Thursday, November 20, 2014

Feisty Foodies: Day 2 of Recipes and Reads

Welcome back to Feisty Foodies, Day 2. 
 
We have more hot reads and tasty reads for you!  And we've added more to the Grand Prize pack. 
 
You can win this Awesome apron  from Kallypso Masters!  Who's Master Marc?  Only the hottest Italian Dom out there!!!  Check out these Alpha men and find out why they make us swoon in the kitchen!
 
 
Kallypso Masters, author of Sombody's Angel, brings us Angelina’s Homemade Cannoli.
 
 
 SOMEBODY’S ANGEL (Rescue Me Saga #4)

BLURB:

When Marc d’Alessio first rescued the curvaceous and spirited Italian Angelina Giardano at the Masters at Arms Club, he never expected her to turn his safe, controlled life upside down and pull at his long-broken heartstrings. Months later, the intense fire of their attraction still rages, but something holds him back from committing to her completely. Worse, secrets and memories from his past join forces to further complicate his relationships with family, friends, and his beautiful angel.

Angelina cannot give all of herself to someone who hides himself from her. She loves Marc, the BDSM world he brought her into, and the way their bodies respond to one another, but she needs more. Though she destroyed the wolf mask he once wore, only he can remove the mask he dons daily to hide his emotions. In a desperate attempt to break through his defenses and reclaim her connection to the man she loves, she attempts a full frontal assault that sends him into a fast retreat, leaving her nobody’s angel once again.

Marc finds that running to the mountains no longer gives him solace but instead leaves him empty and alone. Angelina is the one woman worth the risk of opening his heart. Will he risk everything to become the man she deserves and the man he wants to be?
 

ABOUT THE RESCUE ME SAGA: The books in the ongoing Rescue Me Saga are not stand-alone stories and should be read in order. Characters will recur in later books to deal with further issues in their lives as the saga continues and each book builds upon all previous ones. Sometimes main characters even need another book to help resolve major issues affecting their relationships.

 BUY LINKS:

 You can purchase SOMEBODY’S ANGEL at the following online retailers:







EXCERPT:

Weeks ago, as a reminder of something he’d said to her when they’d met at daVinci’s bar in her hometown, he’d attached fuzzy handcuffs to a chain and placed them inside the drawer next to the stove. He slid the drawer open and retrieved them for the first time. Her body tensed at the sound of the chain. Marc smiled knowing she couldn’t see him as he fastened one of the cuffs around her wrist. He retreated a bit, wiping the smile off his face when he stared down at her.

Her pupils dilated with excitement. “I thought the chain and cuff were for when you wanted to force me to slave over this stove preparing the dishes Nonna taught me to cook.”

He grinned. “Sometimes slaving is more about eating than cooking.”

“I couldn’t touch another bite.” She scowled at him. “How can you be hungry after all the food I put on the table tonight?”

“I haven’t had my dessert yet.”

“I distinctly remember watching you devour two cannoli.”

Marc’s hand roamed over her abdomen to the thigh-high skirt, and he tugged up the hem as his fingers pushed the triangle of the thong aside and delved into the cleft hiding her bare, wet pussy. She gasped as he stroked her clit and closed her eyes.

“With you, amore, I will never be satisfied. Hold onto me.”

She placed her hands on the tops of his shoulders, and he took the waistband of her thong down and shimmied it over her hips, thighs, and calves, letting it pool at her feet before wrapping his hands around her waist. In a quick movement, he lifted her onto the granite countertop. The chain clanked but didn’t stretch beyond its limits.

“Oh! I’m—”

She stopped before uttering the words he’d conditioned her to refrain from saying, whether about being too heavy or some other negative remark. Instead, she smiled.

“I’m hungry, too, Marc, but we need to talk first. About last night—”

 "No more talk. Lie back, and spread your legs.”
 

