Some Simple Kitchen Prep Lessons (Posting 2)
• How to Caramelize Sugar:
1. Shake the pan often to evenly melt the sugar and prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning.
2. After a few minutes of this, the sugar will begin to melt and it will melt quickly. Continue to shake to prevent the burn.
3. Once the sugar is light golden brown, quickly transfer to a Bundt pan. The sugar will continue to darken but it will all be melted and can be used for many recipes, including some fruits like apples.
• How to Pretty a Pie Crust:
1. You can make the pie crust pretty by using your index finger and thumb and pressing as if pinching the dough.
2…or by using your thumb and index finger and thumb of the other hand and press the dough into the fingers with your other thumb.
3. Or just simply use a fork. Press the dough under the tongs of the fork to make lines in the side of the dough.
• How to Slice Fresh Basil:
1. Take fresh basil leaves either from your own garden or purchased at the grocery store and stack them like paper, on top of the other.
2. Roll the leaves into each other. Like you are rolling a stack of paper together.
3. Then cut the roll into strips. You can even restack the strips and slice the other direction to cut in a finer sprinkling.
________________________________________________________
Earthly Eating Recipe
Italian Sausage Calzones
Serves: 6
1/2 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
2 cups red and green bell pepper strips (optional)
2 cups thinly sliced onion
2 packages pizza crust mix or deep pan pizza crust mix
1 cup hot tap water
4 tsp. vegetable oil, divided
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3 tbs. chopped fresh basil or 1 tbs. dried basil
Pizza Sauce
1. Sauté the first 3 ingredients in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes or until the sauce is browned and the vegetables are tender. Drain and set aside.
2. Combine the pizza crust mixed and 1 cup hot tap water in a large bowl; stir vigorously with a fork into a ball is formed. Coat with 2 tsp. oil. Cover and let stand in a warm place for about 5 minutes.
3. Divided the dough into 6 equal pieces. Form each into a bowl; place on a baking sheet. With oiled hands press each dough ball into a 6 1/2-inch circle. Divided sausage mixture evenly on half of each circle to within 1/2 inch of the edge of the dough. Sprinkle cheese and basil evenly over the sausage mixture. Brush the edges of the dough with water and seal the edges together.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are golden brown. Brush remaining 2 tsp oil over the calzones; let stand for 5 minutes and serve with pizza sauce is desired.
Happy Eating!
Leave a Reply