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ON THE EDGE w/ missstephanieb

Fish Stick Tacos – (Red) Meatless Monday

I love that so many of my friends/moms here in NYC are chefs. It’s like having your own real-life Pinterest board of ideas. These ladies can take basic meals and turn them into masterpieces of flavor – taking a regular dinner and making it delicious (and easy to recreate!). One of those favorite chef moms of mine is Jory from TeenyTinyFoodie.com. She is constantly putting out toddler-friendly food ideas, and one of our ultimate favorites is her fish stick tacos recipe. I never realized how easy it is to make your OWN fish sticks – and they are BEYOND healthier (and tastier!) Here is a link to her original recipe, since  I switched it up a tad (because we love cilantro and avocado!). Here is  how I made them simply at home for Maximo to devour.

fishtacos

Teeny Tiny Foodie’s Fish Stick Tacos

Carrot Confetti Salad

Ingredients:

  • 2 carrots, shaved into wide ribbons
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
  • ½-1 ounce cilantro, finely chopped

cilantro

Fish Stick Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole wheat or panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 pound white fish, such as cod, catfish, monkfish or mahi mahi (our favorite)
  • 1 egg, whisked with 1 pinch each salt, pepper and garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil or refined coconut oil
  • 16 corn tortillas, warmed according to directions on the package
  • Carrot Confetti Salad (recipe above)

Preparation:

  • Heat the oven to 475 degrees.
  • Place parchment paper on a pizza tray or even a cookie sheet.
  • Slice  fish into vertical strips

fish

  • Dip each piece of fish into the bowl of whipped egg, and then the bowl of breadcrumbs mixed with olive oil.
  • Lay the pieces of fish on the baking tray, and bake for six minutes. Flip the fish sticks and rotate the baking sheet and bake for six more minutes.

both

  • Warm the tortillas (in the over or toaster oven for about one minute). Place two pieces of fish sticks on top and  top with the Carrot Confetti Salad, and avocado. Dig in!

tacos

Le Salon for Le Organic Hair

Well, I am taking a step further into my organic lifestyle. As we all should – have you SEEN that green slime in Lake Erie? WTF is going on with all this commercial food and products? If you don’t realize that it’s hurting us AND the environment yet, you need to start looking around.

Anyways, I realize that I have been doing a pretty good job at reading labels when it comes to food (basically because I don’t eat much that comes in a box or a can anymore), but what about our skin and hair? Well, I did realize that skin was important for Maximo, but what about our OWN hair?  (See my top 5 organic baby products). The owner of Le Salon invited me in to try her organic hair treatment, so I though – hey why not.

salon

Wow was I in for a surprise. She didn’t sugar coat anything. She plain and simply stated that my hair was a wreck. How can I worry so much about what I eat, what I wear, but not care for the thing that defines me – my hair. I was shocked, but I liked her approach. She’s right. She said us American women don’t care about our hair and we walk around with these dry ragged mops on our heads wondering why men don’t find us sexy. Because we’re not trying to be!

I am not saying go out and buy a crop top, but she has a point. The French always take care of their hair – and never wear flats. While I don’t plan to wear Manolos to the playground any time soon, I will take her advice on hair care.

Le Salon NYC offers a comprehensive and holistic approach to hair health, using an integrated and scientifically engineered organic system designed to produce gorgeous, healthy and natural looking hair. Many traditional in-salon and at-home hair products contain toxic chemicals such as ammonia and formaldehyde that can damage the structural integrity of hair and may also irritate the scalp, eyes and skin.

le salon

They introduced me to the Organic Care Systems, a range of shampoos, treatments and conditioners designed to return  hair to its natural pH level, and leave it undamaged by the coloring process (from all that gray coverage!). The process also closes the cuticle helping to reduce color fade, and leaving hair with a healthy, natural shine.  Also, organic means they aren’t tested on animals – or have animal bits in them. (Did you know your nail polish does?? ACK!)

le salon

Here are some fun Organic Questions to ask yourself:

Why Should I Consider Organic Hair Products?

With the proximity of our hair to our primary sense organs, there is a strong potential to inhale or ingest the chemicals used in hair care products. As most people will use some form of hair care product every day, it is important to be aware of the ingredients used in many products and consider more natural options that fit your lifestyle and aesthetic goals.

How do Organic Color Systems work?

