Italian Cravings

This last week I surprised Mike when he asked “where would you like to go eat?”

I said anywhere Italian. I know he thought I was going to say “SUSHI”. Not that I am cutting back by any means. I just get these horrible cravings and one must meet that request, RIGHT? 

Anyway we went out and had a great meal of pasta and sausages.  It was very tasty with a favorable marinara sauce. Cooking pasta too, it is really so important that it is cooked right, nothing worst than soggy pasta or not done pasta.  SO at my home I do watch the pot and taste a lot while it is cooking. Yes, I know I could time it. I just get so distracted with that. I have to pay sharp attention.  Anyway it appears that I am now on a Italian kick.
So I found another item that I wanted to share with you too, lavash.
  We went out and heard some wonderful music on Sunday at the Cork and Clever, while we listened we had a tasty lavash.  I left there wanting more and thinking I need to learn how to make this. I actually was full when we left. I did not have to have any soup or salad with it either. I seem to think when I am out that just getting one item just is NEVER going to be enough to eat, working on getting over that.

So that is going to be my next big adventure at home, making lavash. I am sure for those of you that have had this your thinking it is easy , AH , but I am already obsessing over what cheese I should use. This is one of those tasty treats too for which less is really more. The idea, to me, is to get that tasty crisp crunch of the lavash.

So I went in search of a recipe. I found one that Mike and I can make together. I can get the veggies for it and he can grill them. What I liked about this was the ingredients. They are different in that there is hummus involved, I love hummus.  There was also the word SPICY involved in the recipe. That is always the ticket for me.  I found that all the other ingredients were easily found in our local stores.

So it looks like I am going to have grill and Italian, nice! And I am glad summer weather is still here, perfect for grilling.

You know the other thing here too is how much fun this is for a party. Everyone can bring an item and you could make a couple of these lavash pizza’s. So don’t be shy, have fun with this.  Here is what I found for my first attempt at lavash.

Grilled Lavash Pizza With Spicy Hummus, Grilled Eggplant, Feta, Red Chile Oil, and Mint

Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay

1 soft lavash bread
Olive oil
2 small Japanese eggplants, halved
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Spicy Hummus, recipe follows
12 ounces crumbled feta cheese
Red Chile Oil, recipe follows
Chopped fresh mint, for garnish

Preheat the grill to high. Brush the lavash with oil on both sides. Grill until golden brown on both sides. Brush the eggplant with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant, cut-side down, until golden brown. Turn the eggplant over and grill until just cooked through. Remove from grill and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.

Spread the hummus over the bread, top with the eggplant, and then the feta. Grill, with the cover down for 2 to 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Remove from the grill, drizzle with the red chile oil and sprinkle with mint.

Spicy Hummus

1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas, cooked until soft
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Put the chickpeas, garlic, and tahini in the work bowl a food processor. Pulse until it becomes paste-like, adding a few tablespoons of water, if needed. Add the cayenne, cumin, and lemon juice, and pulse again until combined. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Add the parsley and pulse until just combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a small bowl.

Red Chile Oil

2 ancho chiles, stemmed and chopped
1 New Mexican red chili, stemmed and chopped
1 teaspoon chile de arbol powder
1 cup canola oil
Salt

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 5 minutes. Strain into a small bowl.

Until next week, eat well, stay safe and if you have any questions or concerns please email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)