Pepperoni Pizza

Pizza   - the Italian way of pronouncing is pittsa is an oven-baked, flat, round bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings. The modern pizza was invented in Naples, Italy, and the dish has since become popular in many parts of the world. The main ingredient in a Pizza is cheese. The original pizza use only mozzarella. Other kind of cheese can be also be used. Toppings for pizza, well myriad toppings are used on pizzas, like Anchovies, Ham, Mushrooms, Olives, Onions, Pepperoni, etc., The recipe below is for Pepperoni Pizza my kids all time favorite... ENJOY !

Personal Pepperoni Pizzas

Ingredients

For the Dough

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups whole-wheat flour

2 teaspoons instant yeast

2 teaspoon salt

1- 1 1/2 cups water

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for coating the bowl and pans

For Topping

6-7 pepperoni slices

4-5 olives

Mozzarella cheese, shredded

 Basil leaves, for garnish

For the Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, diced

1 bell pepper ( I used a mix of red/green and yellow peppers)

1 tablespoon mushrooms finely chopped

1 tsp Basil Leaves

3-4 tomatoes - pureed

Method for Dough

In a food processor combine the flours, yeast and salt. With the processer running, pour in 1 cup of the water and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and process until the mixture forms a ball. If the dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough is slightly sticky to the touch.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Add a splash of olive oil to a large bowl and turn the dough in it to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until the dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours.

Meanwhile make the sauce:

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the bottom of a heavy pan over medium heat.

Add the onion and cook, stirring, until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. 

Add the bell peppers, mushrooms and let cook for 2-3 minutes

Add the tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes. Add chopped basil leaves

Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

For the Pizza

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

When the dough is ready, cut it into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball.

Set the dough balls on a floured surface and cover with a kitchen towel until slightly puffed, about 20 minutes.

With a rolling pin, roll each dough ball to 1/4-inch thickness.

Arrange crusts on lightly oiled baking sheets.

Spread 1/4 - 1/2 cup of the sauce over each crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border free of sauce.

Sprinkle 1/4 of the shredded cheese over the sauce on each crust,

Arrange the pepperoni, top with some black olives and some more mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 12 - 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown.

Garnish with fresh basil.

Bombay Masala Toast Sandwiches

Ingredients to make 4 :

For the green chutney:

1 cup coriander leaves
1/ 4 cup mint leaves
1 green chili
salt

For the potato filling:

2 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 onion – chopped finely
1/2 tomato –  chopped finely
1 small green chilly –  chopped finely
1/2 sprig of curry leaves – optional
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
a few chopped coriander leaves
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
a pinch of asafoetida
1/4 tsp red chili powder (optional)

Other ingredients:

8 slices of bread – brown or white
a few thin round slices of onions, tomatoes, capsicum
Amul Butter or any other brand of Butter
Chaat Masala or pav bhaji masala

Method to make the Bombay Masala Toast Sandwiches:

• Method to make the green chutney

1. Grind the ingredients for the green chutney with little water to a smooth paste. If this chutney remains, then you can use it as a dip for pakoras, samosas, or even serve it as a side dish with pulaos or biryanis

• Method to make the potato filling

1. In a pan, heat some oil. Add mustard seeds. Let them splutter.
2. Add cumin seeds. Then add onions. Fry the onions till transparent.
3. Now add the tomatoes. Fry the tomatoes till they become soft and are cooked.
4. Add the chopped green chilli. Add the all the spice powders mentioned above. Mix them well.
5. Now add the mashed potatoes. Add salt. Mix the stuffing really well. Keep on stirring on a low flame so that the mixture does not stick to the pan.
6. Cook for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool before you start using it for the sandwich.

• For making the sandwiches

1. Trim the edges of the bread
2. Apply amul butter evenly on the bread.
3. Now apply the green chutney on the bread.
4. Take the potato mixture and apply it on this bread. Keep  one or two onion, tomato and capsicum rings on this mixture. Sprinkle some chat masala or pav bhaji masala.
5. Now cover this potato laden bread with another slice of bread, to which both butter and chutney has been applied.
6. In a sandwich toaster or grill, toast or grill the sandwich till browned from both sides.
7. Remove and apply some butter on top of the sandwich. The butter melts. Ah….. melted butter on hot sandwich.
8. Its crisp from outside and spicy and soft from inside. Serve the sandwich hot with the green chutney and tomato ketchup.

