Cooks Test Recipes Recipezaar Recipe For Hand

PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Measure 1/4 cup of warm water into 2-cup measuring cup. Sprinkle in yeast; let stand until yeast dissolves and swells, about 5 minutes.
• Add remaining 1/4 cup warm water plus remaining 1 1/4 cups tap water and olive oil.
• Meanwhile, pulse flour and salt in workbowl of large food processor fitted with steel blade to combine.
• Add liquid ingredients (holding back a tablespoon or so) to flour and pulse together. If dough does not readily form into ball, stop machine, add remaining liquid, and continue to pulse until ball forms. Process until dough is smooth and satiny, about 30 seconds longer.
• Turn dough onto lightly floured work surface; knead by hand with a few strokes to form smooth, round ball.
• Put dough into medium-large, oiled bowl, and cover with damp cloth. Let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface and use chef's knife or dough scraper to halve, quarter, or cut dough into eighths, depending on number and size of pizzas desired. Form each piece into ball and cover with damp cloth. Working with one piece of dough at a time, shape into rounds as thick/thin as desired. Use your hands to stretch the dough into shape, rather than a rolling pin.
• Transfer to pizza peel that has been lightly coated with semolina, brush dough very lightly with olive oil before topping and cooking.
• Use the following guide to determine cooking time for pizza crust with topping but without cheese. All pizzas need to be cooked an additional two or three minutes after adding cheese, or until cheese is completely melted.
• THIN CRUST.
• 14-inch pizzas (Master Recipe makes 2) - 7 to 8 minutes.
• 12-inch pizzas (Master Recipe makes 4) - 5 minutes.
• 8-inch pizzas (Master Recipe makes 8)- 3 minutes.
• MEDIUM-THICK CRUST.
• 12-inch pizzas (Master Recipe makes 2) - 9 to 10 minutes.
• 8-inch pizzas (Master Recipe makes 4) - 5 minutes.
• 6-inch pizzas (Master Recipe makes 8) - 4 minutes.

OATMEAL-RAISIN COOKIES (COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)

Steps:

• Adjust oven racks to low and middle positions; heat oven to 350 degrees. In bowl of electric mixer or by hand, beat butter until creamy. Add sugars; beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time.
• Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg together, then stir them into butter-sugar mixture with wooden spoon or large rubber spatula. Stir in oats and optional raisins.
• Form dough into sixteen to twenty 2-inch balls, placing each dough round onto one of two parchment paper-covered, large cookie sheets. Bake until cookie edges turn golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. (Halfway during baking, turn cookie sheets from front to back and also switch them from top to bottom.) Slide cookies on parchment onto cooling rack. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving.

COCONUT PRAWNS

Steps:

• Devein prawns and rinse quickly under cold running water, then flatten very slightly with the heel of your hand.
• Refrigerate until needed.
• Sift flour, salt and cornflour into a bowl.
• Add vinegar and water and mix to a smooth batter.
• Spread coconut on a flat plate.
• Dust prawns lightly with extra flour, then dip into the batter.
• Allow the excess to run off then coat with coconut.
• Heat oil in a wok or deep frying pan and test for the correct temperature with one prawn (oil should not be too hot or the coconut will burn before the prawn cooks).
• Cook prawns in batches and drain on paper towels.
• Serve hot, accompanied with lime wedges and dipping sauces such as Yoghurt and Mint Sauce or Chilli Plum Sauce.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN CHERRY PIE (ATK)

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt, and sugar in food processor fitted with steel blade. Scatter butter pieces over flour mixture, tossing to coat butter with a little flour. Cut butter into flour with five 1-second pulses. Add shortening and continue to cut it in until flour is pale yellow and resembles coarse cornmeal with butter bits no larger than small peas, about four more 1-second pulses. Turn mixture into medium bowl.
• Sprinkle all but 1 tablespoon of the ice water over mixture. With blade of rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix. Press down on dough with broad side of spatula until dough sticks together, adding up to 1 tablespoon of remaining ice water if dough does not come together. Divide dough into two balls, one slightly larger than the other. Flatten each into 4-inch-wide disk. Dust lightly with flour, wrap separately in plastic, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Remove dough from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature to soften slightly, about 10 minutes. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Toss fruit with sugar, lemon juice and zest, spices, almond extract, brandy, and tapioca; let stand for 15 minutes.
• Roll larger dough disk on lightly floured surface into 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer and fit dough into 9-inch Pyrex pie pan, leaving dough that overhangs the lip in place. Turn fruit mixture, including juices, into pie shell. Scatter butter pieces over fruit. Refrigerate until ready to top with remaining dough.
• Roll smaller disk on lightly floured surface into 10-inch circle. Lay over fruit. Trim top and bottom dough edges to 1/2-inch beyond pan lip. Tuck this rim of dough underneath itself so that folded edge is flush with pan lip. Flute dough in your own fashion, or press with fork tines to seal. Cut four slits at right angles on dough top to allow steam to escape. If pie dough is very soft, place in freezer for 10 minutes before baking.
• Place pie on baking sheet; bake until top crust is golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to bake until juices bubble and crust is golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes longer.
• Transfer pie to wire rack; let cool to almost room temperature so juices have time to thicken, from 1 to 2 hours.