Italian Escarole Pizza

Italian Escarole Mini Pizzas is a modern twist on a classic pie favorite.

Pizza Dough:
4 cups of all purpose Italian flour
                                  Healthy substitutes: almond flour, rice flour, wheat or gluten free flour
2 cups warm water
2 tsp. sea salt
1 packet dry active yeast
1 tsp. Olive oil

Mix dough in bowl with mixer and roll into little balls 4 inches. You will make mini pizzas with these balls. Cover dough with plastic and let rise 1 hour and half.


Prepared Escarole Topping.
Escarole  6 heads fresh
4 garlic gloves
1/4 cup Olive Oil
2 tsp. sea salt
1 tbsp. crushed red pepper

Optional to add variety:
1/2 cup black Olives
1/2 Sun Dried Tomatoes  1/4 onions
Fresh mozzarella cheese
Prosciutto or 1 cup white beans

You can make it  with or without Sauce:
Fresh roman tomatoes
Canned tomato sauce
Fresh basil, sea salt/pepper

Boil escarole until tender in water. Remove from heat and drain.  Add cold olive oil, chopped garlic and salt to taste.

On pie baking dish add escarole topping to mini pizza dough and place in oven. Pre-heat oven 400 degrees. Oven temperature 350 for fifteen minutes.

Your mini pizzas will be delicious with a healthy twist to a classic favorite.

The Ultimate Italian -Greek Salad!

The Italian version of Greek Salad! To start off the new year for 2015 we are going to mix up some
exciting twists of your classic favorites. "You ready?"
The Italian- Greek Salad!

3 Persian cucumbers  shaved or chopped
1/2 cup of black Greek Olives
1 cup chopped red bell pepper and green bell pepper
6 Julianned sun dried tomatoes
 Fresh Mozzarella balls or Fresh crumbled Sheep or Feta Cheese
sprig of fresh basil leaves
dash of fresh oregano or parsley
dash sea salt & pepper
2 shallots chopped
1 tbsp chopped garlic optional
1/4 cup pepperonis

Traditional Dressing:
1 cup Olive Oil
2/3 cup Balsamic vinegar
dash of salt & pepper
dash of garlic powder
1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice

New Italian Twist Dressing:
add Basil Pesto Dressing
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
2/3 cup Olive Oil your favorite Extra Virgin is always great to use
dash sea salt & pepper to taste
dash of garlic powder optional
1/2 cup of Pecorino Toscano Cheese,  or  Grana Padano cheese. 
1/4 cup pine nuts or cashews nuts are optional to save calories & your waist line
dash cayenne pepper optional 
Add ingredients to blender or food processor and slowly add oil as you mix

PARTY IDEAS:
cut fresh bell pepper top and use as salad bowl
or
roast the red and yellow peppers in oven till golden for 25 minutes 375 degrees in oven
Open top of peppers and put salad inside
serve on tray