RECIPE:   Angelina’s Homemade Cannoli

 Ingredients

Shells:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1 egg yolk

1/2 cup dry white wine

 Filling:

2 cups ricotta cheese, preferably whole milk

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup small semisweet chocolate chips

1 lemon

1 quart canola oil, for frying

Flour, for rolling

1 egg, lightly beaten, for egg wash

Powdered sugar, for dusting

 Directions:
Cook's Note: If the ricotta has an excess of liquid, drain it over a strainer for at least a half an hour before making the filling.

For the shell dough: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar and salt. Work the butter pieces into the flour with your fingers until the mixture becomes coarse and sandy. Add the egg yolk and the white wine and mix until it becomes a smooth dough. Spread a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface and place the dough in the center. Wrap the plastic loosely around it and press the dough to fill the gap. Flattening the dough will mean less rolling later. Let it rest in the fridge for a few minutes while you make the filling.

For the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the ricotta until smooth. Sift in the powdered sugar, cinnamon and allspice. Mix to blend. In a separate bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment), beat the heavy cream until fairly stiff. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the cream into the ricotta mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips. Lightly zest the exterior of the lemon and stir it into the ricotta. Refrigerate for a half hour to an hour.

To roll and fry the shells: In a medium pot with a heavy bottom, heat the canola oil to 360 degrees F. Meanwhile, sift an even layer of flour on a flat surface. Flour a rolling pin. Roll the dough until it is very thin (about 1/8-inch thick). Cut the dough into fourths and work in small batches. Use any glass or small bowl that has a 3-to-4-inch diameter. Cut rounds, tracing around each one to assure the dough has been fully cut. You should have about 24 circles. Wrap each circle around a cannoli mold. Use a little of the egg wash on the edge of each round to seal it shut and to assure it won't slide or fall off the mold before pressing it closed over the mold. Flare the edges out slightly from the mold. Flaring will allow the oil to penetrate each cannoli shell as they fry. Use a pair of tongs to hold the edge of the mold as you submerge and fry the shell in the oil until crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oil, and holding the mold in one had with your tongs, gently grip the shell in your other hand with a kitchen towel and carefully slide it off the mold. Set aside to cool. Repeat with all of the circles.

To fill the cannoli: Just before serving, use a pastry bag without a tip to pipe the ricotta into the cannoli molds. Fill the cannoli shells from both ends so the cream runs through the whole shell. Dust with powdered sugar. Powdered sugar gives that little extra sweetness and added texture to the exterior. It also makes me feel like I have a professional bakery touch in my own home. Serve immediately.

Cook's Note: Make and fry the shells and the filling. Don't fill the shells with the cream until you are ready to eat them. Everyone loves a crispy cannoli.

Recipe courtesy Alex Guarnaschelli
 
Cassandra Carr, author of Head Games, dropped off this All American recipe for Sour Cream Apple Pie.
 
 Head Games, Buffalo Intimidators #2
Synopsis:
 
Leo Laporte and Scott Schaeffer are teammates on the ice and roommates off it who also share women. They’ve been coming into Kelly Chase’s bistro after games for months, and they know they want her. As the attraction grows, the men realize they want more than a one-night stand - they want forever.

Kelly’s not so sure. Yes, she wants both men. But a permanent ménage relationship? That’s taking giving her heart away to a whole new level, and a chance she’s hesitant to take. Then Leo is injured and Scott’s on the trading block, and she realizes this may be her only shot at true, everlasting love.

There are so many questions swirling around inside Kelly’s head. Can she believe in Leo and Scott’s love? And will her business and her reputation survive once people find out she’s with two men?

Buy Links 
AMAZON
Bookstrand
 

Excerpt:

