Thursday, November 13, 2014

Balsamic Glaze

1/3 cup balsamic
3 Tbsp. brown sugar

Cook over medium heat in small saucepan stirring ingredients together while it cooks.  Mixture will start to bubble.  When mixture has thickened and is filled with bubbles.  Turn off and let thicken.  Mixture should have reduced to about half.

Great as a drizzle over your favorite pizza, grilled chicken, or tomato Caprese salad.

Also great as a pizza sauce for a pizza with savory toppings like prosciutto, fig and Manchego cheese.

Garlic Parmesan Skillet Bread

Skillet Bread



INGREDIENTS:
2 cups lukewarm water
2 1/4 tsp. dry active yeast
4 1/3 cups flour + more for working dough
1 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. butter
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan
3 Tbsp. minced garlic
Splash of extra virgin olive oil or an extra 1 Tbsp. melted butter

*You need a cast iron oven proof skillet for this recipe.  I use a Le Creuset cast iron oblong skillet with grated bottom like this one:

Image for Signature Oblong Skillet Grill from Le Creuset

Le Crueset Grill Skillet Oblong

In large bowl.  Mix the yeast and lukewarm water until incorporated.  Add the salt and stir.  Add the flour, Parmesan and garlic and stir until incorporated.  Cover with saran wrap and make sure the seal is air tight.  Let sit for 45 minutes to 1 hour near warm oven if possible.  Do no store near cold drafts.

In the meantime, melt the butter in your cast iron oven-safe skillet on medium heat and spread butter throughout grates all along the bottom.  Use more butter if necessary.  Turn off heat and let cool on stove top.

Once the dough has risen 45 minutes to an hour in the bowl (and after your grill pan has cooled), add some flour to the top of your dough.  Slowly pull dough from sides of bowl and coat with flour to make less sticky.  Place the ball of dough in the skillet and pull slightly to spread out in the skillet.  Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise for an additional 30 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

After the dough has risen a second time, slash an x into the top with a sharp knife and pour a little extra virgin olive oil on top or extra melted butter.  Bake for about 40 minutes or until bread is a nice light brown color.  Best served warm right out of the oven.

Great with dishes that have a hearty sauce such as Beef Bolognese.

Also great with olive oil.

If you make ahead, put back in the oven at 350 degrees for ten minutes before serving.