Recipes & Goodies

*01/24/13*

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KIMMIE

We tried something a bit different tonight with cooking chicken on the grill. Now we also cooked fish, but because I have 3 kids who won't eat fish we also had chicken. We pounded out our chicken breast so we can stretch out the portions. The amount you will see in the pic was enough to feed 7 people, but I used 3 large chicken breasts I bought out of the meat case for 1.99/lb. I then breaded it with a mixture of seasoned Italian and Panko bread crumbs. We then fried it in about 1/4 c olive oil in the cast iron skillet on the charcoal grill.It was amazing. I also used the same breading mix to coat the Cod, wrapped in foil on the grill. We served it with potato pancakes.(those I cooked on the stove) We served the potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce. I'm going to include the recipe for my pot. pancakes.
  This recipe is enough for 4 people, you can adjust it according to your family size. I will also make a large batch and use them as appetizers for a party. You can also add sweet potato, and or carrots for a different variation.

3 large Russet potatoes peeled and grated, drained(place in a clean dish towel and twist the water out of the potatoes)
2 lg eggs beaten, or 1/3 c egg substitute
1/3 c Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 grated onion
Salt and Pepper to taste
Mix all the ingredients together. Drop approx 2tbs into a hot pan coated with cooking spray, oil  or butter. Flatten out into a pancake, cook over med heat about 4 minutes a side or until golden brown. Serve with sour cream and cinnamon applesauce. My hubby likes them with catsup. Not only are these delicious, they are low in fat.

                           

Chicken

Potato Panacakes

Cod

PIZZA NIGHT

Today was Pizza day, because it is so expensive to order out we made it from scratch. I'm Italian, and I grew up in an Italian Restaurant. As a child my grandmothers and my aunts made some of the best pizza EVER!!!! It was also made and served exactly as it in Italy, without mozzarella and the typical topping we find on our pizza's here in the US. One of my favorite pizza's that my grandma used to make had a light airy bubbly crust with very thinly sliced potatoes,thinly sliced onions,thinly sliced garlic, olive oil, and salt and cracked pepper to taste. Now, I know your saying potatoes on a pizza? Yes you read it right, potatoes on a pizza. It was DELIZIOSO!!!!! Now I am a pretty good cook, but I have never been able to recreate my grandmas pizza.
That being said, I can still make a pretty good tasting pizza. Today I had Bridget make the dough. We turned it into a fun school lesson. I had her "Copywork" the recipe as I read it to her, then she had to figure out the measurements to feed the whole family. Though the math was simple fractions and whole numbers, it was a good review. I am going to share my recipe with you so you and your family can have homemade pizza night too. 

Due to the fact that our weekday schedule is so hectic right now due to Irish Dance classes, Lacrosse practice, homework, college classes and just life in general, I had the kids make their own personal pizzas. That way everyone could have exactly what they wanted. Tonite we put a twist on pizza and made Chicken Ranch and Chicken BBQ pizzas. I'll include that in the recipe's. I also took some pictures to share too. I hope you enjoy. I hope you come back to share your pizza night. 

Dough Recipe
1 c. warm water(100-105*)
1 pkg yeast
1 tsp salt
2 tbs sugar
1-2 tbs olive oil or veg oil
1 1/2- 2 c. all purpose or 00 flour
Place water in a bowl, sprinkle in yeast and sugar, mix and let proof 

With a hand mixer or Kitchen aid ( or you can do this step by hand) mix in 1 1/4 c. flour, incorporate. Add 1/4 flour at a time up to 1 more cup until dough is soft and easy to handle. Dough will be sticky. Place in a greased bowl and let rise until double.
Once dough is risen punch down and pull off enough dough to roll out a pizza the size you want it. Now I have a trick to cooking my pizza, I spray a cookie without sides,
( I have one dedicated to just pizza) I put the dough on it and put it in a 450* preheated oven. I let it cook just until it slides on the sheet, approx 5-8 min depending on your oven, I then sauce it, cheese it and top it, I slide it off onto the top rack and finish cooking it until golden brown. Instead of sauce tonight we used ranch dressing, bbq sauce, chicken breast, and mozzarella. Toppings are endless. I always save just enough dough to make fried dough sprinkled with either granulated or 10x sugar. You can also use cinnamon or honey. I know it's not healthy, but it's a special treat I make once in a while.