Organic Color Systems use an alkaline to increase the pH of the hair, which gently opens and softens the hair cuticle. With Organic Color Systems, the color molecules are suspended in an oil base, which softens the hair cuticle, without significantly raising hair’s pH the way colors with ammonia do. Following a color application, the Organic Care Systems line is used to return the hair to its natural pH and fully close the hair cuticle, which works to reduce color fade.

Are Organic Color Systems All Natural?

Organic Color Systems are manufactured as conscientiously as possible without compromising effectiveness. There are no truly natural hair colors other than henna powder.

Why Should Formaldehyde Be Avoided?

Many traditional keratin-straightening systems contain formaldehyde. The U.S. National Toxicology Program has described formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cited adverse health issues related to the inhalation of formaldehyde in keratin systems including eye, nervous system and respiratory events and recommends that consumers limit their exposure to products that contain formaldehyde, formalin and methylene glycol.

hair

Le Salon NYC is located at 310 East 44th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Please visit www.lesalonnyc.com to learn more about Le Salon and Organic Salon Systems.

Why It’s Okay To Take A Vacation Without The Kids

Every year I take an annual trip to the Caribbean with my girlfriends. No kids. No dads. And every year it feels like I get backlash for doing so. I don’t see it outright (no one is calling me a bad mother on Facebook!), but I can feel the judgement every time someone doesn’t like a photo of me on the beach sans my son.

Why is that? And when did it become such a bad thing to take a vacation, or even just a day to yourself? When did being a mother require you to spend every single hour with your child until they ship off to college at age 18? (I remember my parents going on vacation every year without me. I never resented them for it. In fact, I liked getting to spend a week with gram on the farm, or as I got older, having the house to myself. Not once did it ever cross my mind that they were being bad parents, it just seemed a normal way of life. People worked, people took vacations. Sometimes those vacations didn’t include the kids.)

horse

You can’t go horseback riding on the beach in Nevis with a toddler.

At a recent conference I attended in Detroit, it was mentioned that mothers today spend more hours a day with their children than they did in the 1960s. And that was when most women were stay-at-home moms! Today, mothers may be spending less hours cooking and cleaning, but we’re making it up with time spent with the kids. Add in a job and you have moms who work all day only to come home and work their “second job.” If anyone deserves a few days off, it’s the modern mom.

So why are we so quick to judge each other for taking that time off? I asked some of my mom friends if they ever go away without the kids and I was astonished to hear the answer “yes” from 90% of them. Most of them aren’t posting photos of their happy (and quiet!) kid-less getaways on Facebook. Is it out of shame? Also interesting: Many of my non-American friends don’t feel the guilt I do as a mom when I step away. In fact, these European moms were shocked to hear that I even felt bad to take a day off, as it’s such a normal part of life for them. As author Pamela Druckerman of Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting said: “Yet the French have managed to be involved with their families without becoming obsessive. They assume that even good parents aren’t at the constant service of their children, and that there is no need to feel guilty about this.

hrrr

So yes, it’s time to stop feeling guilty, and to stop shaming other parents for taking a little time off to recharge as well. Here are a few tips on how you, too, can learn to slip away without the kids:

1. Make sure all necessary documents are ready in case of emergency.

Have living wills prepared (if both parents are going to be away together), and have a notarized letter of consent for the caregiver staying with the children allowing them to have medical procedures performed if the worst should happen.

2. You don’t have to go far.

Even taking an overnight or day trip to a local spa or hotel counts! You may be surprised by how recharged you feel even if you’re only away for 24 hours (or less.)

3. Get a cheap international plan with FaceTime or texts.

You can always log on your phone or iPad internationally via WiFi for free, and most resorts offer it. You can even use Facebook for free messaging instead of texts. But, just in case of an emergency, I usually get a cheap international plan for about $30 that consists of approximately 50 minutes of phone time and 50 texts. Plus, it’s always fun to FaceTime the kids from the beach.

4. Affordable getaways are possible.

There are tons of great (and cheap) options if you want to get away for a few days. For international vacations, I use Jetsetter.com;Groupon and LivingSocial.com always have great weekend or day trips available based on your location as well.

5. Don’t feel guilty to set sail with your friends.

Think of all the cool things you can do without the babies in tow—zip-lining in Puerto Rico, conch diving in Turks and Caicos, exploring the local fishing towns and food in Barbados.

Have you traveled without the kids lately? How did you feel leaving them at home? Let us know in the comments section below!

