Pita Florentine Recipes

TURKEY PITA FLORENTINE (LOW FAT)

Steps:

• In a medium nonstick skillet,cook turkey over medium-high heat until no longer pink.
• Set aside.
• Cook and drain spinach according to package directions.
• In a medium bowl,mix turkey,spinach and cheese.
• Stir in ketchup and mayonnaise.
• Fill each pita pocket evenly until all of the mixture is used.Slightly flatten pockets and brown lightly in skillet coated with non-stick cooking spray.

PITA FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Cook vegetarian crumbles. Place crumbles in skillet over medium-high heat until thawed, set aside.
• Cook and drain spinach according to package directions. Add to crumbles, spinach, and cheese, stir in ketchup and mayonnaise, and heat all ingredients until warm.
• Fill pita pockets evenly until all mixture is used up. Serve warm.

PITA BREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water; stir to blend. Let the yeast stand until foamy, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir in the salt. Add the flour, a little at a time, mixing at the lowest speed until all the flour has been incorporated and the dough gathers into a ball; this should take about 4 minutes.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it's smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turn it over to coat, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Place a large pizza stone on the lower oven rack, preheat the oven (and stone) to 500 degrees F.
• Punch the dough down, divide it into 8 pieces, and gather each piece into a ball; keeping all of them lightly floured and covered while you work. Allow the balls of dough to rest, covered, for 15 minutes so they will be easier to roll out.
• Using a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into a circle that is about 8-inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick. Make sure the circle is totally smooth, with no creases or seams in the dough, which can prevent the pitas from puffing up properly. Cover the disks as you roll them out, but do not stack them up. Put 2 pita rounds at a time on the hot pizza stone and bake for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the bread puffs up like a balloon and is pale golden. Watch closely; they bake fast. Remove the bread from the oven and place on a rack to cool for 5 minutes; they will naturally deflate, leaving a pocket in the center. Wrap the pitas in a large kitchen towel to keep them soft.

FLORENTINE PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• For the alfredo sauce.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Add the minced garlic and saute for a minute.
• Add in flour and stir until it is evenly incorporated with the butter making a loose paste.
• Add in the half and half cream. Bring to a simmer over low heat, whisking constantly until thickened. Do not allow the sauce to boil.
• Simmer for minute or so over low heat stirring continuously until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
• Mix in the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses stirring constantly to melt them evenly. Be sure to reserve the remaining mozzarella for the topping.
• Season with white pepper to taste.
• For the spinach topping.
• Squeeze as much of the water from the spinach as possible.
• Puree the pesto sauce and spinach together in a food processor until the pesto and spinach are combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the food processor with a rubber spatula to ensure all the pesto is incorporated. The final product should be a paste that will hold a shape.
• Place the prepared pizza dough on a lightly oiled baking sheet or pizza stone.
• Spread the alfredo sauce evenly over the pizza dough.
• Spread the spinach/pesto mixture over the alfredo sauce.
• Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese is bubbly.

PASTA FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta.
• While pasta is cooking, melt margarine or butter in large pan.
• Toss in garlic.
• Squeeze spinach dry, and toss in pan with garlic.
• Heat.
• Add mushrooms and sauce.
• Heat over very low while pasta cooks.
• Mix drained pasta in with sauce and spinach.
• When heated through, sprinkle with cheese and heat until cheese melts.
• Delicious with garlic bread.

MINI PITA CRAB FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Mix spinach with the crab, water chestnuts& green onions.
• In another bowl combine the ranch dressing pkg,dill weed, yogurt& mayo mix well, Combine the two bowls, mix well.
• Cut mini pitas in half and stuff with the crab, spinach mixture.
• Arrange on a platter, decorate with some parsley sprigs etc.
• Serve warm or cold.