Honey-Wheat Pizza with Pear-Prosciutto Salad

Ingredients

1 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
9 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
2 19/50 ounces whole-wheat flour (about 1/2 cup)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) crumbled goat cheese
1 tablespoon cornmeal, divided
4 cups fresh mâche or baby spinach
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 ounces very thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
2 ripe Starkrimson or red Bartlett pears, cored and thinly sliced

Preparation
1. Combine 1 cup warm water, honey, and 1 teaspoon oil in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Stir in yeast; let stand 10 minutes. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and salt in a food processor, and pulse 2 times or until blended. Add yeast mixture, pulsing to combine (dough will feel sticky). Turn dough out onto a floured surface; knead lightly 3 to 4 times.
2. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If the indentation remains, dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; cover and let rest 10 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 450°.
4. Place a baking sheet in oven. Roll dough into a 14-inch circle on a floured surface. Brush dough evenly with 1 tablespoon oil, and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Place dough on a baking sheet sprinkled with 1 tablespoon cornmeal. Transfer dough carefully to preheated pan; bake at 450° for 12 minutes or until crust is crisp and golden. Combine remaining 2 teaspoons oil, mâche, and the remaining ingredients; toss to combine. Arrange salad over crust.

Ann Taylor Pittman, Cooking Light
OCTOBER 2011

Eggplant Dip (Baba Ghanouj)

Ingredients

1-2 globe eggplants (totaling 2 lbs)
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2-3 Tbsp roasted tahini (sesame paste)
1-2 garlic cloves (more or less depending on how garlicky you want your baba ghanouj to be), finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Juice of one lemon - about 2 1/2 tablespoons
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
1 Tbsp chopped parsley

Instructions

1a Oven method Preheat oven to 400°F. Poke the eggplants in several places with the tines of a fork. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise and brush the cut sides lightly with olive oil (about 1 Tbsp). Place on a baking sheet, cut side down, and roast until very tender, about 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

1b Grilling method Preheat grill. Poke the eggplants in a few places with a fork, then rub the eggplants with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Grill over high heat, turning as each side blackens. Put the charred eggplants in a paper bag, close the bag and let the eggplants steam in their skins for 15-20 minutes.

2 Scoop the eggplant flesh into a large bowl and mash well with a fork. Combine the eggplant, minced garlic, remaining olive oil (about 2 Tbsp), tahini, garlic, cumin, 2 Tbsp of the lemon juice, the salt, and a pinch of cayenne. Mash well. You want the mixture to be somewhat smooth but still retaining some of the eggplant's texture.

You can use a food processor to make baba ghanouj, but take care not to make it too smooth; this is supposed to be a rustic, slightly chunky dip.

3 Allow the baba ghanouj to cool to room temperature, then season to taste with additional lemon juice, salt, and cayenne. If you want, swirl a little olive oil on the top. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.

Serve with pita bread, crackers, toast, sliced baguette, celery, or cucumber slices.

Yield: Serves 4-8 as an appetizer.

Source: SimplyRecipes