Biscuit Corn Sev Puri

Ingredients                                                               

Round salty biscuits 16
Potatoes, boiled and mashed 2 large                        
Corn kernels, blanched ½ cup             
Onions, finely chopped 2 medium                               
Salt to taste
Chaat masala as required
Green chutney 8 teaspoons
Sweet date and tamarind chutney 8 teaspoons
Raw mango, chopped 1 small
Fine sev 1 cup
Red chilli powder ¼ teaspoon                                        
                                                                                                                                  
Method

1. Arrange the biscuits on a plate.
2. In a bowl, place potatoes, corn, onions, salt and chaat masala and mix. Divide into sixteen portions. Place a portion on each biscuit.
3. Drizzle one-fourth teaspoon of green chutney and 1/2 teaspoon of sweet date and tamarind chutney, one after  the other, over each biscuit.
4. Sprinkle raw mango on each biscuit and top it all with plenty of sev.
5. Sprinkle a pinch of red chilli powder over each biscuit and serve immediately.

For Green Chutney,

(Grind 2-3 green chilles/1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves,5-6 mint leaves & Salt)

For Date/Tamrind Chutney
Soak 10-12 dates in warm water.
Soak a small golf ball size of tamrind in warm water. 
Mash the dates and strain till you get a thick pulpy liquid.
Do the same with the tamrind.
Place both the mixtures together in a pan,and heat it. 
Add 1/4 teaspoon each of chilly powder, cummin powder and grated ginger and jaggrey). 
Cook till the mxture turns thick.

Pancake

 

Pancake

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 1/4 cups milk

1 egg

3 tablespoons butter, melted

For Stuffing

1 cup freshly grated coconut

2-3 tablespoons jaggery or sugar

(I used jiggery – tastes good)

1-2 pods cardamom

1 tsp rose water

Drop of red color  

Directions

1.  In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.

2  
      For the stuffing, heat a pan, add the coconut, cardamom, jaggery and cardamom seeds.  Mix the coconut/ jaggery well.  Add rose water and color and mix till the mixture turns pink. Turn off the gas.

3    For the Pancakes. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle. Spread till nicely round. Cook on one side till slightly brown, turn and let the other side cook (but do not make it brown).

      Quickly turn it over and take off from the pan and add the stuffing. 

4    Pour out the stuffing lengthwise at the beginning. Roll, then fold the edges and roll again.   

Stuffed Buns



Got this recipe from one of the blogs, tried it out and it was great.  the two flat buns (without the seasame seeds are stuffed with kiri cheese - as my son loves the Kiri Buns)
Stuffed Bun

For 15 buns

The dough:

Ingredients

Dry yeast-1 tsp

Warm water-2tbsp

Milk-1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Oil-1/2 cup

All purpose flour-2 cups

Sugar-1/4 cup

Egg-1, beaten

Egg white-1,for egg wash

White sesame seeds for sprinkling

For Stuffing

1.   Kiri Cheese or the following stuffing is great

Ingredients 

Chicken Mince 200g

Onions-4 big, finely chopped

Ginger garlic paste-1 tbsp

Chilli powder-1/2 -1tbsp [depending on your spice level]

Dhanya powder 1/2 tsp

Coriander powder-1/2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Oil-3 tbsp

Method

·      Heat oil, fry onions till brown, add the ginger garlic paste and saute till it gives out a nice aroma.

·      Reduce the heat and add the powders and mix well for 2 mins.

·      Add the mince and mix well. Add salt to taste. Cover and cook till mince is done. You can also add chopped coriander leaves for garnish and sprinkle some lime juice

·       Use it for filling the dough.

 

Method For the Buns

·      Dissolve the yeast in warm water with 1/2tbsp sugar and 1/2 tbsp of all purpose   flour. Leave aside for 10 minutes.

·      Boil the milk and allow to cool down till it is warm. Add sugar, oil and salt.

·       Mix well with a wooden spoon till the sugar dissolves and add 1 cup flour and mix to a smooth paste.

·       Add the beaten egg, yeast and mix.Add the remaining flour and mix well till it forms a smooth dough.

·       Knead well for 10 mins.

·      Let it rest till it doubles in volume.

·      Punch down the dough lightly using your palm and divide them equally.

·      Flatten them into small discs and fill them with 1 tbsp of the filling. Re-shape them into a ball.Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds.

·         Let it stand for another 20 mins.

·         Bake them in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for 10 mins. When it starts to brown, give them an egg wash using 1 slightly beaten egg white.