Proscuitto White Pizza

One of our favorite things to make in our house has to be PIZZA! I think we make it at least once a week.  It's delicious, it's easy. it's quick, and easy to alter to what you have on hand.  What could be better?  This week we went with a white pizza since my parents who were staying with us for Thanksgiving left two huge containers of ricotta cheese in our fridge.  The other toppings were leftovers from an anitpasti tray served for the holiday, so some smoked mozzerella and proscuitto found there way onto our pizza. 

1 pizza dough- either store bought or bought from a pizzeria
about 1/2 cup of riccotta cheese
smoked mozzerella sliced- we used little less then half a ball of fresh
proscuitto- we used about 3-4 slices torn
little garlic- powder or minced whatever  you have on hand.

First heat oven to preheat to 500 degrees.  Place pizza stone in oven to heat. Stretch out your dough and place on a pizza peal.  Top with Ricotta, then smoked mozzerella, garlic, and proscuitto.  Move to heated stone in oven and cook. About 10 minutes or until desired crispness of dough.  Pull out and allow to cool a few minutes. Enjoy!

Italian Wedding Soup

Always during the winter I have memories of cold days being warmed by my Dad making a big pot of Italian Wedding soup.  We always look forward to enjoying this soup at a holiday or on a winter afternoon. Perfectly served with some crusty bread and a sprinkle of parmsean cheese on top.  This past Thanksgiving I think I finally got it right.  And received my Dad and family's seal of approval. This is a simple soup packed with tiny pasta, bite sized meatballs, chicken, and vegetables.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts, cooked and meat shredded
bite sized meatballs (recipe below)
1 head of escarole
2-3 carrots diced
2 stalks of celery finely diced
1 onion finely chopped
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
2 teaspoons of onion powder
3 chicken broth
approx. 1/2-3/4 cup of acini de pepe pasta (I can only find it by Ronzoni) or other tiny pearled pasta

Bite sized meatballs:
1/2-3/4 lb of chopmeat or meatball mix
1 egg
1/2 breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of parsely
1 teaspoon of parmsean cheese
splash of milk (just enough to moisten)

Mix all meatball ingredients together in a medium sized bowl and roll into bite sized meatballs.  Small enough to fit on spoon.  Put to the side.

In a large pot heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Over medium heat cook onion, carrot and celery till tender.  Add in the garlic and onion powder and salt and pepper.  Stir, cook about 1-2 minutes. Add the broth, bring to a boil.  Drop in the meatballs.  When the meatballs are cooked add in the chicken and the escarole.  Allow to simmer.  I like to cook the pasta seperately then add just before serving. But you can cook it in the same pot, just have some extra broth on hand if too much is absorbed by the pasta.  Allow all to simmer a few minutes.  Serve with grated cheese and crusty bread!