Originally published on MommyNearest.com

Who Cleans At Your House? Swiffer Says Share the Workload

I was invited to attend the Swiffer event on behalf of Mommiede.com – you can read the full article on her website, here! 

Growing up in Middle America on a farm, we had very traditional roles for men and women when it came to cleaning – basically, men just didn’t do it! I remember my grandma moving all the furniture, including the extremely large dishwasher, all by herself at least once a week to scrub the floors.  She lugged the laundry outside to hang to dry, maintained the garden (and her roses), and still cooked all the meals. I never remember my grandfather cleaning anything, except maybe hosing off a tractor that went through a mud field that day. So, I think it’s safe to say that roles are changing. Personally, we have divided up the roles here at home. I do most of the cleaning, but if I cook, Claudio does the dishes. Also, laundry is his job once a week. I can just see the look on my grandfather’s face if my gram asked HIM to do the laundry.

Swiffer is Helping Change the Rules of Cleaning at Home

So – am I the odd one out on this? In fact – The majority (82%) of American wives don’t ask for help with cleaning because they don’t want to be a “nag,” yet the guys want to help! A whopping 61 percent of husbands said they would help with the chores if just asked.

swiffer

I wasn’t surprised when Eric Stonestreet, who plays Cameron on Modern Family, got up and said the same thing when he spoke at Swiffer’s event last week here in NYC.  (Eric joined relationship expert Dr. Michelle Callahan to spotlight unexpected cleaning conversations among today’s modern families, and the transformative effect when Swiffer makes it fun and easy for everyone in the household to help out with cleaning.)

Check out his hilarious video for Swiffer with his mom: http://youtu.be/OS3uzYOHINo

swiffer

Win your own #biggreenbox by following Swiffer on social media! @Swiffer on Instagram and Twitter.

Read the full article on Mommiede.com here! 

 

 

Try Panera Bread’s New (Skinny) Flatbread On Us!

Hey dudettes – newsflash: I’ve been traveling a lot this summer. Oh please – it’s mostly for work don’t get too jaded and stop reading already! One thing really started to bother me while I was sitting in over 10 hours of traffic to and from Baltimore this weekend –  I realized how hard it is to find something descent, let alone healthy to eat on the highway. Maybe it was the hangover or the heat, but really – where has all the good food gone? (in the voice of Paula Cole) 

Well, the ONE place I feel like I can always count on is Panera Bread. They take fast food to a (better) level. I’ve always had a love for their Broccoli Cheese soup and Bacon Turkey Bravo sandwich. Good LORD that could cure a hangover. But if it’s calories you’re watching – they have an AMAZINGLY delicious line of salads, and now flatbreads! Plus, Panera was one of the original companies to actually post calories on site. Don’t believe me? Check it out. I know I can’t be the only New Yorker who is now dependent of seeing calorie counts everywhere. When I travel I have a mini panic attack because the menus aren’t telling me what to order.

So at 4 am I am heading to the airport to catch yet another flight to Texas to visit some clients. Dinner tonight? Panera Bread on the balcony. Listen up moms – you don’t always have to be super-mom. We all have days when we just can’t cook, clean, and look like a Stepford wife. And there are healthy, quick options out there!

panera

Flatbreads Are Here

panera

The Southwest Chicken Flatbread

So anyways, Panera Bread knows how much I love them, and of course asked me to try their new flatbreads, on them. (Thanks, Panera!) And I have to say I AM PUMPED because they are effin DELICIOUS and have way fewer calories than my go-to Bacon Turkey Bravo. I must also admit, this is usually what I get at Subway, and I am much more impressed with Panera’s version.

My favorite? Of course the Mediterranean Chicken Flatbread. Maybe it’s just because Astoria is so Greek? haha.

panera

The Mediterranean Chicken Flatbread

Panera’s Healthy Options

– Calories on the menu

– The new flatbreads are low-calorie options!

– They use organic milk and yogurt, especially with the kids’ meals!

– They use hormone and antibiotic free-chicken.

Additional News:

They’re opening a new Panera Bread at 531 86th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on Monday Aug. 4th!  In celebration of its third location in Brooklyn, the restaurant will give away free coffee for a month, plus a Panera Bread coffee tumbler to the first 250 guests beginning at 6:30AM.

Now, Panera wants YOU to try their flatbreads, too – and see they will blow your mind without blowing your diet. It’s the perfect skinny bikini beach-side picnic sandwich!