“I can’t take it anymore!” Leo Laporte, goaltender for the Buffalo Intimidators, glared at his teammates as they glided past him after the third goal in the first ten minutes of the game was scored. “You guys either play some fucking defense or I’ll jam my stick where the sun don’t shine! You got that?” Crouching down into his stance, he banged said stick on each post just as he did before every face-off at center ice. Looking up, he saw the head coach, Tom, waving at him. A quick glance to Tom’s left showed his goaltending partner, Scott Schaeffer, warming up. “Fuck!”
Tom called a time-out, and Leo skated to the bench, bracing for the tirade. “You guys need to get your heads outta your asses, pronto. You’re down by three already and the game’s hardly even ten minutes old. Since you don’t seem to want to play for Leo tonight, we’ll see how you do with Scott in net.” Tom threw a sympathetic look Scott’s way. “Good luck saving anything with these jackasses in front of you.” Tom wasn’t known for mincing words, and tonight was no exception.
Leo opened the door to the bench and squeezed around one of the team’s hulking defensemen as best he could. 
Glaring at the man, he thought, Slug’s not good for much tonight. Certainly not getting out of my way.
The guy was built like a tank and made a much better door than he did a window, as Leo could attest on that third goal. The puck had been in the net before Leo had even been able to react.
Leo clapped Scott on the shoulder. “Good luck, man.”
Scott nodded and took the ice. Performing a few quick stretches in the crease, he raised his catching glove to signal his readiness to continue play. Leo sat down, taking a long pull from a water bottle he’d grabbed from the shelf in front of him. No one said a word to him, which was just fine. 
The team responded to Scott being in net and scored two goals by the end of the first. Leo stalked into the dressing room, heading straight for the can. Just as he’d planned, by the time he got out, the second period was about to start. Tom told him he was going to continue to play Scott to see if they couldn’t salvage the game, and Leo nodded. It irked him that he’d been left out to dry, but he also knew damn well they’d done the same to Scott in the past. It was one of those weird hockey things no one could put a finger on, and Leo didn’t even try.
After trundling back to the bench for the second period, his stomach growled. The noise caused his mind to wander, straight to the tall, curvy woman with a mess of curls his hands just itched to plunge into. Right now, Kelly Chase was probably pulling her famous apple pie out of the oven at the bistro where he and Scott had been going for dinner after games for nearly a year. Thinking about seeing her made his cock harden inside his jock and he willed it down. Having a hard-on when wearing a cup was a pretty damn unpleasant experience—one he wasn’t eager to go through at the moment.
He’d bet she knew he’d been pulled, but he’d also put money on the fact that if anyone made an ass-hatted comment about why, she’d shut them right up. Kelly knew her hockey, and she watched every game on the big screen TV housed behind the counter at her bistro as best she could in between cooking meals for the customers. He could almost smell her special sour cream apple pie. She only made it on home game days when she knew Leo and Scott would be coming in afterward for their postgame meal. She’d even named it after the team, calling it “Intimidating Apple Pie.” There was sure as hell nothing intimidating about it, but it was definitely sinful, which was just how he liked it.
Thinking about her and her pie brought his mind to other subjects, like what she was most likely wearing that night. It drove him crazy the way she dressed in these cute little light-pink T-shirts with “Kelly’s” emblazoned on the front, right across her ample breasts. Even her chef’s clogs—also light pink—were cute. But her body wasn’t cute. It was sexy as hell. She was all bumps and curves, in all the right places. She wasn’t a dainty little thing, standing only about an inch shorter than his five foot ten, and he loved that about her.It gave him something to hold on to, should he ever be blessed with the opportunity to get into her checkered chef’s pants.
