Yeasted Olive Oil Pastry Food

WHOLE WHEAT YEASTED OLIVE OIL PASTRY

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water, add the sugar, and allow to sit until the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and the olive oil. Combine the flours and salt, and stir into the yeast mixture. You can use a bowl and wooden spoon for this, or a mixer - combine the ingredients using the paddle. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead gently for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, just until the dough is smooth - do not overwork it. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in size, about one hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times, and cut into two equal pieces (or as directed in each of this week's recipes). Shape each piece into a ball without kneading it. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest for five minutes. Then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in each recipe, and line pans. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too bready. The dough can be transferred directly from the freezer to the oven.

PERFECT OIL PASTRY

Steps:

• Measure the flour carefully and put it in a medium-sized bowl. Add the dash of salt and stir it with a fork.
• Pour the oil in and stir and "cut" it with a fork until you've got clumps varying between pea-sized and lima bean-sized.
• Distribute the cold water over the mixture and stir and mash with the fork just until it all balls together.
• Wipe your countertop with a damp cloth and spread a piece of wax paper on it. The paper should not slide -- if it does, dampen the counter a LITTLE more.
• Form a little more than half of the dough into a disk and place it on the wax paper. Cover it with another piece of wax paper.
• Roll the dough with a rolling pin from the center out in all directions, keeping it as circular as possible.
• Periodically do the following:.
• peel off the top piece of wax paper, then lay it gently back on top of the crust.
• using the bottom piece to lift it, turn the crust over, peel off that piece of wax paper, lay it back down again and continue rolling.
• Continue the peel-replace-flip-peel-replace technique until your crust is about two inches bigger than your pie pan. IMPORTANT: Peel-replace-flip-peel -- then use the bottom piece of paper to lift the crust and place it over your pie pan. Gently peel off the wax paper.
• Use the same technique to roll the top crust.
• As you prefer, you can leave the top crust whole, cut it into strips for lattice, or whatever.
• OPTIONAL: Brush the top crust with milk and/or sprinkle it with sugar.
• Bake according to your pie directions.
• BON APPETIT!

YEASTED OLIVE OIL PASTRY

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the water, add the sugar, and allow to sit until creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and olive oil. Combine the flour and salt, and stir into the yeast mixture. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, until the dough is smooth; do not overwork. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times. For a galette, use all of the dough in one piece, for a double pie crust, cut into two pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap. Let sit for 5 minutes. Then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in the recipe or use to line oiled pans. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too bready. The dough can be transferred directly from the freezer to the oven.

PROVENCAL PUMPKIN TORTE

Steps:

• Yeasted Olive Oil Pastry: Dissolve the yeast in the water, add the sugar and allow to sit until the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and the olive oil. Combine 2 cups of the flour and the salt and stir into the yeast mixture. You can use a bowl and wooden spoon for this, or a mixer; combine the ingredients using the paddle, then switch to the dough hook. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. The dough should be springy and not stick to your hands.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, until the dough is smooth; do not overwork the dough. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times and cut into 2 equal pieces (or as directed in the recipe). Shape each piece into a ball. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 5 minutes, then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in the recipe, and line pans. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too bready. The dough can be transferred directly from the freezer to the oven. Makes enough for 1 (10- or 12-inch) double-crusted torte or 2 (10-inch) tarts.
• For the Pumpkin Filling:.
• Halve the squash and scrape away the seeds and membranes, then cut the flesh into 4-inch-square pieces. (If using butternut, cut it in half crosswise, just above the bulbous bottom part, then cut these halves into lengthwise quarters and scrape away the seeds and membranes.).
• Steam the squash until tender, 15 to 20 minutes, then transfer to a colander and allow to cool and drain for another 15 minutes (butternut squash will not be watery). When the squash has cooled, peel and place in a bowl. Mash with a fork, a large wooden spoon, a potato masher or a pestle.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes, then stir in the garlic. Cook until fragrant, another minute or two. Remove from the heat and toss with the squash, sage, rice, parsley, Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses, all but 2 tablespoons of the eggs, salt and pepper to taste. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Assembly:.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 10-inch or 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom or springform pan.
• Roll out two thirds of the pastry and line the pan with the edges overhanging. Fill the crust with the squash mixture. Top with the remaining pastry, then crimp the edges of the top and bottom pastry together. Cut 4 small slits in the top crust with a sharp knife, brush with the reserved beaten egg and place in the oven. Bake until golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This can also be served at room temperature.

WHOLE WHEAT CANOLA OIL PASTRY

Steps:

• Whisk flour& salt together.
• Pour in oil; stir with fork to form a crumbly paste.
• Drizzle in water, 1 tbsp at a time, stirring with fork just until pastry clumps together.
• Gather pastry together& place between sheets of waxed paper- I save the insides of cereal boxes for this purpose- roll out to a 13 inch circle.
• Fit pastry into a 9 inch pie plate, pressing& patching as necessary; trim edges& press with tines of a fork.