Big Bowl of Love’s Cristina Ferrare invites a couple of friends, Margaret and Diane, into her kitchen to create some movie-night cuisine. I think 2 may have been too much for her. They talked as much as my friends do. You can tell they are close. The menu seems perfect…a personal pizza, a fancy salad and popcorn with a little something special. No microwaves, over-processed movie treats here. All fresh and yummy!
What’s on today’s menu?
- Mini-Pizzas
- Parmesan Salad Bowls
- Rosemary Parmesan and Black Pepper Popcorn
- Browned Butter and Lemon Popcorn
I have some experience my OWN personal pizzas… my family and I make them at least a few times a month. It is truly a family favorite. I can’t wait to share a few of the tips to take us to the next level. As for the popcorn, well, I couldn’t wait for a movie. I actually did a short cut version of the butter and lemon late one night after watching the episode. I was curious about the lemon. I added a few packets of splenda to my popcorn and shook it well. Then I simply added a little lemon juice to my melted butter and then slowly applied it to the popcorn, shaking to mix it each time more was added. I was SOOO surprised at how good it was. It was a family hit! I am sure the actual recipe will be even better.
Now for a few BBOL tips:
- Heat the oven and pizza stone an hour before you cook.
- Use a candy thermometer (not a meat thermometer) to be sure water is heated to 110 degrees before putting in the yeast. If it is hotter, it will kill the yeast. Too cold, it won’t rise and your dough will be sticky and hard.
- You can add a tablespoon of honey to make your dough a little sweet.
- Add a few fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley or thyme) into your dough as you are kneading it…it adds great flavor.
- Make your dough in advance. Let it sit it the refrigerator covered with plastic. Pull it out about 15-20 minutes before you are ready to use it.
- Make a fresh green salad to top off your pizza.
- Add a little cornmeal onto your paddle so the pizza slides off easily.
- Check your pizzas every 2 minutes to be sure it doesn’t burn. It should only takes 5 to 8 minutes to cook.
- Parmesan salad bowls- make 6” circles on the pan- like a bird’s nest.
- Let sit for 10 to 15 seconds because it is too hot to handle at first. Then lift cheese carefully and place on top of an upside down glass bowl. This will give the cheese bowl its shape.
- Press paper towel over the top of the cheese and press gently. She didn’t say why but I think it is to remove a little bit of the oil.
- If you don’t have the time to chop the rosemary really fine, then try using a coffee grinder.
Here are a couple of my OWN suggestions:
- Make some extra dough with herbs and keep it on hand for your next meal. You can either make wonderful bread sticks or simply put a little oil, granulated garlic and Parmesan cheese on top for a specialty bread that will impress your family.
- If you mess up on the first few Parmesan bowls, don’t stress. Simply put them aside and break them up in larger pieces to top your next salad.
- Tired of the look of pizza, how about a calzone? Place your ingredients on one half and fold the other half over into a semi-circle. Pinch the sides closed and make a few slices to vent the top. A brush of oil on top and you are good to go! Be sure not to over stuff- it may be hard to close if you do.
- If you don’t have a lemon, use a little lemon juice! I put it straight into my butter.
- Stove-top popcorn really is the best. I have been popping my OWN for years now. Use a nice stock pot, a little oil, and a few kernels. I love using a glass lid so the kids can watch all the action!
- Try a little pesto in place of tomato sauce on your pizza. It is delicious!
Movie night can feel like the Oscars with these great recipes!
Links to OWN for the recipes:
http://www.oprah.com/own-cristinas-big-bowl-of-love/Cristina-Ferrares-Mini-Pizzas
http://www.oprah.com/own-cristinas-big-bowl-of-love/Parmesan-Salad-Bowls
http://www.oprah.com/own-cristinas-big-bowl-of-love/Browned-Butter-and-Lemon-Popcorn
HI, just wanted to let you know I saw Christina’s Big Bowl for the first time this a.m. and absolutely loved it! I am printing out the recipes for pizza, popcorn and butternut squash soup. On suggestion–when you put the recipes up on the screen, they need to be bigger, a darker font, and on the screen longer! Some people don’t have Internet or don’t always have time to go to the website to print a recipe. I’d like to be able to just write it down. Or when Christina is making the recipe she could say the amount for each ingredient. (I noticed she did say the amount for some items, but not for all.) Again, I love the show!