Betty Crocker Pizza Dough is the BEST!

I've been following food blogs for 5-6 years now and I watch people spend hours on dough preparation; I take five minutes.  I tried it all, the Kitchenaide dough hooks variety, fresh dough from the store, or a local pizza parlor, Boboli, even Pillsbury roll out dough (my second favorite).  Sorry, for my taste, indoor oven or on the Grill, Betty Crocker mix suits our tastes just fine and tonight was one of those prep it, cook it, clean it and get off my feet nights.  No awards are going to be won with this pizza tonight...it IS all gone however.

SAUSAGE WITH BELL PEPPERS AND A SPRINKLING OF PEPPERONI

PEPPERONI AND A SPRINKLING OF SAUSAGE

Served up on our Emile Henry Flame Cookware stones...we were in mass production tonight so I used them as cutting boards instead of cooking on them.  It's as much about the ingredients as anything. And tonight we even went less than full organic, lol. 

Used precooked sausage and pepperoni and about 1 Cup of grated fresh Parmesan, A half cup of shredded Mozzarella, and 2 cups of a Mozzarella/Provolone combo. 

MY FAVORITE...CANNOT BE CONVINCED OTHERWISE...

Add Uncle Jon's Summer Kitchen Pizza Sauce and Aunt Sue's Pickled Banana peppers and some EVOO on the dough and you are READY TO BAKE.  On the Egg, it would be 500+ for ten minutes, in the oven it is 450 for about 15-16 minutes.

And for my Muncie Friends...I cut it in squares but this AIN'T no Pizza King Royal Feast...no way; even with the Red Peppers sprinkled on thick.

Chicken, Andouille & Tasso Jambalaya

…or Jumbled-laya
Building on my love of Paul Prudhomme’s spices this recipe is loosely based (for this particular cook we have substituted most of the meats called for with things we already had in the refrigerator or freezer, but it works just fine), thus the JUMBLE. This Jambalaya dish serves 6 as a main dish or 10-12 as an appetizer.


 Ingredients
• 2 Tbsp. Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning (you pick from Poultry, Meat or Pork & Veal magic)
• 3 Tbsp. Butter (unsalted)
• 4 Ounces Tasso (or sub chunks of ham)
• 4 Ounces Andouille (or sub Chorizo or Spicy Italian or Polish sausage/Kielbasa) Sausage, diced
• ¾ Lb. Boneless Chicken (thighs or breast) – Bite Size
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 1 Cup Chopped Sweet Onions
• 1 Cup Chopped Celery (optional)
• 1 Cup Green Bell Pepper (chopped (and ANY color will do))
• 1 Tbsp. Garlic (fresh minced)
• ½ Cup Canned Tomato Sauce
• 1 Cup Peeled and Chopped Fresh Tomatoes (or substitute 1 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes)
• 2 ½ Cups Chicken Broth (stock or water substitute)
• 1 ½ Cups Instant Rice

Preparation
1. Fire up the BGE (and 2” raised grid) and when it reaches high heat, melt the butter in a double broiler (5-6 quart).
2. Add the Andouille and Tasso; cook until meat starts to brown, about 4-5 minutes; stirring frequently.
3. Sprinkle in a little EVOO and add the Chicken; continue cooking until brown (again stirring frequently).
4. Stir in the Bay leaves, Magic Seasoning, and ½ cup each of the onions, celery (optional) the bell pepper and garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender; stirring frequently and keeping the bottom of the pan from sticking ingredients.
5. Stir in the remaining ½ cup each of the Onions, Celery (optional) and bell pepper, the tomatoes and tomato sauce.
6. Stir in the stock and rice, mixing well and allow the mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cover the double broiler and shut down the Big Green Egg completely. When the rice is tender and the stock has cooked down (approximately 8-10 minutes) remove from egg.
7. Stir well and remove Bay leaves and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Paella

I wanted to try something different so a couple weeks back I queried the forum for recipes. This version is a mix of things I found on the internet and those I got back from the eggheadforum.com group.   I ordered this pan off of eBay and thought it would be here in time for Mothers Day...however it arrived a day late so had to wait until this weekend to prepare this dish. It turned out fantastic. If you cut the ingredients in half it would feed two VERY hungry people well as an option. ENJOY!

Paella; a yummy Spanish dish with its classic saffron-yellow rice, brightly colored veggies and combination of seafood and meats. For this recipe I even purchased a vintage Dansk paella pan for preparation (go to have all the right tools (or toys)). Serves 6.

