Duffs Pesto Food

DUFF'S FLYING SAUCER SANDWICH

Steps:

• Slice the boule horizontally and lay the two halves on a cutting board cut-side up. Spread the mayonnaise and mustard evenly over the top half of the bread. Layer the bottom half evenly with the mortadella, folding the slices in half and shingling them in concentric circles. Repeat with the salami, pepperoni and provolone.
• Layer the pickles and lettuce on top of the provolone, then drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, layer on the potato chips and top with the remaining half of the boule.
• Secure each egg half, cut-side facing out, to the top half of the boule with a toothpick, evenly spacing them out in a circle. Hang an olive ring on the exposed end of each toothpick. Slice the sandwich into 8 wedges and serve.

DUFF'S PASTA DOUGH

Steps:

• Mound the flour in the center of a counter or large cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour 3 to 4 inches wide. Crack the eggs into the well and add the yolks and salt. Using a fork, break the yolks and begin to beat the eggs as if you were making scrambled eggs.
• Continue stirring the eggs in large circles with the fork, slowly incorporating the flour from the inner edges of the well until the mixture becomes a thick mass and is difficult to stir, about 3 minutes. Using a bench scraper or rubber spatula, fold the loose flour from the edges into the thick mass, then knead until a smooth dough forms. Discard any excess flour.
• Shape the dough into a flat disk, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. (The dough can be made 1 day ahead. Store it in the refrigerator tightly wrapped and let it come to room temperature before rolling.)
• Secure the pasta attachment to a stand mixer or, if using a hand-crank machine, attach it to the counter. Set the machine to the widest setting. Unwrap the dough and cut it into 4 equal pieces. Wrap 3 of the pieces and set aside while you work with the remaining piece of dough.
• Flatten the dough into a rectangle and lightly dust it with flour. Roll it through the pasta machine at the widest setting. Fold the dough in thirds like a letter and feed it through the pasta machine. Repeat the folding and feeding of the dough through the machine 2 more times. (Folding and rolling it in this manner helps strengthen and smooth the dough.)
• Set the pasta machine to the next setting (one setting thinner than the widest). Flour the dough as needed and feed it through the machine. Repeat one more time.
• Adjust the machine to the next thinnest setting and feed the dough through 2 times. Continue changing the setting and feeding the dough through 2 times for each setting until you have fed the dough through the second-to-last setting. The sheet of pasta should be thin enough so that you can see your hand through it.
• To make pappardelle, cut the sheet crosswise into 10- to 12-inch-long pieces, then cut each piece with a chef's knife into 1-inch-wide noodles. Lightly toss the noodles with a little flour on a baking sheet to prevent sticking. Cover with a dry kitchen towel while you repeat the process with the remaining dough.
• To make hand-shaped fusilli, cut the sheet crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Wrap them around a thin dowel, skewer or chopstick, forming a corkscrew-like shape, then gently slide each one onto a baking sheet. Lightly toss the fusilli with a little flour to prevent sticking. Cover with a dry kitchen towel while you repeat the process with the remaining dough. (Making fusilli is great to do with kids as a group.)
• Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, 3 to 4 minutes.

HOMEMADE PRETZELS

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a big bowl, mix the yeast, sugar and 1 1/3 cups warm water and let it sit until the yeast blooms, about 7 minutes. Add the melted butter, kosher salt, egg yolks, bread flour and all-purpose flour and knead the dough until smooth, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Brush the bowl and the dough with olive oil, set the dough in the bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise on top of the fridge or in any warm, dry place for 30 to 40 minutes, or until doubled in size.
• Make the pretzels: In a medium saucepan, mix the baking soda and 4 cups warm water until it is milky, then bring to a simmer over low heat. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cover 3 baking sheets with parchment and spray with cooking spray.
• Punch down the dough. Cut into 12 to 16 pieces and let rest for 5 minutes. Roll each piece into a 2-foot-long rope. Lift the ends of the rope to make a "U," then cross one end over the other twice to make a double twist in the middle. Fold down the two ends and attach them to the bottom of the ?U? to form a pretzel shape.
• Working in batches, dip the pretzels into the simmering liquid for 30 seconds, flipping once. Remove using a spider or two wooden spoons and shake off any excess liquid; place on a prepared baking sheet. Lightly flour the pretzels, cover loosely in plastic wrap and let rise for 20 minutes.
• Brush the pretzels with the melted butter and use cooking spray to coat any little corners you can?t reach with butter. Sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until browned, 8 to 12 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and serve with mustard.

DUFF'S MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic, season with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and beginning to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the ground beef, season with another pinch of salt and pepper flakes (if using) and cook, stirring and breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, season with salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly reduced, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the basil and oregano and simmer a few minutes more to infuse their flavor. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve with fresh pappardelle or your favorite pasta.

MOCHA COCONUT FRAPPES

Steps:

• Place the coconut cream in a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer if using, and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Add the coconut milk, coffee, ice, 3 tablespoons sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth and frothy, about 1 minute. Pour the frappe into 2 glasses and refrigerate while you whip the coconut cream.
• Whip the chilled coconut cream and the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar in a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, until it holds soft peaks, about 1 minute. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with an open star tip and pipe a swirl of whipped cream onto each drink. Sprinkle the cream with the toasted coconut and dust lightly with cocoa powder.