IF you've had a hectic day taking the kids to soccer, washing the car, gardening, doing laundry or any of the other tasks on your Saturday to-do list, it's nice to know that dinner is in the bag.
The following is a quick and easy menu for a Saturday night. Make the squares in the morning or as little as a couple of hours before dinner. The salad dressing and pizza can be whipped up at the last minute.
Rice Wine Vinaigrette Dressing
I probably get asked for this recipe more than any other. It's really easy and really delicious.
¼ cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
¼ cup olive or vegetable oil
1 tsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp finely minced shallots
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Put lid on jar and shake dressing vigorously until completely emulsified. Taste and adjust sugar, salt and pepper as desired. I like to use this on a salad of baby greens with sliced strawberries and crumbled goat cheese. Makes about half a cup.
Quick Margherita Pizza
Use fresh mozzarella rather than the regular packaged pizza cheese. Prebaking the crust before topping keeps it crisp.
1 can refrigerated pizza crust dough
Extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, cut in half
5 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 cups shredded or thinly sliced fresh mozzarella or bocconcini
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 ?3 cup shredded fresh basil Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll the pizza crust dough onto a baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray; pat dough into a 13-by-11-inch rectangle. Bake the crust for eight minutes; remove from oven and brush with olive oil, then rub with the cut sides of the garlic. Arrange the tomato slices on the crust in a single layer, leaving a half-inch border around the sides. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over top.
Bake for 12 minutes or until the cheese melts and the crust is golden. Combine one teaspoon olive oil and the teaspoon of balsamic vinegar; drizzle evenly over the pizza, then sprinkle the basil evenly over top. Season pizza with salt and pepper to taste. Cut pizza into eight pieces. Makes four servings.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares
½ cup butter (divided use)
1 cup smooth peanut butter
¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
1½ cups icing sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Melt one-quarter cup of butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, graham crumbs and icing sugar to make a stiff "dough." Press the mixture evenly into a greased eight-by-eight-inch pan. Melt the remaining quarter cup of butter over low heat; add the chocolate chips, and when chips have softened stir gently until all have completely melted. Stir until mixture is smooth and well combined; pour chocolate over the peanut butter mixture and spread evenly. Let cool to room temperature then refrigerate until chocolate is set. Cut into squares. Makes 16 two-inch squares.
Angela Shellard has done informal catering for sports and business functions. Contact: [email protected].
