Saturday, February 25, 2012

Back In the Game

After years of languishing on the culinary bench (or, to be precise, in a California kitchen drawer), my mom's rolling pin is back in action.

Tonight it rolled out some pizza crust...


...waited while the toppings were prepared and the crust bathed in olive oil...

Feta and muenster cheeses,
sun-dried tomatoes, chicken breast,
and a pile of mixed herbs
(also fresh garlic, not pictured)

...then looked on approvingly at the finished product.


Despite its age and years of disuse, the rolling pin works just fine. I look forward to rolling out many a crust with it.

Thanks, Mom.

Mrs. Micawber's Pizza Crust (yields 2 medium thin crusts or 1 large thick crust)

Starter:
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar or honey

Stir well, cover, and let sit in warm place for at least 15 minutes. Add:

3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups flour (I use half whole wheat, half unbleached)
Generous 1/2 teaspoon salt

Knead about 5 minutes or until springy and elastic. Dough should be soft and slightly tacky; add a bit of water if necessary during kneading. Cover and let rise in a draft-free place until at least doubled. (Best if allowed to rise for a couple of hours.) Roll out to desired thickness and place on pizza pan(s) sprinkled with cornmeal. For thin crusts, dough may be used immediately. For a thick crust, cover and allow to rise a bit more in the pan while you prepare the toppings. Top as desired, and bake at 425º 13-18 minutes or until done.

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10 comments:

  1. So the connection to your Mother continues, I am so pleased.

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  2. Lovely post... Celebrating the passing of an important item, from one generation to the next. Quite lovely.

    And the pizza looks delishhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

    "Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."
    ~ Jane Austen

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  3. It's nice to see the rolling pin hasn't lost it's touch! :) The sweet memories the rolling pin bring to mind while you use it must make cooking more pleasing.

    As your cinnamon roll recipe is a winner, I know this one will be, too. Thank you for sharing it...we will try it this week!! :)

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  4. My gosh that looks delicious. I can just picture your Mom smiling as you use the rolling pin.

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  5. How wonderful to be able to use your Mom's rolling pin in an everyday way ... may you and it make many happy pies and pizzas together Sue x

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  6. Yummy pizza!

    I have my granny's rolling pin, it's so nice to think of her every time I use it, she was a wonderful baker. I'm sure your Mum would be delighted to know you're using hers and thinking of her too.

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  7. Pizza! Mama mia! What a good job your rolling pin has done! :) Looks scrumptious. Of course I think it may need a few Peanuts on top... I'm just sayin' ...

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  8. Can this pizza be shipped; looks so good. Yummers!

    Good for you for keeping the memory alive, Sue. I imagine that it is comforting.

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  9. Oh, yum! Yum, yum, yum!

    Nothing better than homemade pizza. Except, of course, homemade pizza rolled with an heirloom roller...

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  10. Oh, Sue-- this is wonderful! I can't wait to make these wonderful pizza recipe-- yours looks delicious. How nice that you were able to use your dear mother's rolling pin- how pleased she would be!

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