Comment below which Flatbread you’d love to try the most (or your favorite skinny mini menu item) and enter to win a $25 Gift Certificate! **Only available for residents in Queens, Brooklyn Staten Island, and Long Island. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mom Voyáge – International Adventures of Motherhood

I participated in a Blog Blast on behalf of Mom Central for Urbini. I received information from Urbini to facilitate my post as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I always wanted to be an international journalist. After I completed my Masters, I almost jetted off to Africa for a three-month stint in Cape Town to cover children soldiers of the Congo. True story. I even wrote my thesis on the International Ethics of Documenting Cultures. Because Americans have a tendency to be sheltered from the world, and I wanted to know and understand the world beyond these inhibiting walls.

mom voyage

Proud to be an American.

Once I became a mother, I was still intrigued to understand how other cultures, especially those outside the United States, raised their offspring. It seemed that many children growing up outside of America grew up like I did in my own childhood – with discipline. So, I researched many different countries, including France, Germany, China and England. One site I loved to follow was mom-voyage.com because it had a community of international moms writing about motherhood under one website. I realized many things are different, yet some are the same.

What is Mom Voyáge?

Mom Voyáge is a community of Mom bloggers sharing their experiences in motherhood from all around the world. Featured contributors on the website come from the Netherlands, France, Britain, Holland, Japan, China and Australia as well as the US. You can get a global perspective on how different cultures name their babies, how they celebrate pregnancies, what their take is on maternity leave, and many other Mom-inspired topics. It has some pretty cool and enlightening reads – and I highly recommend it! (Maybe they’ll even let me contribute one day!)

I think it’s important these days, especially living in such a multi-cultural society to not continue to pigeon-hole ourselves as parents, and open our worlds to understanding others. You may not realize it, but right here in NYC there are thousands of different cultures and traditions going on around us. Languages, mannerisms – just take a look around.

mom voyage

Maximo growing up in the big apple. How do your children spend their days?

One story in particular that I LOVE that the French teach patience through cooking.

You won’t see French children running wild throughout a restaurant at dinner and why? Because it is taught at an early age. Usually this is done through cooking, so children see the process of creating something, understand how it takes time to create it, and that they must wait for a final product before they can enjoy it. Cooking also teaches them measurements, mathematics, where food comes from and more. It’s a brilliant technique that I have established (well am still working on) with Maximo.

Maternity Leave Around The World

One of the most researched topics I have found astounding is the difference in maternity leave around the world. It’s no secret that America lacks in this department, and overall, the value of family is lower than most countries. You can see a great write-up about this on mom-voyage.com here.

So what are your thoughts on international cultures of parenting? Where are you from and how do you raise/handle your wild toddler? I’d love to know! 

Follow Mom  Voyáge and Urbini here:

Budsies – Turn Artwork Into Life

A few weeks ago one of my New York mom friends asked me if I would be interested in turning some of Maximo’s artwork into real-life stuffed animals. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?   Since Max really only takes the moderist approach to scribble all over my white leather office chair with pens, I figured he might still be a bit young, and instead reached out to Claudio’s cousin, Ana Victoria. She’s pretty cool and reminds me a lot of myself at her age – spunky, not afraid of dirt, and already smart beyond her years.

The most inquisitive question – what would she draw? Would it even be appropriate? Gah! Kids these days I tell ya…

So How Does Budsies Work?

1. Literally you draw a noun.

(that’s person, place or thing to you college grads out there) – because verbs and adjectives are a little tricky to transform into a tangible item.

2. You take a picture of it, and you upload it to the Budsies website.

budsies

3. In about 5 weeks, your very own Budsies will arrive in the mail.  

budsies

That’s it. And SERIOUSLY HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT. Even look at the detail. See how the red and green doll have the bang swoop drawn to perfection? That’s QUALITY I tell ya!

What was that? Did grandma just call you mother of the year for her Christmas present? Yeah, you’re welcome. Better start working on those drawings now 🙂

Oh – AND they have a summer special going on for only $69.99 (originally $99). Take advantage of it now!

budsies

Why Budsies are Even COOLER

They work with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Eastern Pennsylvania to sponsor Budsies for children going through cancer treatment, and host art days with sponsored Budsies for underprivileged kids in the community.  They also donate Budsies through Easter Seals of Southwestern Indiana for kids with disabilities.

These are kids who could really use a friend to keep them company.  A buddy that will stay with them through thick and thin.

