Jeff Mauro Food

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet with the oil and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and set aside for making the Vodka Sauce. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well. Arrange the pasta in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• In a food processor, add the mushrooms and shallot and pulse until chopped into about 1/8-inch pieces. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the mushrooms and shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the spinach to the skillet and cover to allow the spinach to wilt, about 2 minutes more. Stir in the parsley and transfer to a large bowl.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, pine nuts, basil chiffonade, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Combine the cheese mixture with the mushroom mixture. Stuff each shell with about 2 tablespoons of the filling.
• In the skillet where the mushrooms were cooked, add about 1 cup Vodka Sauce and spread it in an even layer. Arrange the stuffed shells in a circular pattern. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups sauce, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella in between and on top of the shells (leaving the tops of the shells mostly exposed). Cover and cook over medium heat until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 10 minutes.
• Garnish with more Parmesan and basil leaves, and serve.
• In a large skillet over low heat, add the butter, onion, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the tomatoes, cream, vodka, tomato paste, 1/2 cup pasta cooking water and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, adding more reserved pasta water as needed.

SOUTHWESTERN POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. While the butter is melting, add the chili powder, cumin and paprika and "bloom" the spices. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the frozen vegetable mix and let it cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the beans, chipotle and adobo sauce, corn and green chiles. Stir in the chicken stock and let it thicken slightly. Add the shredded chicken and stir together.
• Top with the biscuits and bake until the biscuits are golden brown, 13 to 16 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• Serve with a dollop of crema and garnished with cilantro, Fresnos and a lime wedge on the side.

OLD WORLD CHICAGO-STYLE THIN CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the milk, water, yeast and sugar. Lightly whisk and let sit until bubbly and the yeast is bloomed, about 5 minutes. Add the oil.
• Mix the all-purpose flour and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Set the mixer to medium-low speed and slowly add the yeast mixture until entirely incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl to get everything homogenous. Knead on medium low until the dough is glossy and forms a rough ball, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set it in a warm part of the kitchen until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Split the dough into 2 balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll one of the balls of dough as THIN as possible with a rolling pin. To get an even "trimmed" circle, use a large round lid to trim a rim around the dough. Sprinkle some semolina flour on a pizza peel. Carefully transfer the round of dough to the peel. Dock the crust with a fork or docker, poking holes all over the surface to keep it thin and crispy.
• Working quickly, add half of the pizza sauce almost all of the way to the edge of the crust, leaving about a 1-inch border. For the pepperoni side, place an even layer of pepperoni directly on top of the sauce on half of the pizza. Combine the skim- and whole-milk mozzarella in a large bowl and top the entire pizza with half of the cheese. Top the pepperoni side with some more scattered rounds of pepperoni. For the sausage side, spread half of the giardiniera on top of the cheese, then dollop with hunks of the Italian sausage on top. Transfer to the pizza stone in the oven and bake until golden and bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board with the pizza peel. Make another pizza with the remaining ingredients.
• Let the pizza rest for 4 or 5 minutes, then cut into small squares--never triangles. This is called the party cut. Why? Because no matter what's going on, when you're eating Chicago thin crust, it's always a big ol' party.