Leo was jerked out of his lust-hazed stupor by the “heads up” shout from his teammates. A puck was sailing right for him, and he automatically knocked it down with his blocker before it could do any damage. He didn’t wear his goalie mask on the bench, and if his reflexes weren’t lightning quick, he would’ve taken a puck right to his grill.
Head in the game, Leo.
Settling back, he watched his team tie it up by the end of the second. During intermission, Tom took both he and Scott aside and said he wanted to put Leo back in. Scott shrugged. He’d always been the more easygoing of the two men. Their combined personalities meshed well, which translated into a successful goaltending partnership and a friendship that had spanned nearly eight years.
Leo stretched out and took the ice for the third. Their opponent seemed momentarily surprised by another goaltending change but recovered quickly and gave the Intimidators a challenge. In the end, Leo got the win by one goal. After accepting the congratulations of his teammates, he bopped Scott on the head as they left the ice together. “Kelly’s is on you tonight, bro,” Scott said.
Leo snorted. He’d been expecting no less. “Not a problem. I hope she made apple pie.”
“She always makes apple pie if there’s a home game.”
They rushed through their postgame interviews and hopped into the shower. Only a half hour after the buzzer, they were climbing into Leo’s Range Rover on their way to Kelly’s. When they walked in, she turned from behind the counter to greet them. Leo caught sight of her luscious tits straining the material of her T-shirt and his dick twitched. He quickly ran his hand over it.
Down, boy.
“Hey guys. Good game, both of you.”
“Thanks,” they answered in unison, sliding onto stools.
“How about some apple pie?” Leo said, licking his lips already. An image of him nibbling pieces of it off of her flew into his head. Man, was he horny tonight…
Kelly put her hands on her hips. “You know better than that. I never let you have apple pie until after you eat a good meal.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Fine.” Perusing the specials written on a chalkboard underneath the TV, he ordered shepherd’s pie. Scott asked for a chicken souvlaki wrap, and they settled back to relax as Kelly went into the kitchen to make their food. “I fuckin’ love those T-shirts. I’d give up a mil of my salary just to be that T-shirt for a day.”
“Don’t I know it…” Since it was late, Kelly was waiting tables herself, in addition to cooking, and both of them tracked her as she bustled around behind the counter. Coming back over, she poured them both ice waters and plopped silverware in front of them before going into the back once again. There were still a few customers, but everyone gave the Intimidators their privacy here—it was one of the reasons Leo and Scott loved to come here so much. The primary reason, of course, was Kelly herself. 
“Okay, so let’s go over everything again—make sure we’re on the same page here,” Leo urged.
“All right. Can’t hurt. We need to present a united front if we’re gonna do this.”
“Exactly. So both of us want her.” They’d been attracted to Kelly since the moment they’d laid eyes on her, but had come to the realization a few months ago that their feelings ran deeper than simple lust.
Scott nodded, his eyes as determined and focused as Leo had ever seen them. “Yes, we both want her, and the only way that will work is if we share her. But we need to make it clear at some point, maybe not right up front, that we want her more than just sex.”
“And we think tonight is the night?”
“She’s definitely intrigued.” Scott paused and Leo could practically see the wheels turning in his friend’s head. “Even when we mentioned a threesome last week, she didn’t run.”
“Yeah, and did you see the expression on her face? She wants it.”
“I think so, too. But don’t forget. We can’t push her too hard. And everything one of us does affects the other. We can’t let her tear us apart, and if this thing starts to do that, we need to reconsider.”
“Agreed,” Leo answered. He held up his fist. “Even now, even with Kelly, bros over hos, man.” The two men did a quick fist bump and Leo relaxed a little.
A few minutes later, Kelly backed out of the kitchen, her arms laden with plates, and both men paused to admire her ass in her tight chef’s pants. She caught them staring and just shook her head, laughing. 
Yes, they were done waiting for her to come around. It was time to put Operation Seduction into action.
Copyright 2011, Cassandra Carr



