Soft dinner rolls

Soft Dinner Rolls

Mix in a stand mixer 1 tbsp yeast and 1/2 cup warm water.  In another bowl combine 1/2 cup milk, 1 egg, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and whisk.  Add to yeast and stir.  Add in 3 cups of flour.  Mix with dough hook on medium, adding up to another 1/2 cup of flour as needed to keep dough from sticking to bottom of mixer.  Mix for 10 minutes.  Cover and let rise for 1 hour.  Divide dough into 12 round dough balls.  Place in a parchment lined baking pan, leaving a little space between the balls.  Let rise another 45 minutes or so.  Brush the tops with butter and bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes.

Flour tortillas

I have been searching for a flour tortilla recipe.  I think this might be the one.  I used this one to make breakfast burritos for the kids.  Next time, I might try to sneak in some whole wheat or oat flour...

Combine 3 cups of flour in a mixer with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp baking powder.  Mix.  Add 1/3 cup olive oil and 1 cup warm water slowly while mixing with a dough hook on medium speed.  Reduce to low and mix another minute or so, adding more flour as needed so it comes away from the bowl.  Separate into 12 dough balls.  Flatten each dough ball and cover with a towel for about 15-20 minutes.  Then heat a griddle, or pan, on high heat and roll out the tortillas until they are very thin.  They should be 8-10 inches in diameter.  Place on hot griddle for about 1 minute.  Little golden spots should appear and bubbles on the surface.  Turn over for 30 seconds, then wrap in a towel and repeat.

Middle Eastern Pizza

I love these little pizzas.  The crust is what really makes it for me.  They are perfect to make ahead, then after they cool, wrap individually to take in the kids' lunch.  Jack reheats them at school, Sam eats them at room temperature.  Either way, they are good with a little dollop of plain yogurt.  I used pork because it was all I had and I didn't want to go to the store.  The next time I will definitely use beef or lamb.  The pork was a little too mild.  This recipe is from The New Mediterranean Cookbook.  These would be good with any filling, but I like the two below because they are a little different then your average pizza.

Middle Eastern Pizza

Combine 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour with 1 tbsp salt.  Make a well in the center.  Pour in 1/2 tsp yeast dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water.  Flick flour over it and let sit for 10 minutes.    Put in mixer (or by hand) and stir.  Slowly add 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil and 1/2 cup plain yogurt.   After that the dough is pretty stiff.  Slowly add 1/2 cup warm water til dough is soft, you might not need all of the water.  I didn't.  Let mix with dough hook for 10 minutes or until the dough is soft and smooth.  Let sit covered for an hour.  Meanwhile you can make the topping.

This is the Palestinian variation (except of course for the pork.)

Cook 1/4 cup pine nuts in 1 tbsp olive oil until golden.  Remove.  In a bowl, mix 2 chopped tomatoes (the recipe called to peel and seed these, but I didn't and couldn't really tell a difference), 1 minced onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 minced serrano pepper, 3/4 pound ground beef, salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp allspice.  In another bowl whisk 1/3 cup tahini with 2 tbsp white wine vinegar.  Add to meat mixture and combine.

Another topping that I like.  

Cook 1/2 cup pine nuts in 2 tbsp olive oil until golden.  Drain.  Cook 2 chopped onions about 15 min on low.  Cool and combine in a large bowl with the pine nuts, 3/4 pound ground lamb or beef, 1/2 cup finely chopped red pepper, 1 cup drained and chopped canned tomato, 1 cup chopped parsley, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp allspice, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp red chili flakes and freshly ground black pepper.

To finish

Divide the pizza dough into small dough balls. (Mine made 15).  Roll them out to be about 5 or 6 inches wide.  Place on greased cookie sheet.  Top with meat mixture.  Bake at  450 degrees for 10 minutes.  ( I cooked mine a little longer to make the sure the pork was cooked through.)