Easy Blueberry and Coconut Crumble is one of our favorite summer desserts. I start this simple dessert by mixing together my blueberries and sugar. Then, I mix up the coconut crumble topping and spread it over the blueberries. Finally, I baked it all for thirty …
Summer Peach and Pecan Salad is one of our favorite salads. I start this salad by making candied pecans. Next, I make a delicious Peach Balsamic Vinaigrette to dress the salad. Finally, I toss all this together along with peaches, grapes, goat cheese, and onions. …
Heirloom Tomato Pesto Pizza is one of our favorite summer dinners. I start this dish by making homemade pizza dough. Then, I top the pizza with homemade pesto and fresh mozzarella cheese and bake it until it’s brown and bubbly. Finally, I add the beautiful heirloom tomatoes and bake it some more. We like this pizza for several reasons. First of all, enjoying summer tomatoes always makes me savor summer more. It’s almost like I’m on vacation, but I’m at home. Secondly, I like that the dough and pesto can be made ahead of time. In fact, I often bake up the whole pizza early in the day, and then heat it up for dinner. And, lastly, we all love the taste of the fresh mozzarella, the sweet basil pesto, and the juicy tomatoes.
The Equipment I Used
A Bread Machine- I usually use a bread machine to make my dough. But I’ll attach my hand kneaded dough below.
A Food Scale- For perfect dough results every time, please weigh your flour.
Two Pizza Stones– I like to bake my pizzas on stones, but you could also use a round pizza pan. I really like my Emile-Henry pizza stone.
Two Pizza Peels- If you use the stones, you’ll want peels. I use two because I like to build my pizzas right on them.
Parchment Paper- I use this to line the peels so that the dough can be easily moved around.
A Food Processor- You’ll need this to make the pesto.
The Ingredients Needed for Heirloom Tomato Pesto Pizza
Yeast- Use active dry yeast, not quick acting or instant.
Flour- Be sure to use all- purpose flour.
Pine Nuts- If you can’t find these, you can use walnuts instead.
How I Made my Pesto Pizza
First, I made my dough.
Next, I made the pesto.
Finally, I assembled my pizzas and baked them off.
If you like pesto, you need to try this cheesy and delicious Heirloom Tomato and Pesto Pizza.
Heirloom Tomato and Pesto Pizza
Two pizzas topped with fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, and heirloom tomatoes.
3½cupsfresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced, and divided
4red and yellow heirloom tomatoes
For the Garnishes:
¼cupfresh basil leaves
½cupfinely grated Parmesan cheese
¼tsp.crushed red pepper flakes
1tbsp.pine nuts
Instructions
Begin by making the pizza dough: Add all the ingredients to your bread machine, in the order suggested by the manufacturer of your bread machine. Select the dough cycle and press start.
While the dough is rising, make the pesto sauce: Place all the ingredients, except the oil, in the food processor. Pulse until everything is ground up. With the motor running, stream in the olive oil. Process until the pesto is emulsified.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees, with two pizza stones inside of it.
When the dough cycle is done, dump the dough on to a floured board and divide in half. Press or roll the dough in to two twelve- inch circles, right on two parchment covered pizza peels. Brush them with olive oil and cover with plastic wrap and let them rise for thirty minutes. Top the dough rounds with about two thirds of the pesto sauce and the three cups of the mozzarella cheese.
Using the pizza peels, slide the parchment and pizzas onto the pizza stones. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pizzas and top them with the tomatoes and a half cup more mozzarella. Bake for five minutes.
Garnish the pizzas with the pine nuts, the rest of the pesto, the Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and basil.
In a measuring cup, stir together the water and honey. Stir in the yeast. Let this mixture sit for five minutes.
In a large bowl, stir together the bread flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and the oil, and stir until it's all combined. Dump it on to a floured board, and knead it for 8 minutes.
Place the dough in an oiled bowl, and turn the dough until it's all covered in oil. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm place for one hour.
Divide the dough in half and roll into two circles. Place on two pizza pans, or pizza peels. Brush with olive oil and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for thirty minutes.
Coconut Chicken and Strawberry Salad is one of our favorite summer salads. I start this salad by marinating tender boneless chicken breast. For my marinade, I use a mixture of Thai yellow curry spices and coconut milk. Then, I make a homemade Sweet and Sour …
Shrimp Summer Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce are one of our favorite summer appetizers. I start this dish by boiling shrimp. Then, I make my Sweet Chili Sauce. Finally, I fill the rice paper wrappers with the shrimp, carrots, radishes, avocado, and mint. We like …
Strawberry Coconut Layer Cake is one of our favorite summer desserts. I start this cake by mixing up a sweet coconut batter. While it bakes, I make a fresh strawberry filling. And I make a creamy coconut and strawberry buttercream frosting. We like this cake for several reasons. First of all, I like that this cake can be made in about one hour. Secondly, I like that this cake uses fresh summer strawberries. Since I love using as much summer fruits as I can all summer long. And, finally, we all love this tender cake with its sweet strawberry filling and creamy frosting.
