Published by Richard Kaloust on 24 Sep 2011

Pizza Monkey Bread


Prep time: 60 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 1 hour 25 mins

Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 cups Bread flour
  • 1 cup AP flour
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 1/2 cup Butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 5 Scallions, chopped
  • 10 Basil Leaves, chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 cup Marinara or Pizza sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the Bread flour, AP flour and salt. Set aside.
  3. Combine the active yeast and water in a mixing bowl fitted with a dough hook. Let it sit for a few minutes to make sure your yeast is working. Add the sugar and mix for a quick second. Add the flour mixture in batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Let the dough hook work its magic for 5-6 minutes until the dough has come together into a large mass. Remove the dough to an oiled bowl and let rise for 60 minutes.
  4. After an hour, remove the dough from the bowl and cut into small 1/2 inch cubes. Dust with flour to prevent them from sticking together. Set aside.
  5. Butter and flour 6 small bundt pans. (You could also use a large bundt pan)
  6. Melt the butter in a small bowl.
  7. Combine the cheese, herbs, salt/pepper and garlic in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and mix together with a spoon. Toss in the cut dough and make sure it all gets a coat of the butter mixture. Start layering the cubes into the bundt pans until they are 3/4 of the way full. Let sit for 30 minutes for the dough to rise a little more.
  8. Place bundt pans into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the bread and cheese is golden brown. Serve with warmed marinara sauce or pizza sauce.

Published by Richard Kaloust on 22 Sep 2011

Strawberry Margarita Jello Shooters

Strawberry Margarita Jello Shooters

Strawberry Margarita Jello Shooters

  1. Cut the bottoms of the strawberry flat to get them to stand upright. When you do so, make sure that you do not cut off so much that there is a hole at the bottom.
  2. Use a huller or apple corer to empty out the strawberry.
  3. Once the strawberries have been emptied, use a towel to pat the outside of the strawberries dry.
  4. Check each strawberry and make sure there is not a hole in the bottom before you start filling.

Margarita Mix

  • 1 box Strawberry Jell-O
  • 8 ounces tequila, preferably reposado or blanco
  • 6 ounce Cointreau
  • Salt for garnish

Instructions

  1. Boil one cup of hot water in a saucepan,  then add in Jell-o powder and whisk until powder is completely dissolved, about 2  minutes. Set aside.  Measure out 1/4 cup of cold water and set aside.
  2. Combine tequila and Cointreau, in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add liquour mixture to cold water and stir to combine. Then add cold liquour mixture to hot Jell-o mixture and stir to combine.
  3. Pour final Jell-o mix into strawberries and chill overnight. Dip  your finger in water or use a moistened brush to wet the edge of the strawberries, dip and rotate the strawberries in salt to rim. Garnish with cut lime triangles to finish.

Published by Richard Kaloust on 19 Sep 2011

Baked Banana Doughnuts

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 egg whites
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1.5 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp. white sugar
2 tbsp. chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F and grease baking sheet.

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2. Beat bananas, egg whites, oil, and brown sugar in large bowl. Add flours, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Mix until well blended.

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3. Let stand for 5 minutes to let dough rise.

4. Scoop out heaping tablespoons (my scoops were probably 2-3 tbsp’s each doughnut) and place on baking sheet equally spread apart. Take a buttered knife and finger to form doughnut holes in the centre of each. Smoth edges of dough into a round doughnut as much as possible. It will be difficult as the dough is sticky. Do not feel discouraged- they don’t have to be perfect (see mine below for proof!). Sprinkle with 1 tbsp of white sugar.

5. Place in oven for 7-8 mins. at 425F.

Yields: 12 Doughnuts @ 165 calories each

After cooking about 5 mins, I took them out of the oven because I forgot to sprinkle the sugar on them! Oops.

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With my leftover Maple Cream-Cheese Icing from the carrot cake (Eric’s doughnut- mine was plain):

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My opinion?

These Baked Banana Doughnuts are a great way to satisfy a doughnut craving without resorting to the deep fried, fat-laden kind. I was shocked that the recipe only called for 1 tbsp. of oil!  At 165 calories per doughnut (without icing and nuts), these are a great way to have a treat without breaking the bank.

If you are a dough-lover, you will love these. They were doughy and moist (from the bananas).

The centre near the hole was almost like raw dough! SO good!

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I prefer a little crunch, so next time I would definitely add some nuts and I would probably subtract a 1/2 of white flour and add 1/2 cup of oats. I know oats aren’t supposed to be in doughnuts, but I think I would love it. :)

This recipe can also be turned into ‘Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts’ by substituting 8 oz. of packed pumpkin puree for the 2 bananas. I must try this!

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