Recipe:  Sour Cream Apple Pie

Filling:

2-3 cups assorted apples (using several different types ensures a full flavor, but if you prefer one type that’s fine)

2 tablespoons flour

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup sugar (more if you use tart apples)

1 or 2 eggs (2 eggs make a more custard-y filling)

1 cup sour cream (some or all can be substituted w/milk)

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ to ½ teaspoon nutmeg

 

Topping:

2 tablespoons flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 to 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

¼ cup butter or margarine, chilled

 

Make one crust pastry (or buy one) for a 9-inch pie pan. Prepare the topping by mixing with a fork or your fingers until crumbly and then chill. Place the sliced apples in a large bowl and add the rest of the filling ingredients, mixing well. Pour into unbaked pie crust, crumble topping over apples and bake 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Reduce to 350 degrees and cook for another 30 to 45 minutes until the center is puffy. It cooks from the outside in, so the center will be the last to cook and puff up.
 

 

Bella Juarez, author of the BlackOps Brotherhood's Dominant Deception, dropped off Chef Anna's Spinach Goat Cheese Pizza recipe (along with wine & beer pairings!)

Dominant Deception: BlackOps Brotherhood #3
Synopsis
 
Navy SEAL Captain Jack “Rock” O’Malley is playing a deadly computer game with a hidden enemy. Jack must look outside his SEALs to an unlikely savior. Anna Santiago keeps her head down as a quiet system administrator hiding a painful past. Anna buried her outgoing, confident personality along with her husband and daughter. Jack sees behind the glasses and is drawn to the irresistible Anna. Both fight the pull of a powerful attraction. Can Jack keep his relationship with the unwilling Anna professional?

In fighting an enemy he can’t see, Jack drags the reluctant Anna into his Black Ops world. They are sucked into a cyber rabbit hole of dire consequences. Jack and his SEALs discover that his beloved Anna is the terrorists' next target, and he is faced with a choice that could end his military career and possibly his life. Can Jack and his SEALs keep Anna alive before the terrorists stalking him decide it's game over?
Buy Links
 
 
 
EXCERPT

There was a tangible heaviness between them because of the events tonight. Jack knew he’d scared her but he justified it to himself because she could be so careless at times. Suddenly Anna’s stomach growled loudly. It brought a light humor into the room as they both started laughing. She looked down and blushed slightly.

“I’m hungry. The food was awful,” Anna said.

“Yeah me, too. I didn’t eat much, either. I’ll pay for pizza,” Jack offered.

Anna looked away, still smiling. “I don’t eat out that much.”

“Why?” Jack asked with a frown.

“I’m a chef, remember?”

“Well, get in the kitchen and start chefing. I’m hungry, woman!”

Anna stood and walked into the kitchen. Jack followed closely behind and watched as she started pulling food out of the refrigerator.

“What do you like?” Anna asked.

“Whatever.”

Anna bent over as she dug through the refrigerator and he could hear the snake in his head start to hiss so he forced himself to look away. Jack found a stool at the end of the island and sat down.

“Do you want pizza?” Anna asked.

“Sure, I like Domino’s.”

Anna frowned. “I can make pizza, if that’s what you want.”

I want you…giving me one hell of a lap dance, baby. The snake in his head hissed. Pushing his demon aside, Jack narrowed his eyes.

“Are you sure? I’m from the pizza capital of the world,” Jack said.

“Oh? I can tell you’re not from Texas. Where are you from?” Anna asked as she moved through her kitchen.

“Really? You can’t tell?” Jack asked sarcastically.

“I don’t know, somewhere out east, I guess. New England?”

“New York City. I was raised in the Bronx.”

“Ah, that’s where that accent is from…” Anna took out some pans and placed them on the stove.

“I don’t have an accent. Everyone else does.”

They made small talk as she prepared the pizza. As the sauce was cooking she walked back to the refrigerator.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asked again.

“Whatcha got?”

“I have tea, water, juice, soda, wine, beer…”

“I’ll take a beer.”

“I’ll need to go outside for that,” Anna said walking around the island.

Jack felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He fished it out as Anna stepped into the garage.

“Boss? There was no one here that shouldn’t have been here. There’s traffic on either side of the club, but it’s a busy street. What the hell am I looking for?” Mac asked.

“Didn’t find anything? There wasn’t anyone sitting out in the parking lot?” Jack asked.

“Nope. We looked all over the place. There was a guy not far from here waiting for his daughter outside one of the base housing units. I see your truck’s still here. Where are you?”

“I’m at Anna’s house. I brought her home. Something was wrong out there, Mac. You know the feeling.”

Anna opened the beer bottle, placed it in front of Jack and he watched her start building the pizza as he took his first sip.

“Well, whoever it is, it’s gone now. I’m heading out and I’ve sent the guys home, too. Do I need to come and get you?” Mac asked.

“No, I’ll call if I need you.”

“Are you spending the night?” Mac shouted.

“I’m not planning on it …” Jack hesitated.

Jack took another drink from the bottle and held it out before him. This was damn good beer.

“Say what? Just what the hell are you doing?” Mac asked.

“Drinking a beer and waiting for something to eat,” Jack said.

“Is she cooking for you? You’re making yourself kinda cozy there, ain’t you, Rock?” Mac teased.