The Equipment I Used
A Food Scale- For perfect baking results, use a food scale to weigh your flour and sugar. I also use the scale to make sure each pan has the same amount of batter.
Round Cake Pans- You’ll need three nine-inch round cake pans.
Baking Spray and Parchment Paper- Be sure to use these to make sure your cake doesn’t stick to the pan.
The Ingredients Needed for Strawberry Coconut Layer Cake
Butter- Be sure to use unsalted butter. I always use Kerry Gold Irish butter.
Cake Flour- Use regular cake flour, not self-rising.
3½cupssifted powdered sugar (sift before measuring)
1cupsoftened unsalted butter
2tsp.coconut extract
4tbsp.heavy cream
¼cupstrawberries, minced
⅛tsp.red food dye
Instructions
Begin by making the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray three nine- inch round cake pans with baking spray. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment rounds and spray them with the baking spray.
In a bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat on high for four minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the coconut flakes and coconut extract.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Add a half of the flour on low speed, and then add all of the buttermilk. Add the rest of the flour. Stir just until each element is blended in.
Divide the mixture equally between the three pans. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Cool for ten minutes in the pan on a wire rack, and then cool completely out of the pan on a wire rack.
While the cake cools, make the filling: Simply stir together the ingredients.
Also make the frosting: In the bowl of the electric mixer, using the the whisk attachment, whip together the powdered sugar, butter, coconut extract, dye and heavy cream. Whip until creamy. Stir in the strawberries.
Divide the filling between the bottom two layers and frost the cake all over with the buttercream.
Roasted Pepper and Feta Dip is one of our favorite summer appetizers. I like to make this on hot days, for a cool and refreshing start to the meal. I start this dish by roasting red bell peppers. Next, I blend them in my food …
Cherry and Pomegranate Chicken Salad is one of our favorite summer salads. I start this salad by roasting tender boneless chicken breasts. While the chicken bakes, I toss together crisp spring greens, carrot ribbons, halved cherries, sliced avocado, and pomegranate seeds. I also make a …
Sesame Steak Lettuce Wraps are one of our favorite appetizers. Sometimes I serve it as a party appetizer, but I also like to make it for a family dinner. I start this dish by marinating tender skirt steak in a Korean- inspired sesame marinade. Next, I cook the steak and put them in lettuce cups along with pickled ginger vegetables and cooked mushrooms. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make this whole dish in less than an hour. Secondly, I like that I can make some of the components ahead of time. I can marinate the steak, cook the mushrooms, and marinate the veggies hours ahead of time. Then, I just cook the steak right before serving. You could also cook the steak ahead of time and then just heat it up in the microwave. And, lastly, we all love the tender sesame steak and Korean-inspired flavors in this dish.
The Equipment I Used
A Cast Iron Skillet- I like to use this to cook my steak. But, you can use any skillet.
The Ingredients Needed for Sesame Steak Lettuce Wraps
Steak- Use skirt steak for this recipe.
Soy Sauce- I like to use low salt soy sauce for this recipe.
Sesame Oil- Try to find pure sesame oil.
Sesame Seeds- You can find these with the spices at your market.
Bell Peppers- Use a red, orange, or yellow peppers. Or, use a mixture of colors.
Vegetable Oil- You’ll need this to cook the steak. I like the Crisco brand.
How I Made my Lettuce Wraps
First, I marinated the steak.
Then, I cooked the steak. Take care to not overcook the steak. I like to cook the steak in small batches so that it sears on the outside. If you overcrowd the steak, it will steam instead.
Finally, I filled my lettuce leaves with the steak, mushrooms, and pickled vegetables.
If you like Korean flavors, you need to try these tasty Sesame Steak Lettuce Wraps.
Sesame Steak Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce leaves filled with tender marinated steak and vegetables.
Begin by marinating the steak: In a bowl, mix together all the marinade ingredients. Add the steak and cover the bowl. Refrigerate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Next, make the Pickled Vegetables: In a bowl mix together the sugar and vinegar, and then add the rest of the ingredients.
Next, make the mushrooms: In a large skillet, heat two tablespoons of oil on medium heat. Cook the mushrooms with the salt and pepper for ten minutes or until they're golden brown.
Next, cook the steak: In a cast iron skillet heat two tablespoons of the oil on high heat, and cook the steak in five batches until it's cooked to rare or medium rare. Add more oil, as needed.
Fill each lettuce leaf with some steak, some mushrooms and some pickled veggies. Garnish the cups with the cilantro, Fresnos, and sesame seeds. And, serve with lime wedges.
Raspberry Filled Ricotta Zeppole are one of our favorite sweet treats. I start this dish by making a quick zeppole dough. Then, I make a sweet raspberry filling for the zeppole. Next, I deep fry the zeppole until they are light and fluffy. Finally, I …