Pizza Night At Home, Who Needs Delivery!

Pizza art

Nothing beats the smell of freshly made pizza cooking in the oven and it’s easier to make than you think. You might have a favorite handed down pizza dough recipe from your family, I know I do but honestly I hardly ever use it these days.

Good quality ready made pizza dough can be easy to find nowadays. You can find it in Italian markets, grocery stores and even your local pizzeria will sell you some.

I usually buy a few balls of dough and stick them in my freezer so I have them readily available when we feel like pizza night at home, you can do the same with your homemade dough if you make it ahead and freeze it. I’ll usually take the dough out of the freezer in the morning, as it sits it will defrost but then more importantly it comes to room temperature which makes it very pliable and easy to roll out.

The above photo was a pizza I recently made which was really fun to do and it tasted amazing, I call it pizza art. This pizza needs no sauce or cheese.

  1. I always start out coating my pans with olive oil on the bottom and sides, then I sprinkle the bottoms with a light dusting of cornmeal or polenta.
  2. I used a quarter sheet pan for this with a heated oven at 450F.
  3. Place 1 pound of dough into the pan and make dimple marks all over with the tips of your fingers.
  4. Drizzled olive oil all over making sure it falls into the dimple indentions.
  5. All the vegetables I used in the photo above were uncooked, I also added olives and very thin sliced potatoes.
  6. Drizzle the top of the veggies with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, maybe red pepper, oregano whatever you want.
  7. Bake til golden brown on bottom and sides, maybe 15 minutes or so but ovens do vary so keep an eye on it!

white pizza

One of my personal favorite types of pizza to make is this white pizza with garlic sautéed spinach, oh it’s so delicious!

The topping has no red sauce but rather a mix of ricotta, shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese and you really don’t need a lot! I also take a nice handful of fresh spinach and wilt it down in a sauté pan with some garlic flavored olive oil, then cool it down and squeeze it til no moisture is clinging onto it.

  • This pizza was made using  1/2 pound of dough, rolled to fit a 15 inch round pizza pan.
  • Prep the pan with olive oil all over and a dusting of cornmeal or polenta on the bottom, preheat oven to 500F.
  • Mix together 1 cup each of ricotta and shredded mozzarella, add in a good handful of grated parmesan cheese.
  • Pre- cook dough for 5 minutes in hot oven, only 5! Then take it out, push it down if it bubbled up and spread the ricotta mixture all over the warm top, then arrange your spinach all around.
  • Bake for around 12 – 15 minutes till golden on bottom and sides. (ovens do vary).

pizza ingredients

When I use red sauce on a pizza I make a simple and light sauce which doesn’t overpower the ingredients but rather enhances them.

  • Open a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, a good Italian brand.
  • Right into the can add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 small smashed garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and an optional pinch of red pepper flakes.
  • Stir it up and that’s it, it’s ready to use!

sausage pizza

My husbands favorite combination on pizza is cheese, sausage, mushroom and onions. The pan and the pre-cooking of the dough was exactly the same as above pizza. By precooking the dough for the 5 minutes it gives the bottom a head start on a nice crispy crust.

sausage pizza

  • The sausage was removed from the casing then browned so there was no visible pink.
  • Spread your fresh sauce on top, then shredded mozzarella, onions, sliced mushrooms, dotting the cooked sausage all around.
  • A quick drizzle all over with olive oil, you can add fresh basil or dried oregano whatever you have.
  • Into the 500 degree oven for around 15 minutes or so.

 

Italian beef pizza

If you’re from Chicago then you’re very familiar with a very popular sandwich here called the Italian beef. It’s thinly sliced beef in a highly seasoned Au Jus, it’s usually served with sweet peppers on top, and hot giardiniera  on the side. It’s excellent and you can also put all the components on a pizza!

  1. Same as above, precook dough on nicely oiled pan for 5 minutes, spread red sauce, then cheese, thin slices of beef and slightly sautéed peppers.
  2. In 15 minutes or so remove and drizzle on the giardiniera on your individual piece.

 

nutella pizza

And let’s not forget dessert! You can make a Nutella pizza and it is sinfully delicious! You may think cooked pizza dough with Nutella on it? Don’t think twice just do it!

I did a step by step post on it here, so check out how it’s done. Feel free to top it with berries of your choice or sliced bananas topped with nuts, you can’t go wrong with any of it!

Enjoy having pizza night at home, it’s inexpensive, it uses few ingredients, it’s so easy to do and the kids can even get involved.

Like I said, you may never order delivery again!

