Pizza Pi - Kitchen Engineering

Saturday was work around the Range.  The kitchen is getting ready to be gutted after the holidays, the floor already stripped down to its last ugly layer of floor covering , the 1930's cupboards (covered with contact paper) to be replaced by white wood cabinets and a really cool antique sink and drain board, against a different wall so this whole area will be prep space from which I can look out onto the tall spruces while I make my bread.

But not today.  Today was for checking on supplies, such as refreshing the emergency water and rations. Holding up one of these water containers is not easy, so how to get water in it with no physical effort and without having to watch it?

Meet the water-nator!

Supplies refreshed, it was time for a late unch.  I had a hankering for pizza, one of the big thick Chicago style ones with a crispy base, thick moist interior and piping hot toppings.  But they want $20+ around here for a deep dish delivered. But I don't have a pizza stone to ensure a crisp crust (which also take forever to heat up, making them great for a crust but about as energy efficient as the Bat Truck on a steep grade). To get the pizza I want, I need a high-temperature cooking surface to crisp the bottom of the pizza and a high-temperature cooking environment to rapidly cook the top.

Cast Iron to the Rescue.  It's not just for cornbread any more.  It's  going to give me the thermal mass I need to cook and lightly char a pizza base before letting the oven rise and cook the dough. And I've always got cast iron skillets and their covers lying around. 

Cast Iron Deep Dish Pizza

Start with one loaf of bread dough. Make your own or thaw out one you've made (or bought frozen, but keep it wrapped in plastic wrap tightly  so it doesn't rise as it thaws). Roll it into a 14 inch round and place in a very lightly oiled (and well seasoned) cast iron pan (this was a No. 8, the base of which is 9 inches wide) putting the dough up the sides of the pan a ways to form a thick rim.  Actually the rolling pin didn't work that great, stretching and shaping it with my hands while cursing in a combination of Gaelic and Norwegian did the trick.

Top with -

Sauce:
1/2 to 3/4  of a 15 ounce can tomato sauce (depends on how saucy you like it)
3 to 4 Tablespoons of tomato paste
3 Tablespoons of  grated Parmesan
2 teaspoons assorted dried Italian herbs (I used basil and oregano)
1/8 teaspoon, or to taste, crushed red pepper
a couple dashes of seasoning salt (I used Jane's Krazy Salt).

Toppings:

How about BACON! (pre -cooked but not too crispy)
caramelized onion
and a handful of pineapple

Topped with about a cup and half of mozzarella

MMM Bacon!

Heat the pan on the stove burner on Medium High for 3 minutes.  This is key to getting a good crust is having the dough cooked at a high temperature.  Doing this uncovered on the stove with the cold pan works much better than trying to preheat the pan and wrestle the dough into it without burning yourself.  The pizza won't change in appearance, but the pan will be nice and HOT.

At 3 minutes, place in a preheated 475 F. oven.  Bake for 14-18 minutes, uncovered, until golden brown.

The cast iron mimics the commercial pizza oven's tremendous heat which cooks the pies quickly, yielding a crust that's every so faintly charred on the underside and rim, but moist and tender inside, with a sauce and toppings that's bubbling hot but not dessicated.

You could probably bake this in an ordinary round pan, but the cast iron gives it a great finish and the handle makes it a breeze to get in and out of the oven. When it comes out of the oven you can easily slide it to a cutting board to cut into slices.  This made big thick slices, enough to feed three or  four people. If you use a bigger pan, the dough will be thinner, but the concept will still work.

 

You could use whole wheat or sourdough dough for a different taste, sausage and spinach and mushroom instead of bacon/pineapple (with some fennel in the sauce), pepperoni and black olives, anything would work.

Get a sturdy plate and a knife and fork, it's ready!  But the best part  - it was better than the local Chicago style pizza place, the thick Amish Smoked Bacon being much tastier than their "ham" topping. Plus it was a  fifth of the cost of one their large deep dish and with thawed dough, on the table in 30 minutes. 

Dog Day Afternoons

Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew and dog will have his day.

William Shakespeare

The Range on a Budget - Weekend Adventures

You know money is tight when you make half dollar pancakes.

