Stuffed Tomatoe Salad With Smoked Salmon

Slice Tomatoe almost all the way through but stop just short.

Slice fresh Mozzarella and insert into slices in the Tomatoes.

Insert Fresh Basil leaves and Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings also.

Top with a dressing of Balsamic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a small amount of brown sugar for sweetness and to balance the acidity. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Let sit 20 or so minutes to achieve flavor meld.

Add some Smoked Salmon.

Consume with wild abandon.

Oh yeah, Garlic bread goes well on the side.

Pizza,

Pizza Dough:
1/2 c. very warm water
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
6tsp yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
2 Tbsp olive oil
5 c. semolina flour (italian crust)
OR 6 c. regular flour (thin crust)


sprinkle the yeast over the 1/2 c. warm water in a small bowl with the sugar and salt. Stir and wait a few minutes for the yeast to foam. Stir in remaining warm water and olive oil. Stir this mixture into the flour, making a soft dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If it is too dry add more water; too wet ad flour

Turn out onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes to make a smooth elastic dough. Place in an oiled bowl and cover. Let rise 'til double (1-2 hrs). If dough rises before you are able to use it, punch down, reshape and let rise again. Or, you can reshape it and put in refrigerator for up to 2 days before letting rise at room temp.

preheat oven to 425 degrees with stone in. This crust: shape, top and bake pizza at once. Thick crust:shape, cover & rise 30 minutes. You can prebake 3 minutes before topping and baking, 15-20 minutes.
makes 4 pizza crusts, or 4 dozen appetizer size.

Catacombs Antioch (above): Mozarella, spinach, kalamata olives, roasted red pepper, feta cheese, rosemary garlic white sauce


Margherita: red sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil and fresh tomatoes

Note: I do not take credit for these. (except for the pictures) Melissa made them. I just ate them.

Smoke Roasted Pork Loin

First, select a long play record. This one by Kerry Livgren came out in 1980 and featured Steve Walsh, Phil Ehart and Robbie Steinhardt as well as some vocals by Ronnie James Dio.



Cut up some onions

Saute in olive oil. When carmelized, add chopped rinsed Kale and cook down.

Take a ugly heirloom tomato. Cut it up. Add a little salt and pepper to taste and toss with fresh basil.

Pull the pork loin off the smoker and let it rest.

Eat a delicious dinner of smoked roasted Pork Loin with steamed Baby Reds, Heirloom Tomato Salad and Kale & Onions

Matt's Basil Wrapped Seasoned Meatballs

Take 1 lb very lean ground beef (93/7) 10 tsp fish sauce (or more to taste) 4 large cloves minced Garlic, 2 tbsp sugar and a bunch of fresh cracked Pepper

Knead this mixture to a smooth paste. For this you really have to use your hands. Pinch off a small portion of meat and fry in a non stick skillet. Taste for seasoning and adjust (sugar/salt). Mixture should be rich and highly seasoned.

Cucumber salad.
peanuts, smashed with the side of a cleaver. 1 english cucumber, ran thru a fine mandolin. 1/4 large Vidalia sliced super thin. 3 tablespoons or so rice vinegar. 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar. 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Combine the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a serving bowl and whisk until the sugar and salt are dissolved.

Vinegar, Sugar and Salt are to taste so...

Taste for seasoning, adding sugar or salt as you see fit, deem nescessary or whatever.

Stir in the cucumber and onion.

Sprinkle the salad with the peanuts and serve.

Bean Sprout Salad
Dig up some garlic, salt, sugar, rice vinegar, Toasted sesame oil, red pepper flakes, bean sprouts

then

1. Mash the garlic with 3/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl.

Add 1 tablespoon sugar,

3 tablespoons vinegar

the sesame oil

and hot pepper flakes

Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved.

Stir in the bean sprouts and let stand for 5 minutes.

Just before serving, taste for seasoning, adding salt, sugar, crushed red or vinegar as you see fit.

So I show up and Matt is wrapping up petite little seasoned meatballs... how cute.

Wrap small balls of meat mixture in large Basil leaves. Thread 5 wrapped balls on each Bamboo Skewer. Grill. Top with chopped dry roasted Peanuts.

Actually, these meatballs were really rich since they were seasoned so well.

I was working most of the day with Cameron, and when Matt called and asked for me to pick up some peanuts... well, Cameron and I had a pretty decent laugh.
Anyway, Cameron HAD some peanuts, and sent me on my way.

A special shout out must go out to Cameron,"Hey Cameron, thank you for the Peanuts!"

Now, throw all this stuff on a plate and consume with wild abandon.

Phở

So today I worked a little, got rained out... and the high temp was only 64 degrees!

Lucky for me, Matt wanted to make Phở for dinner. Usually, we're into this during the winter, but today was close enough!

It turned out incredible.

Sprouts, for the garnish.

Spicy Thai Basil, combined fresh with the cilantro...
you just can't replace fresh herbs y'know?

'tis the season.

Getting Ready.

Several Spoonfulls of Goodness.

Marinated Sweet Onions and Tomatoes

Get some good sweet onions.
I chose Walla Walla's.

Slice your onions up. I like the greens too, that's just my preference.

The view from the countertop.

Arrange your onions in a shallow dish so you can dump the marinade over them.

The marinade is:
1 cup mild olive oil
¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a blender...

Blend all of the marinade ingredients for 30 seconds in a blender, or beat well with a wire whisk.
It'll look like this.

Dump the marinade over the onions and chill for 1-2 Hours.

To serve, arrange some tomato wedges in a salad bowl. Layer the onions on top and pour extra marinade over. Easy enough. Goes good with Mozzarella too.

Quick pasta

Boil some noodles, fry some minced garlic in olive oil, add chopped tomatoes and chopped fresh basil, allow to warm thru, top noodles with warm tomatoe mixture and top with fresh basil. Fresh Basil cannot be beat!

Quick and Healthy Pizza

Slice a whole wheat pita in half. Pan roast Garlic. Toast pita halves and smear with roasted garlic. Top with marinara sauce. Cover with as much Onions, Tomatoes, Olives, Jalapenos, Fresh Basil and Mushrooms as you like. Add 2oz. chopped grilled Chicken and 1oz. Low fat Feta. Bake in 350 degree oven 15 min. Add an additional amount of Tomatoes and fresh Basil.
Eat both!

Miranda's Pizza Recipe

Matt, Miranda sent me this recipe last week when she couldn't find the recipe for BBQ'd Peaches.
I think this is what she's trying to say... ;)

Mix up some dough per her instructions.
(Thank God for mixers)

Let the dough rise... etc.

Once your dough is ready, slap it. Fling it.
Show that dough who's boss!

Pizza is, of course, usually cooked in the oven. However, with a setup like this, why not cook it on the grill?

Just brush the crust with olive oil before throwing it on the grill, then flip, brush again, and top the pizza.

The variety of toppings is endless.

Topping off our lunches.

A closer look.

BBQ Sauce, Pepperoni, Sausage, Jalapeno, Onion, Cilantro...
You get the idea.

Pizza Sauce, Pepperoni, Sausage, Onion, Black Olive, and Mushrooms.

BBQ Sauce, Genoa, Roasted Garlic, Fresh Basil, Cilantro, Fresh Tomato and Parmesan Cheese.
Delightful!

Marinated Walla Walla Sweets with Tomato Wedges

One of my favorite summertime salads...