Four Seasons Tart From Lake Como Crostata Di Quattro Stagioni Recipes

QUATTRO STAGIONI

Steps:

• Make Margherita Pizzas; before adding cheese, top with olives, artichoke hearts, ham and sauteed mushrooms in 4 sections.
• Margherita Pizzas
• Stretch dough into two thin 9-inch rounds. Top each with 1/2 cup crushed San Marzano tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, pepper and olive oil; bake until golden. Sprinkle with 1/2 pound diced mozzarella, torn basil and salt. Bake until the cheese melts, then drizzle with olive oil.
• How to make a pizza:
• Step 1:Place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack and preheat to 500 degrees.
• Step 2: Stretch 1 pound dough on a floured pizza peel, large wooden cutting board or parchment paper.
• Step 3: Top as desired, then slide the pizza (with the parchment paper, if using) onto the stone or baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.
• Pizza Dough
• Whisk 3 3/4 cups flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Make a well and add 1 1/3 cups warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 packet yeast. When foamy, mix in 3 tablespoons olive oil; knead until smooth, 5 minutes. Brush with olive oil, cover in a bowl and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Divide into two 1-pound balls. Use 1 pound per recipe unless noted.

POUND CAKE PETIT FOURS

Steps:

• Line a large baking pan with parchment paper, then set a grid cooling rack inside.
• Cut the top and bottom crusts from the pound cake (to remove any browned edges) using a serrated knife or cake leveler. Cut the cake in half lengthwise into two 1/2-inch-thick slabs. Lay them on a work surface and stamp about ten 2-inch shapes from each slab with a cookie cutter. Arrange on the prepared rack.
• Remove the lids and foils from the tops of each frosting tub and microwave each in 30-second intervals until melted and pourable, about 1 minute total. Stir pink food coloring into one tub until a vibrant color is achieved; add green color to another tub and stir. (You'll leave one tub untinted.)
• Liberally pour the pink frosting over 10 pieces of cake until they are completely coated, turning the pan to see if all sides get coated well. Pour the green over 10 more pieces in the same manner. Drizzle the white frosting over the pink and green cakes using a spoon. Let stand for about 2 minutes, then top ten cakes with whole almonds and ten cakes with the cherries.
• Let stand until set, about 30 minutes, or transfer to the refrigerator to speed the setting, about 15 minutes. Place each petit four inside a cupcake paper and display on a serving tray.