Follow me on Instagram to see what else I’m cooking up during the week.

Signature

Easter Sprinkle Chocolate Dipped Macaroons

sprinkle macaroons

Easter will be quite different for all of us this year but we can still try and make the best of it. I’m thankful for FaceTime, Zoom and all the other video apps where we can chat and connect with family and friends as often as we want while we all hunker down in our homes and pray for this virus to end.

The fact is Easter is around the corner and there are still ways we can make it special. If you’re looking for a super easy and fun sweet treat to make, one that doesn’t require a bunch of ingredients and one that your kids could help you make and eat, try these colorful, sprinkle, chocolate dipped macaroons!

 

coconut and sprinkles

Cute little sprinkles in pastel colors is a pop of brightness after a long winter and it is very spring like.

egg shaped macaroons

This recipe comes from Molly Yeh but I put my spin on it by shaping them into Easter eggs and using pastel sprinkles, but you can certainly use whatever colored sprinkles you have and just scoop them out into round mounds if you like.

egg shaped coconut cookies

And just a note, if you think you might not care for sprinkles in your macaroons, I urge you to take a bite of these, I was hooked!

rack of cookies

They’re soft and chewy in the middle and crisp and toasty on the outside and finished off with a nice dip into chocolate!

chocolate dipped

Just a few ingredients are required and some you probably already have in your pantry, like a jar of sprinkles, a can of sweetened condensed milk, a bag of  chocolate chips and coconut.

single macaroon

Whatever your own spin is on these cookies I know you’ll love them! Who doesn’t love cookies and especially ones with sprinkles!

plated macaroons

Have a blessed Easter, wishing you all safety and good health with the hope that we’ll all be reunited with our loved ones soon.

Follow me on Instagram to see what else I’m cooking up during the week.

Easter Sprinkle Chocolate Dipped Macaroons
 
This recipe is adapted from Molly Yeh's Sprinkle Macaroon's
Author:
Ingredients
  • 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 teaspoons, vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 14 oz. bag sweetened shredded coconut
  • 2 large egg whites
  • ¼ t, salt
  • ¼ cup pastel sprinkles or rainbow of any color, more for topping each cookie
  • 3 oz. of chocolate chips or any kind for melting
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 f. Line a baking sheet with parchment
  2. In a large bowl add the condensed milk, vanilla and almond extract. Mix in the shredded coconut and set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff peaks form.
  4. Fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture and then gently fold in the ¼ cup of sprinkles.
  5. Scoop out about a 2" ball and shape it into an egg, or if not shaping into egg just leave it as that.
  6. Place onto baking sheet 1" apart and sprinkle the tops with more sprinkles.
  7. Bake until golden brown, check at about 18 minutes, remove from oven, let it cool for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
  8. Melt your chocolate in the microwave at 30 second increments, stirring til smooth.
  9. Dip the bottoms of the macaroons into the melted chocolate and place back on parchment.
  10. Let the chocolate on the cookies cool completely at room temperature or in the fridge.
  11. These can be. stored in the fridge for up to a week and still be fresh and delicious!

 

 

Signature

16 Inspiring Frittatas with Helpful Tips and Tricks

breakfast frittata

Frittatas have always been a regular staple in my house, for as long as I can remember my whole married life I’ve been making them. Over the years my technique has evolved and I probably can make them in my sleep now.

What I like about frittatas is that they make a hearty breakfast, they can become an amazing brunch, a very satisfying lunch and a casual and light dinner.

Right now as I write this we are all living in uncharted waters, trying to navigate our lives through this horrible virus that’s attacking the earth. We want to nurture our loved ones and cooking is one of the ways to do that.

Frittatas don’t take a lot of energy to make, and in times of stress that’s a good thing. You don’t need to go out and buy fancy ingredients, in fact you’d be surprised how little you actually need. The key ingredients would be of course eggs, maybe some leftover veggies you don’t want to waste or some odds and ends of cheese wrapped up in the fridge. All these things can be transformed into an amazing meal to feed your family.

I hope to give you some inspiration with some of the ingredients I’ve used. The above frittata was made with a yellow pepper, cherry tomatoes, prosciutto, fontina and pecorino.

 

caprese frittata

My caprese frittata made here with the three basics ingredients of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, I could eat this anytime of the day.

squash and sausage

Keep in mind if you make these throughout the year like I do, no doubt you’ll be using seasonal veggies as well.

