Pizza Bianca Flatbread

 

Pizza Bianca Roman Flatbread

Pizza bianca is a type of flatbread originating in Rome. It is a plain yeast flatbread which more closely resembles focaccia. It can be split and filled with ingredients or used as a tough for pizza.
Prep Time2 hours
Rising Time5 hours
Total Time7 hours
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: bread, dough, pizza

Equipment

  • 1 Medium Bowl
  • 1 large bowl
  • 1 Flat Surface Cutting Board or Clean Counter Space
  • 2 cookie sheets
  • 1 pizza stone

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 oz Dry Yeast packet
  • 1 pinch sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 3 cups bread flour + more for dusting
  • 1 1/2 tsp Kosher salt + more to sprinkle
  • 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil + more for brushing

Instructions

  • Stir the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a medium bowl. Let sit until foamy (about five minutes).
  • Wish the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix with your hands until dough is smooth.
  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap or warm damp towel and set aside in warm place until dough doubles in size (about one hour).
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about five minutes until slightly elastic. Add more flour if dough is too sticky to handle.
  • Return the dough to the bowl, cover and set aside until doubled in size (about one hour).
  • Brush two cooking sheets with olive oil.
  • Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Sprinkle with flour if dough is too sticky.
  • Cut the dough in half and form into two balls if making into flatbread. Roll out each ball into a 12x3 inch rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.
  • Transfer each dough rectangle to a cooking sheet and let rest uncovered until a dry crust forms on top. 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
  • Move racks in the oven to the middle and lowest positions. Place a pizza stone on the lowest rack. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
  • Press your finger tips through the dry crust on top of the crust to make a spotted pattern. Gently stretch each dough to a 14x4 inch rectangle. Brush tops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
  • Place one cooking sheet of dough on the pizza stone in the oven and bake for about seven minutes or until the bottom of the bread is golden brown.
  • Transfer to the middle rack and bake for an additional five minutes or until golden all over.
  • Remove from the oven and brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Let cool on the cooking sheet on a baking rack.
  • Repeat with the second batch of dough.

Orange Praline Yams

 

Orange Praline Yams

This is Nora Ephron's tried and true recipe to warm the holiday season.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Holiday
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 shallow baking dish
  • 1 electric mixer to prepare yams
  • 1 grater to zest orange rind

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs yams cooked and whipped with an electric mixer
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1 tbsp orange rind grated
  • 3 tbsp brandy optional
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup light brown sugar Praline Topping
  • 1 stick butter Praline Topping
  • 1 cup chopped pecans Praline Topping
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon Praline Topping

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked yams, orange juice, rind, brandy (if using), salt, ground ginger, butter, and brown sugar. Pour mixture into a shallow baking dish.
  • Mix together praline topping (light brown sugar, butter, pecans and cinnamon), and pour evenly over potato mixture
  • Bake at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
  • Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Crockpot Smoked Ham

 

Crockpot Smoked Ham

This is a classic recipe from a show guest way back in the early days. Derek and Romaine both made this ham recipe and it is easy and delicious. Great for the holidays or anytime you need a lot of ham in your life!
Prep Time1 hour 50 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time4 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Holiday
Servings: 10 people

Equipment

  • large crockpot optional

Ingredients

  • 1 smoked ham
  • 3 cups orange juice
  • 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 cups Coca Cola
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 1 sprig fresh mint optional
  • 2 tbsp honey optional

Instructions

  • Mix ingredients in a large bowl
  • Stab that ham!
  • Place ham in crockpot (or large roasting pan if using the oven)
  • Pour mixture over the ham. Make sure mixture gets in those stab holes.
  • Bake in crockpot for 2-3 hours or in the oven for 40-45 minutes at 450 or 1 to 1 1/2 hours at 300.
  • Garnish with fresh mint and honey

Notes

Crockpot is ideal for this recipe so the ham can really soak in the mixture but an oven roast works well too. Be sure to baste the ham 2-3 times during the baking. 

Romaine’s Cranberry Sauce

 

Romaine's Cranberry Sauce

This is Romaine's classic recipe perfect for Thanksgiving. One of our most requested recipes in the history of Derek and Romaine!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: classic, easy, Thanksgiving

Equipment

  • saucepan medium
  • spatula or spoon
  • grater or zester

Ingredients

  • 1 bag fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 whole orange (for zesting)
  • 1 sprinkle ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch ground cloves

Instructions

  • Combine Sugar, water and orange juice in a medium sauce pan
  • Bring it to a boil; add cranberries and some orange zest (just a bit, don’t get carried away), return to boil.
  • Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 mins, stirring occasionally.
  • Pour into a glass serving bowl. Sprinkle some ground cinnamon on top and just a dash of the ground cloves.
  • Cover and let cool completely at room temperature.
  • Once cool, refrigerate until serving time.

Notes

My relationship with cranberries began a long time ago. I was a teenager visiting my brother Mi-chael and John for Thanksgiving. My brother Michael was an incred-ible cook and everyone would stay out of his kitchen, except me. I was hanging out and he decided to put me to work. My charge was to make the cranberries and I knew I couldn’t fuck it up. With Michael’s assistance I went about my task. Over the years he and I tweaked the recipe a bit until it was just right. Every time I make these I think of Michael and his love of cooking. Even though he is gone this recipe reminds me of our time together.