ♡

[Recipe under the cut]

The Method:

1. Combine 3/4 cup of warm water (it should definitely be warm, but still cool enough to comfortably touch) and 1.5 tsp of white sugar in a large bowl. Stir to dissolve.

2. Add in a 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) of active dry yeast*. Stir in with a fork, then leave for ~10 minutes until the liquid is foamy.

3. If you desire, add a dash each of garlic powder and dried basil. Then add 2 tbsp of olive oil and stir.

4. Add 2 cups of flour, mixing between each cup. You can use a wooden spoon, but I often find that at a certain point it’s better to just get in there with your hands and knead the dough together in the bowl. The dough should eventually begin to form a sticky but cohesive ball. If it doesn’t form a ball, add a bit more flour. If it feels too dry -- tbh it’s probably not, just keep mixing! But if you’re absolutely sure it is, add a tiny bit more water.

5. Brush the inside of another large bowl with olive oil and transfer your dough ball into it. Roll the dough around to coat it with oil, then cover with plastic wrap. Leave until doubled in size, about 30-40 minutes. During this time, preheat the oven to 425 F.

6. Lightly dust a clean patch of countertop with flour. Tip the risen dough out (it will deflate -- that’s fine!) and knead it a few times. It should feel smooth and elastic.

7. Now it’s time to roll the dough out. Ideally, you’ll have a rolling pin for this, but in my day I’ve used wine bottles, cans, sturdy glasses... just make sure it’s clean. The dough should roll out to be about 12″ in diameter, but no need to be precise. Just roll to your desired crust thickness.

8. Poke a few holes in the crust with a fork. Now transfer the dough onto your pizza pan or baking sheet. If you wanna be real fancy, you can dust the pan with a little corn meal before you do this -- that gives the bottom of the pizza that lovely texture you find in some restaurants.

9. Time to decorate! Add your favorite sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings. Some recommendations:

tomato sauce with sausage chunks/slices and diced red pepper

tomato sauce with pepperoni and pineapple

pesto with cherry tomatoes and cooked chicken breast

fresh basil on literally any pizza (add to the pizza when it’s just about baked, so it’ll only be in the oven for a few minutes)

my brother swears by adding a drizzle of barbecue sauce to the top of his pizza ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ maybe you’ll like it too

10. Bake your pizza for ~15 minutes. Honestly I never time the bake, I just check it when I start to smell delicious pizza and remove when the crust is golden brown.

11. Enjoy!

* If you have instant yeast rather than active dry yeast, you’ll start your dough a little differently. Mix all the dry ingredients (yeast included) together, then add the water and oil. Continue from step 4.

[salt-and-spice]

Indulgent Pasta Dinner

Rich in cream and carbs, this four-course meal is meant to be indulgent from start to finish, but it also contains enough fresh fruit and veggies to keep it from settling too heavily. I’ve chosen the particulars of the recipes for grocery-shopping convenience (e.g. you shouldn’t be left with any half bags of spinach floating around), but it’s easy to swap out ingredients to suit the palate of the person the meal is intended for.

The Menu

Warm bread with butter

Creamy spinach and mushroom pasta

Spinach and strawberry salad

Chocolate pudding with strawberries

Warm Bread with Butter

This course can be as simple as store-bought rolls heated for a few minutes in the oven, or as luxurious as fresh-baked homemade buns (I’ll post a recipe sometime soon!) It’s meant to be an appetizer -- eat it or serve it while you cook the rest of the food. In this case, filling up on bread is a good thing. ♡

Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Pasta

This lovely creamy pasta will make up the bulk of your meal, and it’s so good that a full stomach won’t keep you from wanting more. The dish is based on this recipe -- my version is simpler and uses more pantry staples. You can of course follow the original recipe if you prefer!

Put 16 oz pasta on to boil in a pot of generously salted water. Saute half a chopped onion (or a chopped shallot), a carton of sliced baby bella mushrooms, and a few cloves of garlic in a bit of olive oil in a dutch oven or large pan. Season with black pepper and/or red pepper flakes as desired. Once the onion and mushrooms are soft, add in half a bag of spinach (roughly chopped) and 1 cup of heavy cream. Cook on low heat until the spinach is wilted. Once the pasta is done, add 1/2 cup of the starchy water it was cooked in to the sauce and stir in. Drain the pasta and add it to the pan, stirring well to coat in sauce. Add 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese (you can totally use really basic Kraft sprinkle cheese if that’s what you have, but you may need to add extra since it’s not as strongly flavored as The Good Stuff), stirring well to ensure it combines with the sauce. Add 1 tbsp of lemon juice (or half a squeezed lemon) and 2 tbsp of cold butter, stirring well. Taste the pasta and adjust seasonings if needed (if it’s not salty enough, add more cheese.)

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

When that feeling of not being able to eat anymore starts sinking in, a burst of fresh vegetables helps refresh the palate and give you a second wind. This salad recipe is simple but delicious. If you have the room for it, you might want to eat more of that bread alongside your veggies.

Place your remaining spinach into a bowl and toss it with thinly sliced strawberries. Other ingredients can be chosen to suit your tastes -- I recommend slivered almonds or chopped walnuts, croutons, and a sprinkling of feta cheese. Dress the salad with a simple balsamic vinaigrette, or your favorite dressing.

Chocolate Pudding with Strawberries

Finish off your meal with a dessert that’s sweet and rich but still easy to squeeze down into a heavy stomach. It’s easy to make too, especially if you go for a pre-made pudding (big recommendation for the Belgian chocolate pudding at Trader Joe’s if you can get it) -- but I’d still recommend slicing the strawberries up beforehand. With any luck, you or your partner ought to be feeling quite stuffed by now, and you’ll want to dedicate your full attention to taking care of that full tummy. ♡