You Say Potato and News of the World

Welcome to 2021! I am so happy that this Pizza and a Movie is my first post of 2021. I always get nostalgic at this time of year and it almost always revolves around food. This year, I have been missing many of my favorite California restaurants. A couple weeks ago, I featured The Gourmet which was based on a pizza from Escape From New York Pizza. I am featuring another Escape From New York pie today: You Say Potato.

This is probably my favorite pie from EFNY. Alex’s too. He has memories of ordering this pie from the Haight Street location when he and his brother lived in the Upper Haight, in San Francisco – long before we ever met. This is a vegetarian pie; so simple with only a few toppings, and it is so perfect.

Garlic and Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and put a pizza stone on the lower middle rack. Use a mandoline or a food processor to thinly slice 2-3 small-medium Russet potatoes. Peel 10-15 cloves of garlic. This is the most fiddly part of this whole process, so if you can find whole peeled, jarred garlic, go for that! Toss the potatoes and garlic cloves in a bowl with a good drizzle of olive oil and season with a hefty pinch of salt, pepper, dried oregano and thyme. And if you like, some crushed red pepper flakes.

Spread the potatoes and the garlic cloves in a single layer on a sheet tray and roast for 25-30 minutes, until the potatoes and the garlic get golden. When you put the potatoes in, set the dough out to let it come up to room temperature. Once you take the potatoes and garlic out, turn up the oven to 450 degrees. After they’ve cooled off a little, separate the garlic from the potatoes on the tray. I put a handful of shredded mozzarella in a bowl and about 1/2-1/3 cup of pesto in another bowl, and I just set the bowls on the tray next to the potatoes and garlic.

The Dough

I am using Trader Joe’s pre-made pizza dough again this week. On a lightly floured surface, smooth flour all over the dough ball. Form the crust by using your finger tips to press the dough down about 1/2″ from the edge of the dough, while using your left hand to cup the outer edge of the dough as you go around the dough.

Then, with the palms of your hands, press down and flatten the whole center of the dough. Pick up the flattened dough and place the top side on the back of your left hand. With both hands under the dough, gently stretch the dough with the backs of your hands. Move your hands around as you stretch, to stretch it evenly. While you have the dough on the back of your hands, use one of your hands to spread more flour on the peel. Then, flip the dough back on to the peel.

You Say Potato

Now it’s time to work fast. Use a pastry brush to spread the pesto evenly over the center. Then top with the mozzarella. Then, evenly place the potatoes over the cheese. Finish with the roasted garlic.

Bake the pizza for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and browning.

If you’re a fan of roasted garlic and pesto, this pie will knock your socks off! It’s that good. You Say Potato is a classic Escape From New York Pie. I stretched this dough out like a New York Style pizza, but you can do it in your skillet (like I did for The Gourmet) or on a sheet tray if that’s what is available to you. The flavor will still be amazing!

Movie Night: News of the World

We have our pizza, now let’s start the movie! Alex and I just watched this movie on Christmas and if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it! I rarely get excited about new movies, and I didn’t even know about this movie but I love Westerns, and I love Tom Hanks, so I was happy to give it a go. I was not disappointed.

A veteran of the Civil War takes a young girl, who had been taken by the Kiowa tribe as an infant, to her remaining family in Texas. While the premise seems familiar, this story unfolds in unexpected ways. It is sweet and heartwarming. There is action and adventure, quiet reflection and hardship. The characters learn about themselves and grow in significant ways. Very well acted, directed and shot, this movie is a must-see. It should be available to stream in the US on or around January 11.

Wood-Fired Oven: Completion

Our wood-fired oven is complete! The Mason finished up some of the detail fit and finish this week and now it just needs to cure. Our Landscaper installed a stone path this week too! We are very excited to fire this baby up!

Well everyone, we made it to 2021. Things are not at all different than they were yesterday, but maybe it’s the symbolism of the digit changing from 0 to 1 that we all needed to reinvigorate us to be positive, to be hopeful and push on. I hope that you all had a wonderful evening last night; toasting the New Year and the new day! Stop by facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, to say hello! Take care and be well, Happy New Year! xo Kelly

Print Recipe

You Say Potato

(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

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Dinner, Main Course – American

By Escape From New York Pizza – Serves: 2-4

Prep Time: 20 Minutes – Cooking Time: 45 Mnutes – Total Time: ~ 1 Hour

Roasted Potatoes and Roasted Garlic go perfectly with Pesto in this classic Escape From New York Pizza.

Ingredients

• 2-3 Small to Medium Russet Potatoes, thinly sliced
• 10-15 Cloves of Garlic, whole but peeled
• Olive Oil
• Dried Thyme, to taste
• Dried Oregano, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, optional
• 1 Prepared Pizza Dough
• 1/2-1/3 cup Fresh Pesto
• Large Handful of Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
• Flour, for dusting

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a pizza stone on the lower middle rack.

2

Thinly Slice the potatoes and peel the garlic cloves.

3

Toss the potato slices, garlic, olive oil, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes in a bowl, coating each potato with the seasoning and olive oil.

4

Spread the potatoes and garlic in a single layer on a sheet tray and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the potatoes and garlic are golden.

5

Meanwhile, take out the dough and let it come to room temperature.

6

Remove the potatoes and garlic from the oven and turn up the temperature to 450 degrees.

7

Separate the garlic from the potatoes and set up your pizza station with the cheese, potatoes, garlic, and pesto [with a pastry brush].

8

On a lightly floured pizza peel, coat the dough with a dusting of flour.

9

Form the crust by using your finger tips to press the dough down about 1/2" from the edge of the dough, while using your left hand to cup the outer edge of the dough as you go around the dough.

10

Then, with the palm of your hands, press down and flatten the whole center of the dough. Pick up the flattened dough and place the top side on the back of your left hand. With both hands under the dough, gently stretch the dough with the backs of your hands. Move your hands around as you stretch, to stretch it evenly. While you have the dough on the back of your hands, use one of your hands to spread more flour on the peel. Then, flip the dough back on to the peel.

11

Use a pastry brush to spread the pesto evenly over the center. Then top with the mozzarella. Then, evenly place the potatoes over the cheese. Finish with the roasted garlic.

12

Bake the pizza for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and browning.