OK, that was actually a flipping accident, this morning. The weekend flew by much too quickly. Saturday was chores, a few things to be picked up.  My household likes a good bargain (I am part Scot) and you'd be surprised what you can find if you have a keen eye. A "scratch and dent" sale at a food wholesalers resulted in a lot of new canned goods, marked with a marker on the label with the date to use by, so they can be rotated through regularly, keeping the emergency pantry fresh as well as very stocked.

 For example, this  was only Sixty Nine Cents, found at a discount a while back. 

 Since I'd had a long week, Partner offered to cook dinner last night while I relaxed with some wine from Aldi (don't laugh, they have some decent table wine) with my feet up.  This is what he came up with and it was delicious!  I'm going to check out some of the other Nantucket Off-Shore sugar and salt free rubs, this one was really good! (click on recipe name to open)  Herb-crusted Chicken.

And yes, in honor of the 11th Doctor on this 50th anniversary show night - bow tie pasta.

Sunday late morning  found us sorting through a few other of the bargains.  This fake security camera had a broken part, easily fixed and was $1. 

It has a motion sensor that then flashes a light at you like it's taking your picture. I'm not sure if it will deter anyone but it will be fun to mount up somewhere above the back door.  I wonder if I write "NSA" on it with a Sharpee, anyone will notice.

This Mission table is a current work in progress, found sitting by a trash can on a street, being thrown out.  It had a scuffed particle board top and bottom shelf, but the mission ends were solid oak and in excellent shape but for a few surface scratches.  Quick, stop and load. The top and shelf are an easy replacement with real wood, and with a refinish to hide some minor wear, this will be a nice addition to the Range.

I'm not too proud to grab something someone threw out just as most of my kitchen ware is from thrift shops.  Nothing matches, but each piece is unique and has a story. One I do not know, but can catch a glint of as I wash it and put it away.

I recently got a complete set of very high quality cast iron cookware, including a huge griddle that crash pad neighbors threw out after they apparently ran it through the dishwasher and watched it rust.  A good clean and seasoning and they were perfect. 

There's also a Mission sofa being  repaired and re-stained downstairs.  The "made at home", new black Ultrasuede covered cushions replaced the worn, paisley ones, but considering it was once an $1800 couch and it joined the range for a case of beer, no one is complaining about the work.

But to work, one needs fuel.

Silver Dollar pancakes with Thick Cut Bacon.

Cooking the pancakes on a griddle that still has a bit of Bacon drippings makes for a particularly good little pancake .

Some of the afternoon was games. There was still some cleaning to do, but I can do that tomorrow when Partner is working and I have one more day off.  We will  NOT mention the Mexican train wreck that was my dominoes game but then it was on to cribbage.  The wind chill being down in the single digits today, we were not lured back out of the house to go play with anything 'spody.

I overcame the dominoes disaster by winning more than one hand of cribbage.  After one particularly brutal crib (thanks for the  air of Jacks) . . .

that moved me well into the lead, I managed to fumble the entire deck of cards all over the table

Partner (smiling):  How do you DO that?  You're like the Columbo of Cribbage! 

Barkley went outside once, going to the bottom of the steps and coming right back as if to say "it's too cold!".  He then laid on his bed in the office, sulking because he doesn't know 1000 words like the Border Collie we saw on the news yesterday

If it wasn't for those darn pronouns!

Before you know it, it was time for supper.  I knew what it was going to be.  A Canadian blogger was kind enough to give me the recipe for her Lebanese rice.  She gave me the ingredients and the basic amounts (use as much as you like :-) which let me play with what worked or not for my palate.  There was just one extra secret ingredient (cinnamon) to make it my own, as well as pitas and an addition of a side of yogurt/mint/cumin cucumber sauce that offset the spicy  dish perfectly.

 I present the HOTR version of  Herbed Lebanese Rice.

Thank you Kymber, for the inspiration.  This one is a keeper.  It's easy, it was less tan $1.50 a serving, using spices already on hand, would freeze well (like we'll have leftovers after tomorrow), and made enough for more than one meal. Adding more rice to stretch this would easily to feed a large, hungry family.  Plus, it was VERY tasty. Partner raved about it and asked that I make it again sometime soon.

The evening is ahead, so I will be signing off for now.

