Cake Tricks

Fruit Pizza

2:04 PM

Unknown

Total Time: 25 min Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min
Yield: 2 (6-inch) pizzas Level: Easy

Ingredients

2 cups red wine
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar plus additional for dusting, if desired
2 pints fresh blackberries
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 orange, zested
Kosher salt
2 baked 6-inch pizzas (without topping)

Directions

Preheat the grill (or, alternatively, the oven to 350 degrees F)

In a large skillet, reduce the red wine by half over medium heat and whisk in the confectioners' sugar. When the mixture thickens slightly, gently stir in the blackberries and simmer, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.

Put the ricotta in a separate bowl. Grate a little orange zest (about 1 teaspoon) over the ricotta, add a pinch of salt and stir to blend.

Spread an even layer of the ricotta on the pizzas and place on the grill to warm them. Alternatively, bake for 3 to 5 minutes in oven. Warm the blackberry mixture. Note: if the blackberry liquid is thin, strain the blackberries out and reserve them. Reduce the liquid until thick and mix it back in with the blackberries. Top the pizzas with the fruit and serve immediately. Dust with additional powdered sugar, if desired.

Recipe courtesy Alex Guarnaschelli

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Fruit Pizza

2:31 AM

Unknown

Total Time: 45 min Prep: 30 min Cook: 15 min
Yield: 8 servings Level: Easy

Ingredients

Pizza Dough:
1 package store bought sugar cookie dough
Toppings:
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 large peach, sliced
1 large green apple, sliced
1 large orange, sectioned
1/2 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
6 ounces fresh blueberries
6 ounces fresh raspberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted
1/2 cup chocolate syrup

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Flatten cookie dough onto a 6-inch pizza pan. Bake until firm to touch, about 11 to 15 minutes. Cool. In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and sugar. Spread the baked cookie with the cream cheese mixture and decorate with sliced fruit. In a small bowl, combine melted white chocolate with chocolate syrup. Top the pizza with remaining berries and chocolate mixture. Slice and serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2005

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Pizza Rustica

2:30 AM

Unknown

Total Time: 2 hr 40 min Prep: 45 min Inactive: 45 min Cook: 1 hr 10 min
Yield: 6 to 8 servings Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 (12-ounce) bunches fresh spinach, stemmed, coarsely chopped (about 12 cups), or 1 (10-ounce) package frozen cut-leaf spinach, thawed and drained
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, coarsely chopped
4 large egg yolks, beaten to blend
Pastry Dough, recipe follows
1 large egg, beaten to blend

Directions

Position the rack on the bottom of the oven, and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausages and saute until golden brown, breaking the sausage into pieces, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the same frying pan over medium heat. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach wilts and the juices evaporate, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Squeeze the spinach to drain as much liquid as possible.

Into a large bowl, add egg yolks and beat lightly. Stir in the ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese. Add the sausage, the spinach and prosciutto to the mixture and stir to combine.

Roll out larger piece of dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 17-inch round. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch springform pan. Trim the dough overhang to 1 inch. Spoon the ricotta mixture into the dough-lined pan. Roll out the remaining piece of dough into a 12-inch round. Place the dough over the filling. Pinch the edges of the doughs together to seal, then crimp the dough edges decoratively. Brush the beaten 1 large egg over the entire pastry top. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan over the top. Bake on the bottom shelf until the crust is golden brown, about 1 hour.

Let stand 15 minutes. Release the pan sides and transfer the pizza to a platter. Cut into wedges and serve.

Pastry Dough:

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/4 cup cold solid vegetable shortening, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs, beaten to blend

2 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Blend the flour, the butter, the shortening and salt in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Blend in the eggs. With the machine running, add the water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough forms. Gather the dough into a ball. Divide the dough into 2 pieces, with 1 piece twice as large as the second piece. Flatten the dough pieces into disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until the dough is firm enough to roll out, about 30 minutes.

