This is a wonderful focaccia bread to have with a freshly made salad on the patio, chilled glass of…you know….sun shining, what more is there? You will love this and it is easy to make.
- 1 store-bought pizza dough (fresh)1 lb. wt.
- 2 tbsp. cornmeal
- 3 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
- 1 tsp. fresh rosemary leaves
- 1 400g container ricotta cheese
- 1 tbsp. unsalted butter, chilled and diced small
- 2 tbsp. Turbinado sugar (raw sugar)
- 2 tsp. fleur de sel
Place the dough in a large bowl, cover with plastic and set sit for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Invert baking sheet and sprinkle the cornmeal generously over it. Place the dough on the sheet. Dip your fingers into the melted butter and gently, but firmly, spread the dough out to cover the entire sheet. Brush the top with more melted butter.
Arrange the grapes, rosemary and ricotta cheese and cold butter evenly on top of the dough. Sprinkle the surface with sugar and salt.
Bake for about 15 minutes until the crust is a golden brown and puffed around the edges. Serve warm.
Was I right? Hmmmm? Yummy.
Holiday Berry Pizza
Okay, I hear you. You have had enough turkey and stuffing to last until…umm next Christmas. Right? This is light, refreshing and a perfect lunch item.
The only thing that makes it “yours” is the kind of fruit or berries you use.
Dough
- 9 oz. ordinary commercial pizza dough
- 2 tbsp. cornmeal
- 3 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
- 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup lime or lemon marmalade
- 1 piece of mozzarella cheese cut in 6 thick pieces
- 2 tbsp. large sugar crystals
- enough icing sugar
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic and leave for an hour. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Sprinkle the backside of a baking sheet with cornmeal and place the dough on top. Dip your fingertips into the butter and press the dough out, gently but firmly until you get a 10 inch circle. Carefully brush the pizza with the remaining butter and slide this onto a pizza pan.
Dot the dough with spoonfulls of ricotta cheese and the marmalade and arrange the mozzarella slices on top. Sprinkle with sugar crystals.
Fruit Topping
- 1/4 cup Berry sugar (super fine)
- 4 tsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 cup chilled mango nectar
- 2 – 2 1/2 cups of berries (blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries) or add a few slices of peaches, or kiwi
- 1 tbsp. butter, chilled and cut in a small dice
In a saucepan combine the sugar and cornstarch then whisk in the chilled mango nectar. Add 1/2 cup of the berries and cook over high heat until the mixture begins to thicken.
Remove from heat and add the remaining berries, stir to mix and set aside.
Bake the pizza dough for about 15 minutes or until it becomes puffy and golden on the edges. Remove from the oven and spread out the warm berry mixture. Dust generously with icing sugar. Who said they wanted whipped cream? Well….
Yummy
Grilled Caesar Focaccia
This is a great way to have ‘homemade’ focaccia bread. It is easy, tasty and everyone will love it. You may have to make two at a time.
- 1 lb. store bought pizza dough
- 2 tbsp. cornmeal
- 8 slices of bacon, cooked crisp
- 1 portobello mushroom, gills removed and cut in 1″ strips
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- pepper and salt to taste
- 1 bag of shredded 4 cheese
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- Caesar salad dressing
Place the dough in a greased large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit to room temperature (about 1 hour).
Preheat the barbecue to medium high for 10 minutes or until temperature reaches 400 degrees. Clean and lightly oil the grill.
Invert a baking sheet and sprinkle the cornmeal generously over it. Place the dough on the sheet. Using your fingers, push the dough out gently but firmly over the entire baking sheet.
Drizzle the mushroom slices with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 2 minutes on each side. Set aside.
Carefully slide the dough off the baking sheet onto the center of the barbecue grill.Close the lid and cook for 4 minutes or until the bottom is a golden brown. Using tongs, carefully turn the dough.
Arrange the mushrooms, bacon and cheese over the top and close the lid again for another 4 minutes or until the bottom is a golden brown. Do not burn. Remove to a cutting board.
In a bowl, toss the dressing over the lettuce. Cut the focaccia into 4 pieces, mound the caesar salad on top and serve immediately.
Make sure the wine is white, crisp and well chilled. Yummy.
Grilled Pizza On The Barbecue
I told you I was getting everything ready for the Spring and Summer season that is just around the corner. You can, indeed, make pizza on the barbecue. In fact, we did this years ago and I think they are better than anything you put in the oven.
- 2 lbs. fresh pizza dough (store bought is good)
- Olive Oil for drizzle and brushing
- 2 tbsp. cornmeal
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6-7 slices of proscuitto
- 2 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced into eighths
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup toasted pecans
- 3-4 cups baby spinach, washed and stemmed
- Balsamic/fig vinegar
- pinch of salt and pepper
Start the barbecue and heat for about 10 minutes getting the temperature up to 400 degrees. Clean and oil the grill.
Place the dough in a large bowl (oiled so the dough won’t stick) and cover with a damp towel. Let stand for about 1 hour to rise.
Brush the peaches with oil and grill for a few minutes. Set aside.
Sprinkle a cookie sheet with cornmeal and roll out the dough and set on the cornmeal. Drizzle with a little olive oil and place in the center of the barbecue. Close the lid and grill for approximately 5-6 minutes until the bottom is a golden brown.
Using tongs, turn the dough over and arrange the peaches and grill for approximately 8-10 minutes. Arrange half the cheese on the dough, add the proscuitto and pecans on top and then top with the remaining cheese. Close the lid and grill for a further 10 minutes and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove and drizzle with the balsamic/fig vinegar.
Remove from the barbecue and add the baby spinach.
Now gather the family and/or friends, pour a glass of wine and enjoy! As I said yummy.