Thanks for stopping by.  I needed a couple days to just relax and regroup.  It's easier to write, to plan and to work, when I can do this, and I appreciate those of you who wish to share it when I do.
 - Brigid

It followed me home, can I keep it?

 

Why buying a Smart Car instead of a truck might have saved even MORE money.

R and R

It's been a long week and a tough one mentally.  The day was too long  to safely hit the road  tonight so I'm getting some hot food, a good night's sleep, then I'll drive home. (And yes, that's a flip phone.  Before you give me any grief, remember I could probably whoop you at Asteroids :-)

I have no plans after that  involving anything more than old westerns, reloading, attempting to beat my husband (at cribbage), baking more bread and sleep. 

I'll be back with a post Sunday.  Until then,  I have the "three b's" on standby with a "breakfast for supper".  That would be Barkley, Bacon and Biscuits (with lingonberry preserves and a hot beverage with a shot of Jameson in it), before the long bubble bath.   Cheers!

click to enlarge photo

When you rise in the morning,

 give thanks for the light,

 for your life, for your strength.

Give thanks for your food

 and for the joy of living.

 If you see no reason to give thanks,

 the fault lies in yourself.

 Tecumseh

Bacon Spoonbread - Gluten Free Cooking Week 2

Week two of the gluten free bakeout to support a friend who has Celiac.  OK,  the popovers Saturday weren't gluten free, but the  first gluten free version resembled moon rocks.

Sunday Brunch was much better.  A lot better.  Let's just say "serves 8" was more like "serve four" as everyone had seconds. Even those mindful of calories, never have seconds, had seconds. Corn spoon bread with bacon and jalapenos.

It might be called spoon"bread" but the consistency is more of a wonderful cross between polenta, custard and a cornmeal soufflé, an airy, delicate puff of smooth corn flavors across your tongue. Some are sweet, almost dessert like, but for this one I went savory, with bacon, onion caramelized in bacon drippings, ancho and jalapenos.

The ingredients might take 10 minutes or so to assemble, but stove top cooking is just minutes, with a bake time of about half an hour.  Everyone who had a plate (OK, two plates) agreed it was worth a little extra fuss.  And it's gluten free!

In an assortment of bowls  assemble:

- A handful of chopped sweet onion
- 4-5 slices of thick cut bacon
- 2 cups milk (not skim) to which you've added 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and two pinches ancho chili powder (or cayenne)
- 1 cup stone ground corn meal
- 4 Tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup milk  (yes, in a separate bowl from the  2 cups above) to which you've added a pinch of sugar
- 3 large eggs separated (whites in one larger bowl, whisk the yolks into the one cup of milk above)
- 1 cup cheese (I used half pepper jack, half cheddar) grated
- 1 cup fresh or thawed corn and 1 large jalapeno (chopped with all but a few seeds removed, or all if you want it really mild)

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Fry bacon until cooked, but still tender, remove and chop.

Drain off all but a little bacon grease and soften onion in pan drippings until starting to turn golden, removed with slotted spoon.

In a saucepan, heat the 2 cups of the salt and peppered milk, whisking constantly over medium to medium high until at a low boil.  Lower heat to medium low and slowly pour in 1 cup cornmeal, stirring constantly and cook for 2 minutes (it will be quite thick, and switching from whisk to wooden spoon helps when you pour in the corn)

Remove from heat , pour into large clean bowl and stir in butter until melted.

Slowly add remaining milk/egg yolk mixture into cornmeal mixture in a thin stream,  stirring constantly so the egg yolks don't cook.

Add corn, peppers, cheese, chopped bacon, and caramelized onion and set aside

Whip the bowl of egg whites with hand mixer until defined but not stiff peaks form. Drop a heaping spoonful of the whipped eggs into the corn batter and stir well, then gently fold remaining egg whites into the corn batter, a third at a time, just until combined.

Bake in greased large casserole pan for 26-32 minutes until puffed and golden brown (knife inserted into center should come out clean).

Serve with sour cream (if you wish) and chopped chives.

You Know It's a Slow News Day

When this pops up on& your local police blotter.:

A white cat was reported near a fountain on South Sixth Avenue. The cat attempted to attack an officer, jumped out of the officer's arms and fled. It was last seen refusing to go near a fireman.

