c.serafino

Cioppino o’ Clock

Started with some cheap frozen mussels, scallop and pollock. Added white wine, olive oil and tomatoes. Worked in some dried spices and celery… 15 minutes later I had a hearty cioppino for a cold, wet afternoon meal.

Bacon Makes Everything Better

Bacon Butternut Squash Soup: Butternut squash, low sodium chicken stock, bacon, onion, apple, rosemary, sage, cinamon, smoked sea salt into the Vitamix. Stir in some heavy cream at the end.

The key was transferring the butternut squash from the oven in to the greasy bacon cast-iron pan. Mr. Butternut soaked up alll of the yummy goodness.

End result: Sweet, salty savory soup.

Cucina Serafino

This is what happens when you bring a Vitamix Series 500 over to my kitchen.

I start with some garbanzo beans and roasted red peppers and end up with a feast large enough to feed a small country (or a few extremely hungry people). 

In Search of the Perfect Pie

Driving home from work Friday, I decided I wanted to play Pizzaioli this weekend and bake the perfect pizza from scratch.

On Saturday morning, I stopped by Cavaretta’s in Canoga Park for some canned San Marzano tomatoes, because what’s a pie without tomatoes grown in the volcanic soil of Mt. Vesuvius?

After stopping by Cavaretta’s, I proceeded to Italia Deli in Agoura Hills for some thinly sliced Cappicola and bags or their freshly shredded mozzarella.

After the 30 mile trek from my home, my final destination was my parent’s home where if anyone could help with my quest it would be Pops.

My uncle Carm was the family Pizzaioli, spinning dough and baking pies at my Grandparent’s eatery in Long Beach back in the sixties. During this time, Pops would help out around the restaurant, so if anyone I know has seen a quality pie made first hand it’s Pops.

With Pops’ guidance and a couple of measuring cups, I went to work and built my very first pizza from scratch. The dough was delicious and the flavors were spectacular thanks to the quality ingredients, however my pizza as a whole was about 3 inches thick and shaped like a football. 

Sunday morning I woke up with the urge to perfect my pizza. Without access to fresh Italian deli mozzarella, I opted for the Belgioioso cheese that I often use for manicotti and lasagne. It’s about the best store bought cheese you can buy.

After spending my entire Sunday watching Serie A soccer and baking three more pizzas, I managed to get my crust thin and round thanks to a rolling pin and a round, flat cast iron pan.

I plan on crafting a pizza a week now that I have the basics down.

Stay tuned.

Kneading the dough.

Pizza sauce. Keep it simple, smash the tomatoes and add a little sugar, black pepper and oregano. Let the full flavor of the San Marzano tomatoes shine.

First pie: cappicola and basil. Salty and spicy cappicola goes well with the sweet and tangy sauce.

Playing with different toppings: Pepperoni, red onion, bell pepper and mushroom.

Baking at 500+ degrees on a flat cast iron pan.

My favorite pie so far: Sauce, sliced Belgioioso mozzarella, chopped pepperoni and fresh basil.