INGREDIENTS
1 ½ Lb. Boneless, Skinless Thighs or Breasts (Organic preferred) chopped into bite size pieces
1 Tsp. Turmeric
1 Tsp. - Pimentón
¼ Tsp. Oregano
1 Tsp. Parsley (dried, chopped)
1 Tsp. Sea Salt, fresh ground)
¼ Tsp. Black Pepper (fresh ground peppercorns)
EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

2 links – Spicy Italian Sausage (Sub: Chorizo), sliced thin

1 Large Sweet or Vidalia onion, chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped
2 Cups Rice Options: Medium Grain Rice + 1/4 teaspoon saffron thread, crushed OR Yellow Saffron pre-spiced Medium Rick
1 Cup Diced Plum Tomato
¼ Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

Garlic to taste 2-4 Garlic Cloves (Sub: Garlic Onion in season)

4 Cups – Chicken Broth, low sodium
1 Lb. Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 Cup - Asparagus, cut diagonally
½ Cup – Frozen Peas, thawed

DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat Big Green Egg to 400 degrees. If you can’t swing grilling this recipe you can start it on the cook top and finish it in the oven (sacrilegious of course).

2.Add Turmeric, Pimentón, Oregano, salt and pepper to chicken stock and set aside.
3.Heat oil in Pan of Choice (Paella, Iron Skillet, Terracotta, etc) and precook the chicken and sausage then remove from heat and set aside.
4.Sauté the onions and garlic, asparagus and peppers and set aside.
5.Change from direct to indirect setting and add the stock and rice, Paprika, Saffron (if applicable).
6.Stir ONCE and close the lid and sauté for 15 minutes checking the rice for tenderness before adding the remaining ingredients.
7.Add the shrimp, sausage, chicken and sautéed veggies, peas and stir well and close the lid again for 10 minutes of simmering.

Sausage Gnocchi (Italian Sausage and Potato Gnocchi)

Sausage Gnocchi - Gnocchi Potato Pasta is served in a tomato sauce with Italian Sausage. Quick and easy and tasty…serves 2-3.

Ingredients
1 Lb. Pkg. Potato Gnocchi
1 – 14 oz. Can Diced Tomatoes
4 – ¼ lb. Italian Sausage Links
½ chopped large Sweet Onion
½ Bulb Fresh Garlic, Minced
1 Tbls. Italian seasoning (equal amounts of basil, oregano, cumin)
¼ Cup Water
½ Tsp. Fresh Ground Sea Salt
1 Tsp. Granulated Sugar
1 Tsp. Parsley
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Grated Romano/Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Preparation
1. Fire up the Egg to FULL FLAME on extended ring.
2. Bring water to boil for Gnocchi and boil until it all floats, remove and drain, set aside.
3. Heat EVOO in a saucepan over high heat and add onions. Cook until translucent then add all the spices and cook until soft.
4. Add Tomatoes and water and bring to boil, cover and let simmer for 5 minutes, remove from heat and set aside.
5. Heat EVOO in skillet and brown sausage links. Remove from heat and slice into ½ inch slices, replace on skillet and brown throughout.
6. Remove from skillet and stir into saucepan and bring to boil again. Add Gnocchi and stir. Cover and remove from fire, let set for 10 minutes sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Even the Dog GENO (Italian Greyhound) couldn't resist this dish!

Meatloaf III - Big Green Egg

BIG GREEN MEATLOAF III
Beef and Jimmy Dean Sausage
This meatloaf recipe has evolved into version III with small adjustments to the ingredients and with the elimination of the foil cooking method and substitutiion of the Le Creuset Loaf Pan.

Ingredients and Recommended Brands (where available)

2 LB Ground Chuck
10 oz. Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sausage (medium)
1 ½ cup Diced White Onion
6-7 Garlic Cloves
½ cup Roasted Red Pepper (diced)
2 Tbs Olive Oil
3 Tbs Light Sour Cream
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup Dijon mustard
1 cup Shredded Mild Colby & Monterey Jack
3 Large Egg Yolks
½ cup Minced Parsley (Fresh if you have it)
2 tsp Bad Byron’s Butt Rub
½ tsp Ground Cumin
Big Pinch Fresh Ground Salt
Big Pinch BGE Garlic Pepper
15 Town House Crackers (crushed) – (or substitute Italian Bread Crumbs)

Preparation and Cooking Directions
1. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until lightly browned;
2. Add Red Pepper and sauté until soft.
3. Season with Salt and Pepper and cool
4. Mixed Cooked Vegetables with other ingredients.
5. Pack into 9” x 5” x 3” loaf pan(Le Creuset or something similar)
6. Chill for 4 hours minimum
7. Preheat BGE to 350 degrees and stabilize with plate rack in place.
8. Turn Loaf out onto foil and place in shallow pan or wire v-rack
9. Put meatloaf on the BGE (indirect-use plate rack0
10. Cook until the meatloaf’s internal temperature is 155-1600 (approximately 1 ½ hours)
11. Remove from BGE and let cool 15 minutes before slicing