 “Not really.”

“I’ll bet. Got a hankerin’ for candy apple red?” Mac asked.

 Jack smiled, glanced at Anna and didn’t reply. “You know you should eat before you go to an event like that. The food is crap, I got an offer for pizza and I’m taking it,” he said, trying to play off the comments at the other end.

“Call me when you leave,” Mac said.

“Yes, Daddy.” Jack winked at Anna.

“Good night, boss.”

“Night, Mac. I’ll call you later.”

Anna put the pizza in the oven and a moment later, Jack’s phone rang again.

“Yeah, Mac,” Jack said.

Get your ass home!” Liz screamed.

Anna stared at Jack because she’d heard the screeching on his phone.

“Look, Dragon Lady—” Jack started.

“Don’t ‘Dragon Lady’ me! You sorry shithead! Get your ass home!”

“I heard you the first time, so did people in the next house. I’ve got to go now. I’m busy, I’m about to eat,” Jack said as Liz started another rant. “Night, Lizzy.” Jack ended the call.

“Is something wrong?” Anna asked.

“No, it’s Liz. She’s kidding around. This is really good beer, Anna.” Jack took another drink.

“You like it? It’s Negra Modelo. It’s a dark beer from Mexico.”

“It’s good. Now about that pizza…”

“Yes?” Anna challenged.

“What did you do to my pizza? That looks like something you’d find in California, not New York.”

“You never did tell me what you liked or didn’t like.”

Jack laughed as uncertainty crossed her features.

“Anna, I’m not a picky eater. The Navy cures you of any fastidiousness you may have quickly. In fact there’re probably things I’ve eaten you really don’t want to know about.”

They retreated back to the living room where they watched a movie as they waited for the pizza to cook. When the pizza was done Anna sliced it and brought it into the room where Jack was still watching TV. He took a bite and had to keep his eyes from rolling back into his head. It was delicious! Holy crap! He’d marry her just for her cooking. They ate and finished the movie at one in the morning.

Anna looked at Jack expectantly.

“What now?” Anna asked.

“I’ll be staying right here so go to bed, Anna,” Jack said, making himself more comfortable on the couch.

Anna nodded and walked up the stairs. She returned a short time later with pillows and a blanket.

“Good night, Jack,” Anna said softly as she turned.

He watched as she disappeared up the steps.

 
* * * *

Jack woke startled. He didn’t know why, but something wasn’t right again. He lay still, waiting, listening, and watching. He saw Anna slowly creep down the stairs and walk to the couch. He lay still as she knelt down and watched him for a few minutes. He felt the light brush of her hand on his. He closed his eyes and folded his fingers around her hand.

Jack didn’t move as he felt Anna shift to sit on the edge next to him. He slowly ran his hands up her arms and gently tugged her toward him. Pulling her down to him, he put his arms around her as she rested her head on his chest. Jack inhaled deeply and took in Anna’s scent.

“Anna…” Jack whispered.

“Shush…” Anna said, and she kissed him.

Jack allowed himself to go liquid into the couch as Anna’s kiss took him under. He didn’t want to make any sudden movements that might shatter this delicate balance, so he closed his eyes and relinquished himself allowing her to control what would happen next. She pushed up from him and his eyes flew open in protest.

“Come with me,” Anna whispered.

Anna walked away. Jack got up and followed her up the steps. He stopped at the threshold of the bedroom door.

“Come here, Jack,” Anna commanded softly.

Jack walked forward and stopped next to her bed. Briefly he wondered if he were dreaming. Anna knelt on the bed and started to undress him. He felt himself go weak as she traced his chest and belly with her lips and tongue. Her hand run the length of his hard cock through his pants. Jack felt his cock swell as he put his hands under her arms and lifted her against him.

“What do you want?” Jack whispered.

Anna was silent as she latched her mouth onto his and gave him a slow, bone-melting kiss. Jack wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. What little control he had slipped away as he lowered his hands and squeezed her sexy ass. He pushed her onto her back and slowly ran his hands up over her body up to her ample breasts. Anna shuddered as she arched into his groping. She released a sultry moan as his thumbs moved over her nipples. He moved his hands away and planted them near her head as he bent down and came nose to nose with her.

