Friday, February 11, 2011

Tomato Pie Perfect for Valentines

Ok, most of you know that the cooking for Valentines Class had to be canceled.  Since I do not have the power to change Valentines Day, here is one of the recipes that was planned for class.  Let me start by saying  two ingredients will be a little more difficult to find but are available.  Tomatoes and basil have been hit hard by the recent freeze.
You will need a heart shape baking dish, white ceramic is nice.  A round 10' cake pan will work.  You will also need a sharp knife, serrated knife and parchment paper.
Ingredient List:
1 refrigerated pie crust                                               3-4 Roma or meaty tomatoes
1 c Coarsely chopped Basil                                       5 green onions chopped thin (about1/2 c)+ 1one
4oz white cheddar (Cabot sharp or ex sharp)             1c fresh mozzarella (try the Pearls or pre-sliced)
     grated                                                                S/P to taste (I like white pepper for this)
1c light mayonnaise                                                  

Let the fun begin:  Defrost the pie crust  Just lay it on wax or parchment paper keep the dough attached to wax paper that comes out of the box. . When it is ready to be used it will be flexible easy to unroll.  It will be attached to a sheet of wax paper, leave it attached. Remember you only need one crust for this project, so keep the other frozen.  Unroll the dough and lay your dough over baking pan gently press the dough into the pan, remember the dough will be next to the pan and wax paper next to your hand.  this gives you a lot more control of the dough.  It is also helpful to place the dough from the center of the pan and center of the dough.  Gently press the dough into the pan.  When you are please with the coverage gently remove the extra wax paper.  Now trim the extra dough from over the top edge,of the pan, with a sharp knife.  Use your knife to make small slits randomly on the bottom of the crust.
Prebake your crust according to the box directions at 350 degrees.
     Gather all other ingredients, wash, grate and measure. Tomatoes can be peeled with a soft skin peeler or *parboiled and remove skin.  A serrated knife is good to slice tomatoes.
Cool prebaked crust.
In medium bowl combine most of the basil and green onions, mayo, sharp cheddar and pepper.  Spread evenly over the pie crust.  Place remaining basil on top of mixture.  place tomatoes and mozzarella cheese over the basil and cover the top of the pie.  A few pieces of green onion tossed on top is also nice (use the one extra chopped onion. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly brown.  Let it cool for at least ten minutes.  It will slice easier.
     *Parboil-bring a pan of water to a boil dip fruit or vegetable for only a few seconds the add to a bowl of ice.  The skin will remove very easily.  Some foods will cook in a par boil.
NOTE:  Basil will become bitter if exposed to direct heat; therefore cover most of the basil with cheese and tomatoes.

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