Help Wanted - Creativity in the Kitchen

Week 2

Day 5: Morocco 

Plan: Morocan-style Pizza - $4 for 4

Final Total: $3.92

Story:  We were not very creative last week, by our own standards, and while Africa is an enormous continent, with a wide variety of cuisine, we got kind of stuck in old ruts. Between Africa and Asia, our kitchen fare of the last two weeks, there are many meals served on rice or with beans with potatoes, carrots and onions served up in a variety of ways. There are lots of brown sauces; some more red, some more orange, some more green.  For as highly seasoned as we love our food, sometimes the palate tires of such high seasons.

Some of the quoteable quotes from last week included:

"If I were a refugee, I would be grateful."

"If I were a refugee, handed a box with these ingredients, I would make something else."

"What is our next region? Are we going to get to have pasta soon?"

"This taste like soap. I don't think you can give the leftovers to the chickens."

Friday night, I knew we needed something more familiar, and if not truly African, at least Africa-infused. There are recipes for Moroccan pizza all over the Internet. We met many Moroccans when our Egyptian friend and guest teacher lived with us. I know they would approve of this meal, and it's intent toward eating cheap, crossing cultures, and bringing comfort to the family table. 

                          

                      

  

Super Easy Crust for 1-14" Pizza

1 Tbsp yeast - $0.05

1 tsp sugar $0.02

1 cups warm water

2 1/2 cups flour $0.20

2 Tbsp olive oil $0.25

1 tsp salt  

$0.52

                          

                 

    

Toppings

1 cup seasoned Tomato Sauce - $0.25

1 Tbsp homemade chutney - $0.15

1 cups feta cheese - $2

1 cup diced Spinach - $1

Dash curry pdr, chili pdr, cumin 

1 diced spicy Pepper - free from garden

2 large cloves garlic, minced - free from garden

$3.40

Pizza Total - $3.92

Directions 

1. Mix all ingredients in a stand mixer.  When a soft, wet dough is achieved, let rest covered for 15-30 minutes.  

2. Preheat oven to 500*.  With floured hands, turn mound of dough onto floured parchment, or floured baking pan.  Work dough into a circle using floured hands.  Finish shaping to desired thickness with a rolling pen.  

3. Cover with favorite toppings.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.