“Game on, baby,” Jack said.

 Recipe:  Anna’s Spinach-Goat Cheese Pizza: 

Pizza Crust (homemade or purchased – see below for homemade)

Italian Seasoning (thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil)

1 cup Garlic Sauce (see below for béchamel)

1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

2 Cups Fresh Organic Baby Spinach (Washed and Dried)

½ Med Onion (Chopped)

6 Fresh Cremini Mushrooms (Sliced)

Olive Oil

¼ Cup Fresh Basil (sliced in ribbons) or 1 Tbsp Dried Basil

½ cup Fresh Goat Cheese or Crumbled Feta

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare garlic béchamel and heat a skillet.  When the skillet is heated, add olive oil, after two minutes add onions and mushrooms, cook until tender and slightly brown (caramelized), add spinach and cook until slightly wilted.  Remove from heat.  While onions and mushrooms are cooking, prepare pizza crust by brushing with olive oil and dusting lightly with Italian  seasoning.  Add thin layer of béchamel sauce, layer with mozzarella, add mushrooms, onions and spinach, sprinkle goat cheese and basil leaves, top with Parmesan.  Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly browned. 

 
Béchamel Sauce (Garlic)
2 ½  tablespoons butter

2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted,  add garlic and cook until tender.   Add the flour and stir until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until the mixture turns a light, golden sandy color, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a separate pan until just about to boil. Add the hot milk to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from heat. Season with salt and nutmeg, and set aside until ready to use.
 

Homemade Pizza Crust: 

2 ½  to 3 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 package regular or quick active dry yeast or (2 1/4 teaspoons)

3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

1 cup very warm water (about 120 to 130 degrees usually hot tap water)

Mix 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast in large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons oil and the warm water. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour until dough is soft and leaves sides of bowl. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead 5 to 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes. Continue as directed below for thin crusts or thick crusts.

For Thin Crusts: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets or 12-inch pizza pans with oil. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into 12-inch circle on cookie sheets. Partially bake 7 to 8 minutes or until crust just begins to brown. Add toppings and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

For Thick Crusts: Grease 2 square pans, 8x8x2 inches, or 2 round pans, 9x1 1/2 inches, with oil. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Divide dough in half. Pat each half in bottom of pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 30 to 45 minutes or until almost double. Move oven rack to lowest position. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Partially bake 20 to 22 minutes or until crust just begins to brown. Add toppings and bake about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Recommended Wine Parings:  Pinot Noir or Chardonnay

Beer Pairing:  hoppy amber or red IPA (Fat Tire, Shiner Bock or Modelo Negra)



 FEISTY FOODIE GIVEAWAY

 
COME BACK EACH DAY AS MORE AUTHORS AND PRIZES ARE ADDED
 
Enjoyed this installment of Feisty Foodies: Recipes and Reads? 
Check out the previous installments too. 

 Day 1      Day 2     Day  3    Day 4
 
 
 
Word of the Day: Cream

 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

15 comments:

  1. The recipes look amazing. Thanks for being on the blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yum more Italian recipes. Warms my Italian heart! And again, great excerpts. Enjoy the day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMG on that cannoli recipe! And I love all of these hot excerpts - great books!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is so cool. Thanks for doing it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yummmm-- both the excerpts and recipes

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have never had Cannoli's or Goat Cheese Pizza.. I must be living a sheltered life. Thanks for all the excerpts and recipes. Yum Yum

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My personal weakness is dark chocolate with flowing peppermint filling in the middle yum yum

      Delete
    2. You're never too young to enjoy them, though!

      Delete
  7. Thanks for having me on today! I'm in Buffalo, buried under about five feet of snow. But we still have power & internet, so we're okay. Oh, and food. I'm a hoarder since I've lived in Buffalo for 20 years. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks so much for putting this together, Pearl's Inner Goddess blog! How much fun is this?

    Kally

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just about any kind of shrimp dish! YUM!

    ReplyDelete