Cornbread With Fresh Tomatoes And Mozzarella Food

CORN BREAD WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Butter 9x9x2-inch baking pan. Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl to blend well. Combine mozzarella cubes and remaining 1 tablespoon flour in small bowl; toss to coat. Whisk buttermilk, eggs, olive oil and chopped Italian parsley in medium bowl to blend. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture and stir just to combine (do not overmix). Sprinkle mozzarella cubes and diced tomatoes over batter; stir gently just to distribute evenly.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake corn bread until beginning to brown on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 22 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool bread 15 minutes. Cut into squares or wedges and serve warm.

SCALLION AND MOZZARELLA CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Liberally spray an 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with vegetable oil cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the cornbread mix, buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, olives, scallions, and cheese until the mixture forms a thick, lumpy batter. Using a spatula spread the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow the cornbread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares and serve.
• Cook's Note: To remove the cooked cornbread easily from the baking dish, first line the bottom and sides with 2 pieces of parchment paper, each 7 inches wide and 15 inches long, allowing the excess parchment paper to overhang the sides. When cooked and cooled, use the excess parchment paper as handles to remove the cornbread from the pan. Peel away the parchment paper and cut into squares.

FOCACCIA WITH FRESH TOMATOES

Steps:

• To make the sponge, place the yeast and water into a medium sized bowl, and stir to dissolve yeast. Add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or your hands for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth, and a somewhat elastic dough has formed. The starter will be thick and stretchy.
• Scrape the starter into a clear container with high sides and cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise.
• At this point you have two options. If you plan to make the dough later the same day, let the sponge rise at room temperature until it has risen to the point where it just begins to indent on top. This may take 6 to 8 hours. It will triple in volume and very small dents and folds will begin to appear in the top of the surface as it reaches its peak and begins to deflate. Make sure to use it before it sinks too much.
• If you are not planning to make the dough until the next day, let the sponge rise for 1 hour after mixing, then place it in the refrigerator and let it rise for at least 14 hours before taking it out to use. Be sure to compensate for the cold temperature of the starter by using warm water in the dough, or let it sit out, covered, until it reaches room temperature.
• To make the dough, place the yeast and water in a large bowl. Stir the yeast so it dissolves, and allow to stand for 1 minute.
• Add the sponge to the yeast mixture, and mix with your hands for 1 minute to break up the sponge. The mixture should be foamy. Add the flour and mix it in with your hands, lifting the wet mixture over the flour to incorporate it. Once the dough becomes a shaggy mass, knead in the bowl for 1 minute. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Add the salt to the dough and knead briefly to incorporate. Gradually add the oil and milk, and knead gently until all the liquid has been incorporated.
• Move the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until it begins to become smooth, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The dough will be sticky, so keep the work surface lightly floured.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn the dough to coat it, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until almost double in size, approximately 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• When the dough has risen, loosen it from the bowl with lightly floured hands, and pour it onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into 9 equal pieces, about 5 1/4 ounces each. Shape the dough into balls and place on the baking sheet approximately 4 inches apart. Brush each piece with olive oil, and press down gently so the bread is more like a disk than a roll. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 1/2 hours, or until the dough has almost doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the slices of tomatoes in a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes in a decorative fashion on the dough. With your finger tips, press down on the dough in a few places, making impressions where olive oil can gather. Lightly brush the dough with olive oil, allowing it to pool in the dimples. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
• Place the baking sheet in the oven, mist the loaves with water from a spray bottle, shut the oven door, and continue to bake. Mist again one minute later.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees F, and bake for 15 to 25 minutes longer, or until golden brown and crusty.
• Remove the focaccia from the oven immediately, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with fresh herbs such as basil if desired. Let cool on a cooling rack.

TOMATO CORNBREAD BAKE

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomatoes, corn, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Transfer to a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. , Combine cornbread mix, egg and milk just until moistened. Spoon over meat mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

CORNBREAD WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F.
• Butter 9x9x2-inch baking pan.
• Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl to blend.
• Combine mozzarella cubes and remaining 1 tablespoon flour in small bowl; toss to coat.
• Whisk buttermilk, eggs, olive oil and chopped Italian parsley in medium bowl to blend. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture and stir just to combine (don't over-mix). Sprinkle mozzarella cubes and diced tomatoes over batter; stir gently just to distribute evenly.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cornbread until beginning to brown on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 22 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool bread 15 minutes. Cut into squares or wedges and serve warm.

TOMATO MOZZARELLA SALAD

Steps:

• Place tomato slices, alternating with mozzarella slices, on a large serving platter.
• Combine oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Drizzle over tomatoes and mozzarella; sprinkle with basil.