Look Mom!  There's a cat trespassing in the window!

Scrabble'd Up

This was the "on call" week.  Sometimes we will hang out, after shift, at someone's house, passing some time as friends, not colleagues, hoping that phone doesn't go off (so the 10 hour day can be a 20 hour one).

I picked up the Scrabble game this summer.  Scrabble rules are loose.  Which is why we have DNA, ATC and Ho (hey, that word was just uttered on Law and Order SVU). And when you whitetail hunt a stones throw from Toto, Indiana the word Oz is always allowed.  But this was one of the few games where we used every single Scrabble tile, so a photo was taken.

Sleep well everyone, and I hope your phone stays silent in the wee hours of the night.

Why Race Bannon is Cooler Than James Bond

Let's see - is tonight's episode of Jonny Quest the pygmies, dragons or perhaps the giant pterodactyl ?

I don't care as it has Race Bannon, covert actions, intelligence gathering, security, electronics and espionage.  He was the coolest guy on the show, way cooler than Jonny Quests father, some redheaded Scientist that usually had some lame plan like "we'll reverse the polarity of the beam. . . ".  Seriously, Dr. Quest was cute and all, but redheaded scientist?  Boy, I hope he can cook. :-)

Plus ,Race, assigned by "Intelligence One" to guard Dr. Quest and his son, can fly anything, jets, hovercrafts, alpacas (though those are a bitch to remove the gust lock from the rudder without a fight).  Then let's throw in firearms -pistols, rifles, slingshots, bazookas, he's an expert at them all.

Unlike the so called "role models" of today he doesn't consult with a committee or apologize before blasting an assortment of holes in the bad guys.  Arm Race with only a piano tuning fork and throw him in a room with a bunch of two legged mutant Brahma bulls with uzi's and in the next scene he'll be grilling burgers. 

It's better than being Bond, you probably get to drink a beer, not shaken vodka drinks and you never have to kill anyone with your cuff links wearing an uncomfortable tux. You prefer your quarry to fall for the old "whacked in the jaw with a hundred pound bench, breaking it in several places" trick, and soon the bad guy's evil plan is exposed (though Dr. Zin continue to have a burr under his saddle for multiple episodes over that whole gold thing).

You didn't see Race going to the store to buy someone feminine products.  He didn't have manicures or facials.  Heck, we never even saw Race taking Bandit out for walkies on the airport tarmac so he doesn't poop in the Quest jet. No he was too busy protecting the Quest family from the bad guys and monsters (seriously if the Questjet landed at my airport I'd be on the fast train south of here before all the giant komodo dragons showed up).  Jonny Quest had action, grisly deaths (lots of them) and an assortment of weapons and firearms and you didn't see any of us in my house ending up monsters.  No, we all wanted to grow up and be one of the good guys.

None of the monsters were a match for Race, including the invisible Monster Energy thing that left footprints in the sand (that scared the crap out of me as a little kid until they showed it and it looked like "ghost of Hostess Snowball") or the giant spiders that could walk by firing tanks without a scratch (I have two of  those at home that keep trying to sneak inside from the garage).

It wasn't just monsters. Race once took out a panther with a shot to the skull while elsewhere on television, Jim was off wrestling the giant Anaconda and Marlin was waiting in the safety of the jeep. And there was always the issue with the hotel that ALWAYS seemed to have a poisonous snake someone left for them ("yes, front desk, we specifically asked for the non-cobra suite.")

Sure he wasn't the star of the show, that was Jonny, a Cold War Era Huckleberry Finn every kid on my block wanted to be.  Think about it, you've got your own hovercraft and got to use a bolt action rifle when the other kids your age were begging for a "slip and slide".  Think about it, no school, no girls to interact with at recess, and all the cool weapons you could play with, it's worth a few lectures from Race about flying your hovercraft INTO the tunnel instead of having a Controlled Flight Into Terrain like the evil henchmen did.

And we'll always remember Hadji, Jonny's best friend from India, and Bandit (yes, a cartoon dog that actually ACTS like a dog) and Dr. Benton Quest (I was just kidding earlier, he was cool too).

