Friday, April 30, 2010

Flatbread Pizzas

 Sunflower Seeded Flatbread with Ricotta Cheese, D'Anjou Pears, & Walnuts
Inspired by 101 Cookbooks
Pairs wonderfully with Apple Butter

One of my favorite things to do every month is meet for book club. I am an avid reader, at least I thought I was before I joined my book club - some of those girls have put me to shame! - and think it's a fantastic way to discover new authors, new friends, and new things about myself.

It's a quaint little club, just four of us in total, but we meld together better than anyone could have written on paper. Each of us is entertained discovering our likes and differences, and it turns out we enjoy discussing much more outside of the novel's pages.

Once a month we take turns hosting, and without much discussion, snacks were laid out at each meeting. We have seemed to turn our focus as equally onto the food as to the storyline at hand. When word got out that I blogged about food, the expectations were raised. I decided to cook a little extra for my hosting duties this month, which worked out well since our appetites usually call for something above the established peckish fare.

Parmesan Flatbread
Two to Try: Smoked Mozzarella & Seasoned Tomato

The current trend in the food world seems to be flatbread pizzas. These quick recipes offer a broader array of doughs and toppings than the regular standard. I gathered a few recipes, completed my grocery shopping, and finished as much as I could the night before.

Thankfully, the club members enjoyed being my taste testers. I was hesitant to brag preemptively, so I clued them in. All my tasting time was taken up with (rushed) photography time before the ladies were scheduled to arrive. My awesomeness prevailed recipes were a success, and I even have one more I didn't have time to make on this night to share in the future.

Thank you, ladies, for your kind words! They highly recommend you try these flatbread pizzas, as do I.



Dill Flatbread
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup olive oil
cornmeal

Preheat oven with pizza stone* to 450*F. In a mixer with a spiral dough hook**, blend together the flour through salt. Next add the water and oil slowly, and allow the dough to be worked for no more than 4 min. Divide the dough in half and round each into a ball.

Using your hands, or an oiled rolling pin, roll the dough out into a thin sheet, approximately 10" in diameter on a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal to prevent sticking (or tin foil with cornmeal dusted on top of the dough and then flipped onto the pizza stone or baking sheet). Once the dough is flat, slide the dough into the oven and cook for 10 - 12 min, depending on level of browning desired. Repeat with second flatbread dough.

After allowing the flatbread to cool, cut into small pieces for snacking. This flatbread goes well with hummus. Also, adding toppings and placing the flatbread under the broiler for 3 min makes a delicious pizza (it's better to undercook the dough if adding toppings to prevent the dough from burning). 

~Yields 2 10" flatbreads.
~Adapted from Smitten Kitchen.


I used butter and yukon gold potatoes.

*I bought my pizza stone at Bed, Bath, & Beyond from Oneida for $15. However, a baking sheet can be used instead.

** The spiral dough hook works better than the traditional, in my opinion. You could also just use your hands!

12 comments:

  1. Beautiful breads, aren't those fun to make and to eat? Great job Brie and I'm sure your friends were delighted to have something delicious to nibble on!

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  2. I love homemade made. Yours looks beautiful and perfect.

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  3. these are usually my favorite to make when the kids come over unexpectedly, they are quick, this is a great recipe to add to my collection to try, love the flavors you put together looks awesome cant wait to try this!

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  4. Beautiful flatbreads and the pizzas sound terrific with them! I like the one with pear!

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  5. Oh I love the idea of adding potatoes! looks great!

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  6. Brie, what is going on in that creative mind of yours? I could really use a dessert. Maybe something with fruit? And then again....
    Aunt Lee

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  7. Those are nice looking flat breads. I'm going with the one with dill.

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  8. Great ideas for book club! I moved not too long ago and excited to start one next week. Thanks, Brie!

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  9. I want to be part of a book club, I need to find one, then find time to read all the great novels out there!

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  10. This looks delicious!! Book clubs are fun :) Any recommendations on good reads?

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  11. @Silvia yes, i had so much fun making so many different kinds. very simple and quick for an impressive snack. we really enjoyed eating them!

    @Mary yes, nothing beats homemade. thanks :)

    @pegasus they will definitely be crowd pleasers!

    @5 Star yes, that was my favorite one, too!

    @Simply Life thanks, the potatoes pair suspiciously well with flatbreads and pizzas!

    @Aunt Lee our list of things to try next time i visit is growing larger all the time!

    @Kitchen M great choice! enjoy! :)

    @Belinda great news! enjoy your book club! i'm always up for sharing ideas, too.

    @Angie i joined one spur of the moment, and wish i had not put it off for so long. we have a great time in our club. good luck!

    @Joy thank you! :) i recommend reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - two of my all time favorites!

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  12. Mmm I secretly love potatoes on flatbreads or in pies (potatoes and bread? who would have thought?) :)) now I see you like this too :) Your dill flatbread looks great. And I'd love to try that pizza with pears and ricotta!

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