My heart just melted.

Budsies average around $100 each. I was not compensated for this post, but I did (well, Ana Victoria did) receive complimentary product. And when Maximo gets a little older, I will be ordering another! 

5 Organic Baby Products for Mom and Baby

Way back many many years ago when Maximo was first born, I read a few articles about cancer-causing agents in top brand shampoos like Johnson and Johnson. They “claimed” they were going to remove them (in up to five years), but who really wants to take their chances on a newborn?  Well, in the last couple of years I have done some research, and while I am not perfect, I try to eat, clean and also shower with organic products. aka – less chemicals. So here is a list of my 5 favorite organic baby products for mom and baby:

organic baby products

I am not trying to sound bougie or crunchy granola about being organic – my grandma still doesn’t understand the concept. That’s because back in her time, basic products WERE organic. Or well, farmers weren’t exactly concerned about the glow of their skin on the fields lol.

1. BabyGanics

organic baby products

Mentioned back in that original article, it’s always been my go-to brand since Maximo was born. Since it’s American-made right here in Long Island, it’s always easy to find, even in large stores like Target and Babies R Us! You have to love that they refer to their products as “baby-safe.” NeoNourish® is their own 100% natural, cold-pressed seed oil blend specifically made for the unique needs of babies’ ‘work in progress’ skin. Lately I’ve been obsessed with their natural insect repellant this summer. No bug bites, yet!  Yes, please!

2. Babo Botanicals

organic baby products

Babo Botanicals actually found me on Instagram. (I love social media). How could I not try products that all entirely made on an organic farm in upstate New York?  The Babo Botanicals Collection contains the certified organic Nutri-Soothe™ blend which combines chamomile, calendula, kudzu and watercress, rich in vitamin A, C and D to deliver maximum nutrients, protection and moisturization.  They make this amazing swim and sport shampoo and conditioner that’s great to use (even for us grown up adults) after a full day at the beach or pool full of chlorine.

BONUS: Babo Botanicals loves my readers so much they’ve offered you a special 25% off any purchase code valid through Aug 31! Just type in ‘SPORT25’ at checkout!

3. Le Salon Organic Products

organic baby products

I went to get my hair done the other day at the cutest little French salon in NYC. Boy was I in for a surprise. Le Salon is no joke – the owner and I had the most amazing chat about how women aren’t beautiful anymore – how we don’t take care of ourselves. (It’s true – when’s the last time you even brushed your hair??) She explained that we’ll spend all this money on plastic surgery and beauty products, but we always neglect our own hair – our most powerful statement. So after a seriously indulgent organic treatment to my tired tresses, I went home with my first brush in years (swear), and a full line of organic products for my hair. Now that I brush my hair everyday like I brush my teeth, its shine and natural wave is really starting to come out. I’ll never look back. Watch for my full review on Le Salon coming up next week! 

4. Baby Hampton 

hampton

I never really thought about this either, but my expat American friends advised me that sunscreens outside of the US aren’t tested on animals, while it’s a requirement here. Sounds awful right? That companies HAVE to burn animals to see if the SPF will protect us? I literally swore off American sunscreens after that (no joke – I have my friends in Australia and France bring me back the good stuff!). While it’s not the fault of the companies here, were just trying to protect our kids too, I have found that I have to use sunscreens that at least are organic and no chemically-laced as well. Baby Hampton is one of my favorites because it comes as a glide on stick that is easy to apply on a swiggly toddler. AND it’s small and lightweight to fit in a diaper bag you’ll be lugging all over the city on a hot day without weighing you down.

5. The Honest Company

organic baby products

I am usually never a fan of celebrity-endorsed products, but I actually met Jessica Alba at the Biggest Baby Shower when I was pregnant, and heard her speak about the product. As a mom herself, she was passionate about protecting her own children. And let’s admit it, her diaper collection for The Honest Company is seriously adorable. Organic diapers and wipes are about as close to nature as you’re going to get to cloth or no diapers at all. Since I just can’t without a washer or dryer in my tiny apartment, we stick to organic. They’re obviously going to be more than your Target-brand diapers, but they are always running awesome specials on their site where you can get a large bulk order for a pretty hefty discount.

