So...whats for dinner?

Chicago deep dish, if made from scratch is the most caloric, most delicious recipe ever.  This recipe is pretty close to what i make, in the summer use fresh herbs.  it is important to put a layer of mozarella on the dough first.. sometimes, i pop this into the oven so the cheese will briefly melt and the toppings will then not make the dough soggy.

http://www.pizzamaking.com/deepdish.php 

Jeff Smith (the frugal gourmet) explains the process perfectly in his book.  I used to manage a pizzeria and another restaurant owned by Hans Morsbach on the south side of Chicago.. While his pizza never got the acclaim Pizzeria Uno's did, his recipe (our recipe) was pretty close.

Now I am wondering if I should put pate inside the Beef Wellington I am making for friends tonite.

They are pretty plain eaters, but the pate, just makes the dish.. Last nite i prepared the duxelles with Corvoisier.. pretty fancy ingredients for the onbudget family we are.. but these are special friends.  They've been thru the year from hell.  They have sponsored/adopted 7 special needs kids.  The cutest turned on them last year, because she wanted to drink and do drugs and they are pretty conservative.. Anyway, she accused the dad of child abuse and the courts came in and turned the family upside down.. making Harry move out of the house, costing them so much in court costs that they had to sell and downsize.  Brittney has always been a bit of trouble but the child protective services can be of such dis-service.  Brittney had done better with them than the family she is with now.  She is now on facebook advertizing that the whore house is open.. egads. 

Poor child, poor family.

I wish they drank wine so I could break out this bottle of lovely port I've been saving.

anyway, on a hungry - feed the masses day, try the recipe... it's awesomely delish. 

Deb  such cute pics  AHHHH the memories

Bedo Happy birthday!  Its your birthday and you can eat whatever you want!  Congrats on the job...one more stressor out of your life.

Laurie  subliminal messaging...great idea.  I should find a show that teaches my husband to clean up his messes...LOL

A request.  Does anyone have an easy recipe for plain old bread like you use in sandwiches?

Maybe whole wheat?  I can cook, but can't bake at all.  Also, where do you put the dough to rise in the winter if there's no 80-90 degree place?  I haven't done this since I was a teen but I'm in the mood.

joycek, apple, you sound like such good cooks!

Carrie, how about taping Mr Clean commercials and playing them softly under his pillow at night?

Hi Laurie!  This is such a great thread!

Momine Thank you!  About how much flour do you think that is? 2 cups? This is going to be so yummie!  Oh, and how long do you cook it for and what temp?  (told you I can't bake)  Thanks!

OK, dissolve yeast in water (have it warmish), let stand about five minutes, add a little flour, oil and salt and beat with a wooden spoon. Add more flour until you can't use the spoon, then knead in flour until dough is smooth and doesn't stick too much. For 2 cups water, you probably need about 1.5-2 pounds flour.

If you make two small loaves from the dough, figure on baking it about 30-35 minutes in a 425 F (200 C) oven. If you make one large loaf, 35-55 minutes. If you make rools, 15-20 minutes. The bread should be nicely browned and should sound hollow when tapped.

I keep rolled oats, bran, sunflower seeds etc around and throw a handful of each in there as I am making the dough. You can also add walnuts or sliced olives, or herbs, anything really. 

Have fun and enjoy.

Tomorrow DH and I are going for a long deserved grocery shopping.  I am old mother hubbard.

Apple, my sister and her husband have been through similar experiences.  They've taken in 3 kids who needed homes.  One of them, a girl, was in an orphanage.  They legally adopted her.  She pulled the same trick when she was about 16, accused my b-in-law of sexual abuse.  All it takes is the accusation to cause a tremendous upheaval in the family.  The girl told the police and a judge that she had made up the charge but they didn't pay her any attention with this version of her story.  Authorities always want to believe the worst.

Bedo, happy birthday.  How wonderful that you got a job.