Yield: 2 dough pieces (enough for 1 Pizza Rustica)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

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Chicken Taco Meat Pizza

2:04 AM

Unknown

Total Time: 3 hr 30 min Prep: 15 min Inactive: 2 hr 10 min Cook: 1 hr 5 min
Yield: 6 servings Level: Easy

Ingredients

Pizza Dough:
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Tortilla Strips:
1/2 cup canola oil, for frying
4 corn tortillas, sliced into thin strips
Taco Pizza:
Olive oil, for oiling the baking sheet
1/2 cup good-quality salsa, plus more for serving
1 bag Chicken Taco Meat (partially thawed if frozen), recipe follows
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 head green leaf lettuce, sliced or thinly shredded
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons hot sauce, or more as needed
Chicken Taco Meat:
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
Salt
One 14-ounce can tomato sauce

Directions

Taco Pizza:

For the pizza dough: Mix the yeast with 1 1/2 cups warm water in a measuring cup or small bowl and set aside for 8 to 10 minutes. Mix together the flour, olive oil and salt in a bowl using an electric mixer. With the speed on low, drizzle in the yeast/water mixture and mix until totally combined. Cover the bowl with a towel and set in a warm, draft-free place. Allow to rise for 1 to 2 hours.

For the tortilla strips: In a small skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat until a test tortilla strip dropped in the oil sizzles immediately. Drop in the remaining tortilla strips in batches, frying them quickly and removing them from the oil with a fork when crisp, 30 to 45 seconds per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.

For the taco pizza: Position an oven rack in the bottom position in the oven. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Oil a baking sheet with some olive oil.

Remove half of the pizza dough from the bowl. (Place the remaining half in a large resealable plastic bag and refrigerate, saving it for another use.) With your hands, spread the dough out on the oiled baking sheet, making sure it's relatively thin. Spread a thin layer of the salsa all over the crust, then spread a layer of the Chicken Taco Meat on top of the salsa. Sprinkle the grated Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over the top.

Place the baking sheet on the bottom rack in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes, watching to make sure the crust doesn't burn. Remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle on the shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and cilantro leaves.

Mix together the sour cream and hot sauce in a small bowl, adding enough hot sauce to make the mixture pourable. With a spoon (or you can put it in a pastry bag), drizzle the mixture over the finished pizza. Sprinkle with the tortilla strips. Cut into squares and serve immediately with more salsa.

Chicken Taco Meat:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and heat until hot. Add the chicken in batches and cook, browning, a couple minutes per side; remove the chicken to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the garlic and onions to the skillet and cook briefly. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin and salt to taste. Pour in the tomato sauce and 2 cups water to create a broth. Add the chicken back to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the broth is reduced by half.

Let cool, divide among 4 freezer bags and freeze. Yield: 16 to 20 servings.

Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond

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Chicken Taco Meat Pizza

2:28 PM

Unknown

Total Time: 3 hr 30 min Prep: 15 min Inactive: 2 hr 10 min Cook: 1 hr 5 minYield: 6 servings Level: Easy

Ingredients

Pizza Dough:
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Tortilla Strips:
1/2 cup canola oil, for frying
4 corn tortillas, sliced into thin strips
Taco Pizza:
Olive oil, for oiling the baking sheet
1/2 cup good-quality salsa, plus more for serving
1 bag Chicken Taco Meat (partially thawed if frozen), recipe follows
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 head green leaf lettuce, sliced or thinly shredded
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons hot sauce, or more as needed
Chicken Taco Meat:
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
Salt
One 14-ounce can tomato sauce

Directions

Taco Pizza:

For the pizza dough: Mix the yeast with 1 1/2 cups warm water in a measuring cup or small bowl and set aside for 8 to 10 minutes. Mix together the flour, olive oil and salt in a bowl using an electric mixer. With the speed on low, drizzle in the yeast/water mixture and mix until totally combined. Cover the bowl with a towel and set in a warm, draft-free place. Allow to rise for 1 to 2 hours.

For the tortilla strips: In a small skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat until a test tortilla strip dropped in the oil sizzles immediately. Drop in the remaining tortilla strips in batches, frying them quickly and removing them from the oil with a fork when crisp, 30 to 45 seconds per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.

For the taco pizza: Position an oven rack in the bottom position in the oven. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Oil a baking sheet with some olive oil.

Remove half of the pizza dough from the bowl. (Place the remaining half in a large resealable plastic bag and refrigerate, saving it for another use.) With your hands, spread the dough out on the oiled baking sheet, making sure it's relatively thin. Spread a thin layer of the salsa all over the crust, then spread a layer of the Chicken Taco Meat on top of the salsa. Sprinkle the grated Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over the top.

Place the baking sheet on the bottom rack in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes, watching to make sure the crust doesn't burn. Remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle on the shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and cilantro leaves.