This frittata is a hearty meal of pre-cooked crumbled Italian sausage, roasted butternut squash, a handful of spinach, pecorino and shredded mozzarella.

artichoke and asparagus

I actually made this one the other day with some leftover cooked artichoke hearts that I had, a few stalks of roasted asparagus with some cherry tomatoes.

One ingredient constant in all my frittatas is grated pecorino, to me its like Emeril’s ”BAM !”

tomato feta

This one has a Greek flavor profile with feta cheese, red onion and tomato wedges, feta is fantastic in frittatas!

delicata squash

I love squash and delicata squash is no exception, I make it during the fall and winter a lot by roasting it, and always have leftovers. Here it is with roasted cauliflower and spinach. This time I used cheddar with a mix of mozzarella and pecorino of course, because what can I say, it just enhances the whole frittata!

Oh and yes you can eat the delicate skin on the squash!

 

sheet pan frittata

My go to pan is always an oven safe skillet, mostly 10 inch, sometimes 12 inch but I’ve also made them in a quarter sheet pan which is fun. You can have fun creating a little scene with all the veggies, great if you’re feeding a group, just double the egg amount.

This one is filled with fresh roasted asparagus, a handful of frozen peas, red onion, herbs, cherry tomatoes with pecorino and mozzarella.

spring veg

I call this my spring frittata, it has beautiful melted brie cheese with shaved asparagus, peas and cherry tomatoes. The shaved asparagus gives it a really special look and it tastes amazing!

zucchini feta

Pan sautéed zucchini coins with cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, pecorino and cheddar.

brussel bacon

Hearty and delicious roasted brussels sprouts leaves with cooked chopped bacon, mozzarella and pecorino.

heirloom tomato

When tomato season is here remember this frittata made with sliced heirlooms, cheddar, pecorino and basil.

zucchini flowers

I look forward to making this when delicate zucchini blossoms start to appear along with sautéed zucchini coins, pecorino, basil and fresh mozzarella.

 

spiralized

Speaking of zucchini, this frittata is made with spiralized zucchini, fresh herbs, tomato slices, mozzarella, pecorino and shaved parm on top. 

pepper rings

Roasted mini colored peppers with peas, pecorino and mozzarella with a green salad plopped on top, which by the way is a fun way to eat a frittata.

I often mix up some arugula with just lemon and olive oil and plop it on top of mine.

 

broccolini

Roasted broccolini with red pepper, mushrooms, fresh mozzarella and pecorino.

 

shiitake mushrooms

And lastly an earthy frittata made with shiitake mushrooms, goat cheese and spinach, feel free to use any mushroom you have, leaving some whole for a nice presentation.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING FOOL PROOF FRITTATAS.

  • Always use an oven proof skillet ( 10 inch if you want it thicker, 12 inch if you want it thinner)
  • Have pre-cooked fillings ready ( you can use frozen veggies if that’s all you have, just saute them in a little olive oil for flavor)
  • Use fresh tomatoes and herbs
  • Use various cheeses of your choice ( cheddar, mozzarella, fresh or shredded, brie, feta, fontina, gouda, you get the picture)
  • Use 6 eggs scrambled with a dash of water from the tap ( I never use milk or cream in my frittatas)
  • Start out by drizzling olive oil in the bottom of your pan, if using onions start out sauteing them first then place your veggies all around the way you want your frittata to look, sort of like painting on a canvas.
  • Pour your scrambled eggs gently over the tops of your veg.
  • Heat should be medium lowish
  • Sprinkle with grated pecorino or parmesan
  • Add some salt and black pepper

Heat up your broiler.

When the eggs start to set a little it’s time for the broiler, so shut the flame off the stove. At this time I like to take some tongs and gently lift up some of my vegetables, otherwise they all get buried under the egg mixture and you won’t have a pretty presentation or see any of the veg popping out.

Next you want to strategically place whatever cheese you’re using all around trying not to bury everything, then add maybe a quick drizzle of olive oil and some more pecorino.

Speaking of broiler, I always finish my frittatas under the broiler, I’m not a flipper, I prefer the presentation you achieve from using the broiler.

One important note; don’t leave the broiler! keep opening the door to see how golden it’s getting, ovens vary so don’t leave the scene! You want a nice golden color from the melted cheese.

Test the center to see if any egg runs, if so put it back in for a few seconds.

Take it out and let it rest for 5 or 10 minutes, garnish with herbs if you like.

Frittatas can be eaten warm, at room temperature, or cold right from the fridge.

To round out the meal even more you can add some crusty bread and a salad.

Enjoy!

Follow me on Instagram to see what else I’m cooking up during the week.

 

Signature