It still brings back good memories, even all these years later. Yes, we had a show with violance, with monsters and guns, but always with a lesson, a display of moral code, not "how many points you can rack up by shooting something on a video screen".  Violence was not undertaken easily,  the destruction of a life done for the protection of the innocent, not for material gain.  The bad guys learned the hard way, especially with Race Bannon around, that violence to promote evil or take something that is not yours, was not a good idea.  With intellect and tools, came responsibility. That was a lesson not lost on us. We were a generation of kids who were not wrapped in bubble wrap so we never learned the difference between right and wrong, good and evil and deliberated courage versus "stupid should hurt".  There are those of you reading this who understand, the rest may simply say  "Jonny WHO?

So sorry Barkley, you're going to have to wait until it's done for that walk.

Fine Scotch, Discerning Labs and a Gluten Free Kitchen - Only at HOTR

I was on call Saturday, so with just Barkley and I hanging out at the crash pad,  I had time to experiment in the kitchen. This weekend's menu.  Gluten Free Bread!

Gluten free is everywhere.  I am not gluten sensitive, but don't eat a lot of  highly processed carbs, outside of the Saturday Pancake O'rama.  I do love my grains, especially cornbread, but I have two friends that have Celiac Disease and want to learn more about preparing things they can enjoy when we get together.

But I was really glad to find out good Scotch Whiskey was gluten free as tonight was Scotch  Club Night, a monthly ritual of some squirrel pilot types I know.

Why is gluten on the menu this weekend?  A friend I know through the volunteer community recently had to go gluten free, due to health issues with gluten intake.  After just a week (under doctor's advice) she said she felt immensely better.  But it's hard to make the change, as she loves to bake and cook as much as we all do.   So, for the next two weeks, I'm her gluten free buddy and we'll try an assortment of recipes that we can share.

I can only imagine what Barkley will say -

Oh, it was awful, we went Gluten free and there was nothing to eat but pickled herring, gluten free gruel and Styrofoam packing peanuts with Tabasco. 

No, Barkley, I'm doing my homework and there's some really good stuff you can make gluten free. I tried one of the mixes for French Bread, one from Gluten Free Pantry.  It  required six other ingredients and didn't have quite the texture of a regular French baguette, being a bit more dry and crumbly.  But I would buy it again if I needed a quick base for French rolls, adding some herbs for flavor.   But I wanted something else to add to go with the pot of soup on Saturday.

Cornbread!

I get my stone ground cornmeal from Graue Grist Mill, which is an easy weekend trip from the Range  (it's more expensive  but once you've tried stone ground versus the corn dust sold in the store you won't go back).

The first Gluten Free Cornbread recipe is infused with a bit of vanilla, and having as ingredient items things  the gluten free kitchen normally has.  Potato Starch, Cornstarch and xanthan gum.  Honestly, it was better than the "regular" cornbread I made last week with flour, with a moist texture, nice taste and an extremely tender crumb.

The second recipe is one you can make with things you likely have on hand, perfect for a last minute guest you just found out can't eat gluten.  It's s slightly drier, more chewy texture than the first recipe, still with a good flavor, one that would go best with a flavorful soup, stew or along with breakfast.  Perhaps a bowl of gluten free Sausage Lentil Soup

This" no special ingredient "cornbread recipe is also a snap to put together, with minimal measuring. This version was simply sweetened with a bit of honey (I love honey).  For a savory taste, add in some chopped onions caramelized in some butter, than stirred in the batter.

So you can save those packing peanuts for returning that trebuchet that didn't match your living room decor.

Problems in the End Zone - Barkley Adventures

Saturday mornings is when I usually get up and write, something reflective, something that's stirring around in my brain.  But not today, as it was sort of a short night.  No, the bat phone didn't go off, but I was awoken twice in the night and then couldn't get back to sleep.

 

There aren't many dogs in my little neighborhood of the crash pad.  There's a large dog in a home behind me that has what is either a great lumbering dog or a Shetland pony which I only see when I am out the door before 5 am., the owner walking him on a lead out into the mist.  A couple doors down is a little yappy dog  of mixed heritage that looks like a big Twinkie with legs. The owners just let it out to do it's business sans leash and sometimes it wanders around the neighborhood, though it knows to stay out of the street.  Barkley mostly ignores her and they have a relationship of distrust and mutual avoidance except when there's a camera out, much like the Clinton marriage.

