Book Review: Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day
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Do you like pizza? For most of us the answer is a resounding yes!! The third book by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. and Zoë François, Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day , provide a wealth of information on how to prepare this world famous dish in your own kitchen in minutes. The key to doing this, the authors contend, is by mixing enough dough for many pizzas or flatbreads in advance and then storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. With a ready supply of dough already prepared, anyone can make a wide range of pizzas or flatbreads in 30 minutes.
The book includes an extensive discussion of ingredients including different types of flours, tomato sauces, cheeses, meats, seafood, eggs, yeast, oils, and sweeteners. The authors also discuss the four pieces of equipment that you will need (a baking stone, cast-iron pan, or perforated pizza pan, a pizza peel, an oven thermometer, and a dough scraper) to make pizza plus other, optional items that can make the job easier. A chapter devoted to helpful hints and frequently asked questions is also included that draws upon feedback that Hertzberg and François received about their earlier two books, Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day and Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. After this valuable introduction to the basics of pizza making, the authors walk you through the process of making the book’s master recipe, Classic Pizza Margherita. By preparing this basic dish, the reader learns the key steps necessary to prepare any of the later recipes in the book. Artisan Pizza and Flatbread in Five Minutes a Day includes over 100 different recipes for pizza and flatbread, as well as sauces, dips, and even desserts.
Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
A slice of convenience: Refrigerator cookie dough
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REFRIGERATOR SHORTBREAD COOKIES
Makes 3 dozen.
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cup flour, plus more for rolling out dough
Mix-ins (see list below)
With an electric mixer, beat together butter, sugar, vanilla and salt on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Reduce mixer to low speed and add flour, mixing until a dough forms. If desired, stir in any of a variety of mix-ins (see below).
Divide the dough in half. Working on a lightly floured surface, gently roll each piece of dough into a log about 1 ½ to 2 inches wide. (You may need to flour your hands a bit as well.) If desired, roll each log in a decorative coating such as finely chopped nuts, candy sprinkles, coconut, etc., pressing in gently. Youll need 1/4 cup to1/3 cup of coating to cover both logs.
Wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, or place in freezer.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer