Helen Olesss Prosciutto And Olive Braid Recipes

HELEN OLESS'S PROSCIUTTO AND OLIVE BRAID

Steps:

• Sprinkle baking sheet, approximately 9 1/2 by 11 inches, with cornmeal and set aside.
• Saute prosciutto in 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in garlic, fennel seed and pepper. Pour contents into large mixing bowl.
• Add hot water, yeast and sugar.
• Stir in 1 cup all-purpose flour. Beat in 1/4 cup shortening. Add chopped olives.
• Add 1 more cup of all-purpose flour. Dough will be sticky at this point. Scrape out onto work surface.
• Gradually knead in 3 cups of bread flour until dough is smooth and elastic.
• Cover with inverted bowl; rest for 10 minutes.
• Roll dough into a 10-inch-by-15-inch rectangle. Cut three strips in rectangle, leaving about 1/2 inch at end uncut. Braid and pinch bottom end.
• Place on prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and put in a warm place until light and doubled in volume - about one hour. When doubled, bake in preheated 400-degree oven until hollow sound is heard when loaf is tapped on bottom.

BANGIN' BLUE OLIVES WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Wrap each cube of gorgonzola with a piece of prosciutto, and use to stuff the olives.
• Combine the panko, smoked paprika, cayenne and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix to blend.
• Prepare three plates for breading the olives: one with the flour, one with the beaten egg, and one with the panko mixture. Lightly coat each olive in flour, then dip in egg, and finally roll in breadcrumbs. Set the breaded olives on a sheet of parchment as you go.
• In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 to 3 inches of oil to 350 degrees F over moderate heat. Working in batches, fry the olives until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. (Watch the olives closely; if cooked for too long, the cheese will begin to ooze out.) With a slotted spoon, transfer the fried olives to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with the parsley and Parmesan.

GRILLED BREAD WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill with medium-hot coals or turn a gas grill to medium-high heat.
• Grill the bread for 2 minutes, until golden on one side. Place the bread grilled side up on a platter and immediately rub the cut side of the garlic clove over the surface of the bread. For really garlicky fettunta, rub hard. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil over each slice of bread.
• Place the torn prosciutto over the grilled side of the bread and top with the grated mozzarella. Return the bread to the hot grill, cover the grill, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes-just long enough to melt the cheese and rewarm the toast. (Be sure the vent is open so the fire doesn't go out!) Drizzle with a little more olive oil, sprinkle with parsley, salt, and pepper, and serve hot.

PROSCIUTTO AND PARMESAN PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with nonstick oil spray.
• Roll the thawed pastry out onto a flat surface. Spread Dijon mustard to taste on the pastry sheets. Cover pastry with a layer of prosciutto, then cheese. Roll the sheets, beginning at the long side. Cut into 1 inch thick sections. Arrange the sections on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

LINGUINE WITH PROSCIUTTO AND OLIVES

Steps:

• In a 6 to 8-quart pan, cook pasta in 3 quarts boiling water until al dente (7 to 9 minutes or according to package directions).
• Drain.
• Place pasta in a warm bowl.
• Meanwhile, combine prosciutto and oil in a wide skillet.
• Cook, stirring, over medium-high heat, until prosciutto is lightly browned (about 3 minutes).
• Add onions and cook, stirring, until limp (about 2 minutes).
• Add olives and tomatoes and cook, shaking pan often, until olives are hot (about 2 more minutes).
• Pour prosciutto mixture over noodles and toss well.
• Transfer to a warm serving bowl.
• Offer cheese to add to taste, if desired.

PROSCIUTTO AND OLIVE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt and oil. Drain and rinse well with cold water; drain.
• In large bowl, stir together spinach, olives, prosciutto, oregano and oil. Add pasta and cheese; toss well.

SPELT PIZZA WITH PROSCIUTTO AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Place the ingredients for the dough into the breadmaker bread pan according to the manufacturer's directions. Set the PIZZA cycle and press START. After about 5 minutes of kneading, check the consistency of the dough. If it is not in a smooth, round ball, open lid and with machine ON, add water, a tablespoon at the time if too dry; add a tablespoon of flour at the time if too wet.
• Remove the dough promptly from the breadmaker at the end of the cycle. Knead dough about 10 times on a lightly floured surface. Cover with kitchen towel and let it rise for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for the pizza sauce sauté garlic in olive oil until golden (it mustn't go dark). Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. Use as it is, lumpy, or blend with a stick blender to create a smooth sauce.
• Take a large cookie sheet and place it on a center rack of a cold oven upside-down. Heat the oven to max. Preheating the pan in this way will allow the pizza crust to become crispy from contact with the hot pan, similar to using a pizza stone.
• Place the pizza dough onto the floured parchment paper. Roll it into a 12-inch disc. Cover with pizza sauce and sprinkle with dried oregano.
• Place prosciutto and pancetta slices onto the sauce. Gently slide the parchment and pizza off of the cutting board onto the hot cookie sheet bottom. Bake pizza for about 5 minutes at 250°C (or max).
• Open the oven and slide the rack with the tray out slightly or take it out of the oven to top the pizza with sliced button mushrooms. Return the pizza to the oven, bake for another 5 minutes at max or until pizza becomes crispy. Remove from the oven.
• Sprinkle grated cheese on top and place the pizza into turned-off oven for 1 -2 minutes to melt the cheese.
• Cut into quarters and serve with black or green olives.