Flower Delivery To The Rescue! The Bouqs

I am not a girlie girl. Shocker. But sometime’s a girl needs flowers. Either from herself, a secret admirer, or dad, nothing makes someone feel special like seeing a box of roses show up on your doorstep. Or in my case, your doorman. Anyways, I have new obsession with The Bouqs so I wanted to share. You can actually order flowers online for LESS than you can pick up that dead looking collection of weeds at your local bodega. Flower delivery is the new food delivery.

flower delivery

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Flower Delivery

The Bouqs actually grow their flowers on a volcano in South Africa. Seriously. That means they’re sourced only from eco-friendly, sustainable farms that respect the environment and their workers. And they only cut only what we sell. Other providers source from a supply chain that sees 1 in 3 stems wasted. Across hundreds of thousands of bouquets a year, that’s a lot of wasted land, resources, labor and fuel. We cut only when you order, so we avoid the waste.

So, do your part to support a farmer and not feel guilty to have something pretty cut from the environment for your office or living room. These flowers are meant just for you.

Summer Special!

Right now, you can get TWO for ONE – that means, get two amazing bouquet of amazing roses, and give one to your sister. Or neighbor. Or mom. Now there’s ZERO guilt.

flower delivery

Just thought I would brighten your Monday.

xoxo

Stephanie

Mastering the Vegetable Torte

Seriously – it is just me, or is everyone just over-booked and busy these days? I remember always having something on the books, but lately I feel like it’s go go go. It took a rainy day at home to finally take the day to enjoy my favorite pastime – cooking! Yeah yeah, before you make some comment about how domesticated I’ve become… realize that I’ve always LOVED to cook. I just never have time. Especially here in NYC – who does? F, even Carrie Bradshaw used her oven for sweater storage.

So anyways, when I say cook – I mean I dug into the ole Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking cookbook. Cooking doesn’t mean frying up some Hamburger Helper, or trying to perfect the latest Pinterest recipe – it should be a delicate routine. A battle between kitchen and chef – the conquest to master the untamable – creating a masterpiece you didn’t think you were capable of.

For me, tis is the Torte. The perfect combination of baking and savory flavors.

vegetable torte

The pastry shell for this vegetable pie is unusual because instead of the eggs that customarily  go into making flaky pastries, it uses ricotta.

Vegetable Torte in a Flaky Crust

For the Filling:

vegetable torte

1 cup chopped asparagus, mushrooms, squash or zucchini (I use what’s in season!)

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Salt and Pepper

3/4 cup fresh ricotta

1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

2 eggs

Directions:

vegetable torte

1. Put the oil, onion, and carrot in a saute pan, and turn the heat on to medium. Cook and stir the onion until it becomes colored a pale gold. Then add the parsley, stirring it rapidly 2 or 3 times. Cook until tender, from 5 to 15 minutes. If in the meantime the liquid in the pan becomes insufficient, add a tablespoon or two. Pour the entire contents of the pan into a bowl and allow to cool completely.

2. When cool, mix in the ricotta and grated Parmesan.

3. Beat the eggs lightly in a deep dish, then swirl them into the bowl. Taste and correct the filling for salt and pepper.

 

Making The Pastry Crust and Completing the Torte

vegetable torte

1 1/2 cups flour

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 cup fresh ricotta

1/2 teaspoon salt

Wax paper or parchment paper

Butter and flour for the pan

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 375 degrees.

2. Mix the flour, butter, ricotta, and salt in a bowl, using your fingers or a fork.

3. Turn the mixture out onto a work surface and knead for 5 or 6 minutes until the dough is smooth. Divide the dough into 2 unequal parts – one twice as large as the other.

4. Roll out the larger piece of dough into a circular sheet no thicker than 1/3 inch. To simplify transfering this to the pan, roll out the dough on the lightly floured wax paper (or kitchen counter).

5. Smear the inside of your round pan (I use a cake pan) with butter, then dust it with flour and turn it over giving it a sharp smack against the counter to shake off loose flour.

6. Pick up the dough and place in pan, covering the bottom and letting it come up the sides. Smooth the dough, flattening and evening off any bulky creases with your fingers.

7. Pour the vegetable filling into the pan and level it off.

8. Roll out the remaining piece of dough using the same method as before. Lay it over the filling, covering it completely. Press the edge of the top dough against the edge of the pan. Make a tight seal all around, folding any excess dough toward the center.

finish

9. Place on the uppermost rack of the preheated oven and bake until the top is lightly browned, about 45 minutes. Allow the torte to settle a few minutes before loosening it from the bottom and transferring it to a serving platter.

 

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