Barkley IS the king of the block, however, this morning he's simply sleeping on the twin bed in my office after an interesting night of "guess what I ate".

He rarely gets people food as it tends to upset his stomach. The occasional little piece of plain roast chicken, bits of cheddar, frozen peas (he loves them, nibbling them from your bare fingers like little ball bearings). But he's not particular. I've seen him chew on my old slipper, a lemon and Styrofoam packing peanuts, all with the same gusto. But he'll seek out the smallest crumb if left unattended.
Last night he snagged something off the counter when I was out of the room briefly, licking his lips as I returned  while my piece of pizza looked clearly disturbed and rather lacking in sausage.  Later, I caught him in the garbage looking for more (once they've had a taste).

But spicy or greasy food and Barkley have never seen eye to eye.  He did pretty well though other than a couple delicate sage scented burps and one episode where he came in while I was taking my bath.

I had my camera with me as I was hoping to get a shot of him trying to steel my socks, like he did the night before. But instead, he just sat down with this LOOK on his face

"OMG Mom, what's that SMELL!  He then turns around and looks at his butt as if it was suddenly possessed.

No, Barkley, you can't put Vicks Vaporub in your nostrils.
 That's Mommy's Vicks.

Well that emptied me out of the tub faster than realizing NCIS starts in 30 seconds. A quick spray of air freshener and an open window and he settled down for the night after leaving a quick calling card on the tree by the garage for the neighbor dog.

I knew the night wasn't going to go as planned when I woke up after midnight and realized I'd not closed the garage door. The back door into the crash pad is heavy and well secured, but I've got a bike and a few tools in the garage I wouldn't want stolen.

With only the hall light on, I stepped out into the garage, only to have some furred creature rush out at me from under the truck.

Holy *(#*!!!!

Seeing just a soundless flash of fur and tooth, my foot instinctively went out in a kick, catching the creature under the rib cage with the top of my slipper and punting it OUT the garage door like some sort of overtime field goal. Georgia against UT couldn't have done any better!

At which point I heard "YIP!    YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP YIP"

Oh, crap, I just dropped kicked the neighbors yappy dog. How am I going to explain THAT? I look out, the dogs not out there injured, he headed straight back towards home, the garage door being up a foot or two for him to go in and out.  I'll go see to him in the morning to make sure he's OK and explain what happened. My pulse is still racing like Speed Racer.

Back to bed where I tossed and turned, heart still racing, hoping the rest of the night and weekend would go better.

All was well until about 4, when Barkley stuck his nose in my face (and not to say hello). "I gotta go! I gotta go!"   I know that panting and that dance and it means NOW.  I threw on something over my jammies and headed out the garage with him. He made a beeline for the corner of the property, 82 pounds of muscle pulling me like a Nantucket sleigh ride through the dark, realizing I'm standing out there in a tiny Victoria's Secret polka dot number covered with a day glo yellow first responders coat. Somewhere there's probably a calender composed of women in outfits like that, but it was not a look I wanted my neighbors to see. (Officer, not only did she drop kick our dog but she goes around dressed like the Village People but half naked).

Barkley wasn't kidding. He didn't just have to GO. . . .

Remember the Darwin Award where the guy allegedly attached a JATO bottle to the back of a car and it launched him into a cliff?

There are certain circumstances when there is not much difference between a JATO assisted 1967 Chevy Impala, and a Labrador retriever digestive tract.

Just saying

Once emptied, he seemed OK , drank some water and just went back to sleep. At least HE could get back to sleep.

In the morning, I checked on him while I was making some corn muffins for breakfast.   He still wasn't too perky.

Mom, I think I'd feel better if you made me a bacon omelet.

By late morning, the bat phone was still quiet, a half priced book finished, and the little yappy dog was happily running around in it's front yard none the worse for wear, though it was steering quite clear of my driveway. Barkley also ate some breakfast and wanted to play with his toy without any further detonation. Hooray!

I think this calls for a little celebration. So after lunch, Barkley and I took a little road trip, not too far, as I have to be ready to go to work if needed, but for one of his favorite treats..

Barkley huddles with some frozen yogurt and all is well in the world.