My Summer Favorite

So I jumped the gun a little bit on this one. My favorite summer food is Tomato Basil Pizza, especially when all I have to do is walk out the garden and pick the tomato and basil. My garden isn't quite ready yet - but I am.

I'm working on perfecting my pizza crust recipe, tonight's recipe follows.

Pizza Crust:
2 1/4 tsp. yeast
1 cup hot water
1 tsp salt
2 Tblsp EVOO
1 Tblsp honey (if you use the same measuring spoon and measure the oil first the honey slides right out - a little trick I accidentally discovered.)
2/3 cup white flour
2/3 cup wheat flour
1/3 cup corn meal
1/3 cup oatmeal
Then add alternating 1/3 cup portions of wheat and white until you achieve bread dough consistency. Knead for about 10 strokes (with a bit more flour) and let rise.

Butternut Squash Risotto

I've made this one a ton of times, but I guess I've never blogged it! Mary is responsible for introducing this delicious dish. It's Butternut Squash Risotto - I think she got it from an Everyday Food magazine. This one could be a side dish or an entire meal.

I've lost the actual recipe - but here's how I make it.

Cut up one medium sized squash into about 1 1/2 inch cubes. Cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat with 2 Tbs. of butter.

Add 1 cup of Risotto rice and mix in with 1/2 cup white cooking wine.

When all of the liquid is dissolved add warm chicken broth in 1/2 cup increments. About two cans of Chicken broth are needed.

When the rice is all cooked (this takes about 45 minutes) add approx. 1 Tbs. of fresh Sage and 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

I had this one tonight in my new pottery bowl from the empty bowls luncheon for the Food Bank. Isn't it a great bowl??