Momine, I'd like to come over and have some bread and butter at your house!  You sound like an experienced baker.  I made a loaf of 7-grain wheat bread in the breadmaker this afternoon, but I've been reading The Italian Baker by Carol Field and am itching to try my hand at some crusty peasant bread. 

Laurie, here's Mary Ann Esposito's recipe for pizza dough.  It's very easy.  If you have a Kitchen Aid, you can use it.  I mixed it by hand in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.

3 cups unbleached flour (King Arthur is her recommended brand)

1 packet pizza crust yeast (I found it at Walmart's)

1 1/4 cups warm water

1/2 tsp salt

1 T. honey

1 T Olive oil

Directions:  Place 1 cup flour in a large bowl or mixing bowl of stand mixer with dough hook.  Add the yeast, water, salt, honey, and olive oil.  Mix until blended.  Add additional 2 cups flour and mix until the dough comes together.  Transfer dough to floured surface and hand knead for a couple of minutes.  Cut the dough in half. 

Preheat over to 450 degrees if using a stone.  (Place stone on lowest oven rack.)  Otherwise oven temperature is 375 degrees for a baking sheet or pizza pan.  Place each piece of dough on  a sheet of parchment paper.  Roll or pat with your hands to form a 12 in. diameter.  Place the dough on the parchment paper onto a pan or onto a peel if using the stone.

Top with your choice of toppings.  Bake on the stone for 10 to 12 min.  Or on the baking sheets or pan for 15 to 20 min until edges are brown and bottoms are crusty.

I used half of the dough and refrigerated the other half.  The next night I made two calzones with the leftover dough.

If you don't have parchment paper, you can sprinkle corn meal on the peel and the stone so that the dough will slide.

Tonight we had grilled lamb chops, baked sweet potato, and steamed broccoli.  The broccoli was locally grown and was delicious.  Normally I'm not a big broccoli fan.

Well - I ran across my favorite recipe when I was looking for the bread.  Best part is you make a batch & it keeps in the fridge for 4 weeks so you have hot muffins any time you want.  I'd rather eat bread & butter than dessert.

PEG'S BRAN MUFFINS  

Pour water over cereal and set aside  - 3 cups Allbran Cereal; 1 cup boiling water

Sift and set aside:  2-1/2 cups wheat flour;  2-1/2 tsp baking soda;  1/2 tsp salt  

Cream: 1/2 cup Crisco  &   1-1/4 cups sugar

Add:      2 beaten eggs & stir

Add:      2 cups buttermilk & stir

Add       dry ingredients & bran mix

Stir in:   1/4 to 1/2 cup raisins or chopped dates  

Grease muffin tins or use muffin cups Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees  

Keep extra batter in fridge for up to 4 weeks

Seaside- Have a wonderful time wherever you go

Apple,  sounds like a wonderful meal.  There's nothing nicer than sharing food with good friends.

The traditional New Year's Day menu in south Louisiana features black-eyed peas and cabbage, which are supposed to bring good luck and prosperity.  My dad always said the black-eyed peas are for coins and the cabbage is for greenback dollars.  DH and I normally cook this dinner along with cornbread, but we're invited for dinner tomorrow at the home of a couple who are from WI.  They're serving standing rib roast, and who can turn that down?  LOL.  So we're cooking the cabbage and black-eyed peas today, a day early.  Yesterday I bought a hambone from Honey Hams and I'll use some of the excess ham in the smothered cabbage and the bone will cook in the peas.  I trim off as much fat as possible.

Happy New Year's eve to all.

Apple- I love that story you shared, does lois know that you had a crush on Harry when you were younger LOL!

Carol-Your cabbage and peas sounds delish! My friend from ky always cooked that and cornbread when we went to dinner. It dosnt go over well with my friends here on the west coast but i love it.

Michelle-Have a fun and safe trip out of town-  Heres to a good year in 2012 (toast)

I will be going to the casino tonight DH got me a band to wear which gets me into all the parties going on there he will be working but i will get to kiss in the newyear with him.

Everyone have a safe and happy new year see ya in 2012!!!!