Mario's Sicilian Pizza

Mario's Sicilian Pizza

Recipe by Mario Batali

We caught this recipe on The Chew the other day and decided to adapt it for a 2 person household. I used the wonderful all purpose pizza bianca dough recipe from Gabriele Bonci and cut the other ingredients back proportionately. We also used the tuna we canned a couple months back.

Ingredients

• 1/2 Recipe Pizza Bianca dough
• 1 cup Crushed tomatoes
• 4 oz. Fresh Mozzarella, sliced thin
• 1 Tbs Salt Packed Capers, rinsed
• 1/2 cup Sicilian Olives, chopped
• 1/2 cup Tuna packed in oil
• Oregano
• Red Pepper Flakes

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees.
2. Make the pizza dough according to the recipe and allow to rise for about an hour.
3. When the oven is heated, turn the dough out onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread it carefully into a large oblong. 



4. Spread the tomatoes evenly over the dough then add the other ingredients: tuna, olives, capers, mozzarella, oregano.
5. Slide the pizza into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until it's nicely browned.
6. Slice and serve!

As mentioned we used the tuna we canned a few weeks back on this pizza. If you can possibly do it can your own tuna! The big chunks were firm and moist and the oil, rather surprisingly was not overwhelmed by the tuna. It was a complete success.

We also opened a jar of the melanzane sott'olio from last week and it too was wonderful. The strips of eggplant were tender, with just a hint of acid from the vinegar boil, a breath of garlic and tiny hint of heat from the peperoncino.

Gardening 2012: Labor Day Update

Last Harvest?

Never underestimate the power of Italian vegetables! Just when I though the eggplant had finished, I ended up with another 2 lb 3 oz. We even got one last zucchini because I was too lazy to dig up the plants. We've harvested another 1 lb of little red Calabrese Peppers too. Back in the upper bed the Cima di Rapa is up and needs to be thinned and the cicoria and spinach are poking their heads up as well.

Saffron Bulbs

We also planted 45 saffron bulbs. This was a bit harder than it might seems due to the fact that the front area was still laced with old bamboo roots that had to be dug out before we could plant the little guys. Saffron is a fall blooming bulb and according to the directions we should have fresh saffron in a month or so.

We still have to plant root vegetables in the old lower bed and there are hundreds of peppers still slowly ripening. We might even see a few more eggplant.

Retirement Planning: Guardia Sanframondi Update

A couple days ago Clare Galloway alerted her loyal HHI fans obsessed with Guardia Sanframondi to a short article on the town website. I've bolded a couple interesting parts. Translated here by Google+:

Following the telecast U.S. House Hunters International, turned to the Guard in April last year and aired in America on August 14, which had as its protagonist Clare Galloway, Scottish artist who for more than a year living in the town, the municipality Guard received 40 requests for American citizens interested in the quaint village Sunni. Main location of the program was the old town with its beauties, property and places it has to offer and that's where the protagonist of the documentary, said the reasons which led it to change their lives, leaving Scotland and moved Guardia.Meanwhile, the municipality has set up a special office at the Town Hall Sanframondi Guard to respond to multiple requests for information to buy property from abroad and to acquire the availability for sale by the owners of the buildings of the old town. To coordinate the project the architect Luca Sebastianelli, which states: "This is an intervention aimed primarily to repopulate the historic center Guardiese and, therefore, to enhance it in its historical and artistic aspects that characterize it.'s Office has activated this service monitoring of different types of accommodation through the identification of summaries of possible properties to reuse, to include in the initiative and, eventually, to buy. " 
Meanwhile, the Scottish artist Clare Galloway, who through his story in the American television program has generated considerable interest among U.S. citizens, will act as interpreter and coordinator for all those who come to visit the historical center. The Scottish artist, also points out: "After the broadcast is aired in America, I have received many requests for more information on how you live in the Guard, uses and costumes, as they were very attracted by the lifestyle I am living in the town Guardiese, In fact, the atmosphere and the tranquility of the picturesque old town of Guardia, has taken over the chaotic life of the city. "For more information write to the following e-mail: lucasebastianelli@alice.it

Although this article makes it sound like Clare has an official role in the business, she really doesn't (see here comment below).

And just to remind those of us who tend to get over-excited... Clare lived in Guardia for more than a year fixing up the Arthouse before HHI came to make the show. Buying and renovating a home that has been vacant for decades would be a huge project in one's home town, let alone Italy.

Update: The Guardia Sanframondi episode of HHI will repeat October 11, 2012.
Update 2: Please see Clare's comment below.