Mix together the sour cream and hot sauce in a small bowl, adding enough hot sauce to make the mixture pourable. With a spoon (or you can put it in a pastry bag), drizzle the mixture over the finished pizza. Sprinkle with the tortilla strips. Cut into squares and serve immediately with more salsa.

Chicken Taco Meat:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and heat until hot. Add the chicken in batches and cook, browning, a couple minutes per side; remove the chicken to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the garlic and onions to the skillet and cook briefly. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin and salt to taste. Pour in the tomato sauce and 2 cups water to create a broth. Add the chicken back to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the broth is reduced by half.

Let cool, divide among 4 freezer bags and freeze. Yield: 16 to 20 servings.

Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond

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Chicken Taco Meat Pizza

2:28 PM

Unknown

Total Time: 3 hr 30 min Prep: 15 min Inactive: 2 hr 10 min Cook: 1 hr 5 min
Yield: 6 servings Level: Easy

Ingredients

Pizza Dough:
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Tortilla Strips:
1/2 cup canola oil, for frying
4 corn tortillas, sliced into thin strips
Taco Pizza:
Olive oil, for oiling the baking sheet
1/2 cup good-quality salsa, plus more for serving
1 bag Chicken Taco Meat (partially thawed if frozen), recipe follows
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 head green leaf lettuce, sliced or thinly shredded
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons hot sauce, or more as needed
Chicken Taco Meat:
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
Salt
One 14-ounce can tomato sauce

Directions

Taco Pizza:

For the pizza dough: Mix the yeast with 1 1/2 cups warm water in a measuring cup or small bowl and set aside for 8 to 10 minutes. Mix together the flour, olive oil and salt in a bowl using an electric mixer. With the speed on low, drizzle in the yeast/water mixture and mix until totally combined. Cover the bowl with a towel and set in a warm, draft-free place. Allow to rise for 1 to 2 hours.

For the tortilla strips: In a small skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat until a test tortilla strip dropped in the oil sizzles immediately. Drop in the remaining tortilla strips in batches, frying them quickly and removing them from the oil with a fork when crisp, 30 to 45 seconds per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.

For the taco pizza: Position an oven rack in the bottom position in the oven. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Oil a baking sheet with some olive oil.

Remove half of the pizza dough from the bowl. (Place the remaining half in a large resealable plastic bag and refrigerate, saving it for another use.) With your hands, spread the dough out on the oiled baking sheet, making sure it's relatively thin. Spread a thin layer of the salsa all over the crust, then spread a layer of the Chicken Taco Meat on top of the salsa. Sprinkle the grated Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over the top.

Place the baking sheet on the bottom rack in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes, watching to make sure the crust doesn't burn. Remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle on the shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and cilantro leaves.

Mix together the sour cream and hot sauce in a small bowl, adding enough hot sauce to make the mixture pourable. With a spoon (or you can put it in a pastry bag), drizzle the mixture over the finished pizza. Sprinkle with the tortilla strips. Cut into squares and serve immediately with more salsa.

Chicken Taco Meat:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and heat until hot. Add the chicken in batches and cook, browning, a couple minutes per side; remove the chicken to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add the garlic and onions to the skillet and cook briefly. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin and salt to taste. Pour in the tomato sauce and 2 cups water to create a broth. Add the chicken back to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the broth is reduced by half.

Let cool, divide among 4 freezer bags and freeze. Yield: 16 to 20 servings.

Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond

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White Pizza

2:28 PM

Unknown

Total Time: 30 min Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings Level: Easy

Ingredients

1 store bought pizza dough - or pick one up from your favorite pizzeria
Extra- virgin olive oil, for drizzling
2 cups whole or part skim ricotta
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 cups shredded mozzarella or provolone, 1 pouch
10 fresh basil leaves, 1/2 cup, shredded

Directions

Preheat a pizza stone if you use one along with the oven to 425 degrees F.

Stretch dough to form a pie and transfer to stone or pizza baking tray. Pierce the dough with the tines of a fork in several places. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil around the crust. Mix the ricotta cheese with garlic and parsley and season it with salt and black pepper. Spread the ricotta across the dough. Top the pizza with mozzarella or provolone. Bake until crispy, 20 minutes. Top the white pizza pie with the shredded basil leaves, cut and serve.

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray