Saturday, September 25, 2010

Go-To Greek Pizza (in 11 Easy Steps)

Nothing adds robust flavor to my early week meals quite like homemade pizza. The aroma of herbs, baked dough, and tomato sauce fills up my kitchen with this homemade recipe that causes even the cat and dog to salivate. This was my first attempt at making it "greek" but it came out so fab I will definitely be making it again. The flavors of green olives, spinach, goat cheese, and salami all form a delectable go-to treat for your taste buds.

You will need:

Tools--> spatula, spoon, baking pan, (rolling pin and board are optional if you are good at tossing pizza dough)

Ingredients-->
- pizza dough (~1$ at your local grocery store)
- flour
- olive oil
- tomato sauce
- green olives
- spinach (fresh or frozen)
- goat cheese crumbles
- mozzarella cheese (you dont have to use this in addition to the goat cheese if you want to go a bit healthier... but you know me.. i loooove my cheese!)
- salami (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 425-450 degrees.
2. Coat a deep-baking pan with olive oil.
3. Using a floured surface and rolling pin, roll out your dough so that it fits your cookie sheet.

4. Lay rolled dough onto greased pan and using a spoon spread tomato sauce on the dough. Put in the oven to bake for 7-12 minutes. (I find that if you spread the tomato sauce all the way to the edges it keeps the crust more moist and chewy).


5. While the dough and sauce are baking, prepare your toppings. Dice up your salami into tiny chunks and assemble your toppings.

6. First, put down your layer of cheese.

7. Then put on the toppings that can "brown" easily (i.e. your spinach and garlic powder). Follow with sprinkling the diced salami all over the pizza, and then the goat cheese-crumbles.

8. Top with diced green manzilla olives if desired (you can also use kalamata olives).


9. Your pizza should look roughly like this with all toppings assembled.

10. Set your timer for 10 minutes, and bake at 450 degrees or until the layer of mozzarella cheese is starting to bubble.
(Tip: to make sure your pizza is done, stick a spatula under the pizza crust as close to the middle of the pan as you can, and lift up. If the dough is starting to turn a golden-brown then your pizza should be done.)

11. VOILA! Pizza is done! Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Happy New Year To Me :)


CAKE AT HOME
It all started with tiramisu birthday cake (my dad tried to make the candles in the upper left hand corner look like a "27"...)



BURRITO BAR WITH MY GALS
Me and my little sis


My b-day margarita...HUGEEEE


me and my grad school pals


PANCHOS FOR DINNER
Over at the restaurant with some more good friends


chicken chimichanga's... YUM! I love their food it's so authentic!


Fancy, Alpana and I


This guy was really intense about bringing out the cake at the right moment...LOL


They played maracas, tambourines, sang, and my cake was delivered by a Christian Bale look-a-like...mmmmmhhhmmm!

My birthday dinner crew


DESSERT AT THE BARS

J$ blowing some bubbles at the bar


Fancy looking for some support



me 'n my longtime homegurl Lindz


OMG I had so much fun for my birthday this year! My dad and sis surprised me with a tiramisu cake from a local Italian passticceria. Then it was out to the burrito bar with my grad-school pals and sis for my gi-normous birthday margarita (so big you can share it with 6 people). Dinner was at Panchos (best authentic Mexican food in town) with my besties J$ and Lindz, my family, and a bunch of my grad-school pals. As we are generally well-behaved grad students and don't get to cut loose a lot during the week, we definitely took it to a whole nother level after dinner. Good times!

Thanks to everyone for making this the best birthday yet!
XOXO
Tinibini