Pearl Barley Hotpot

This is a very delicious and light dish.  Pearl barley is the most common form of barley for human consumption, probably because it cooks faster and is less chewy than other, less-processed forms of barley.  


Most people think that vegetarians only eat lettuce and tomato, well that is simply wrong.  


Ingredients:

• 1cup of Pearl Barley
• 4 cups of vegetarian stock
• 3 cups of water
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, thinly shopped
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into small dice
• 2 gloves of garlic. crushed
• 16 oz mixed vegetables
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
• Salt and pepper

Preparation: 

1. Placed Pearl Barley in a large pot with the stock and water and bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes, until tender. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile heat the olive oil in a skillet on medium heat.  Saute onion and vegetables until tender. Add pepper and garlic and cook, covered, for about 6 more minutes.
3. Stir in the Pearl Barley, add the reserved liquid to moisten, season with salt and pepper and heat through for 2 minutes.
4. Place on a serving bowl and sprinkle parmesan cheese.  

Please do enjoy this delicious and healthy dish.

Buon Appetito!

Fresh Pizza Dough

We all love pizza, at least in my home, we do.  I make the pizza from scratch, like almost everything I do in the kitchen.  A few years ago I found this amazing pizza dough recipe and want to share it with my readers.

Fresh Pizza Dough - this recipe makes 3 12-inch pizza pies-

Ingredients:

• 11/2 cups of warm water (115F)
• 11/2 tablespoons of sugar ( I use splenda, therefore I use  only 1 tablespoon)
• 11/2 envelopes of dry yeast
• 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 21/2 teaspoons salt
• 41/2 cups of flour (I use half all purpose flower and half of whole wheat flour) 

Preparation:

1. Combine 11/2 cups of warm water and sugar in a medium bowl and sprinkle yeast over.  Let stand until mixture is foamy, about 10 minutes; add oil and salt.
2. Mound 41/2 cups of flour on work surface (you could use a large bowl or the food processor). Make a well in the center and poor yeast mixture into well, kneading until dough forms. Continue to knead until dough is smooth and elastic, sprinkling with more flower by tablespoonfuls, if dough is very sticky, for about 8 minutes.
3. Oil a large bowl. Add dough and turn to coat.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then towel.  Let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.  Punch dough down; knead gently until smooth. 
4. Shape into 3 balls.

The result:  Two amazing pizza pies.

One I made the top with vegetables and
the other one was a white pizza with onions.
Both absolutely delicious

I still have a couple of balls in the freezer.  I am not sure what to top them with, although I have a pretty good idea.

I hope you enjoy this recipe because there is nothing more delicious than a homemade pizza.








Buon appetito!

Quinoa and Saute Vegetables

This week's main ingredient is Quinoa.  It is very easy to prepare.  I will post several recipes with this delicious and nutritive grain.  You can pair this dish with fish or chicken or nothing at all.

Last night  we ate it with fish.

Are you ready? 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of dry Quinoa
• 2 cups of vegetable stock (water is fine)
• 1/2 pound mixed vegetable (it could be store bought)
• 1/2 onion 
• 1 garlic glove
• 1/2 red pepper
• 1/2 green pepper
• 1/4 tsp sage
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 3 tsp canola oil
• Salt and pepper

Preparation:

1. Cook the Quinoa in the rice cooker as you would cook rice.  
2. Meanwhile on a frying pan saute onion, peppers and garlic, add the sage and cumin and vegetables and cook until vegetables are al dente.  Set aside. 
3. Once Quinoa is ready set it in a serving bowl, add the saute vegetables and mix well.  

This can be eaten warm or cold.  Last night my family went for seconds.

Buon Appetito!