See this and more inside the Jan/Feb issue of Military Spouse Magazine
Our grandmas always said, “The way to the heart is through the stomach.” I don’t know about you, but good food with great friends will fill my heart every time. Driving home from a long day of shopping for the next makeover, Maria Reed (creator and host of “Moving With The Military”) and I (producer) started talking about all the different military potlucks that forced us to scramble something together last minute. Many times we would get a call, “Honey, I’m bringing a few people home for dinner, can you fix enough for everyone?” We laughed at each reminiscing adventure. A few stories later and a ton of home decor bags in the backseat, and we had birthed “Military Melting Pot, The American Stories,” a cookbook that shares the recipes and stories from military families around the world. Through the cookbook we hope to warm hearts and satisfy stomachs.
Here are a couple of great recipes:
Poppy Seed Cracker (Appetizer)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of cheese (parmesan)
- 1 stick room temperature unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/3 cup poppy seeds
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1/8 tsp sage
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine flour, cheese, diced butter (at room temperature), water, baking powder, salt, poppy seeds and beaten egg (make sure to set 1/3 of the egg aside for brushing – I mixed a little melted butter with the egg and brushed it on). Form into dough. This will only take about 2-3 minutes.
- Wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Once the dough is chilled, roll it out thin. Cut into 1-1.5 inch squares and transfer onto a baking tray lined with baking paper or silicone mat.
- Brush with the remaining egg and bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
- Serve on its own or with hummus, dip or anything you like!
Homemade Pizza Recipe
Ingredients for dough:
- 1/4 c water
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon of sugar
- 1 t salt
- 2 t yeast
- 3 1/2 c all purpose flour
Instructions:
- Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl.
- Let proof for five minutes, until it starts to get foamy, toss and start over with new yeast if it doesn’t.
- Add olive oil, salt, and flour. Stir together with a wooden spoon or dough hook until everything comes together. If too sticky, add additional flour one tablespoon at a time.
- Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for about 4-5 minutes by hand until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to a large pan that has been brushed with 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap or damp towel in a warm place for 30-60 minutes.
- After rising, remove dough from the bowl and cut in half. Roll out on a flour-dusted surface.
- Add your favorite toppings and bake in a 450 degree F oven for 14-16 minutes
- Can keep dough in the fridge for up to three days.