To grow a tomato or a pepper and prepare a meal from your labor and care is primordially satisfying

Sesame Pull-Apart Ring With Tomatoes and Feta

DOUGH:

1 cup milk⠀
2 packets yeast⠀
1/2 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon sugar⠀
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1/4 cup for dusting and rolling⠀
1 teaspoon salt⠀
1/4 pound butter, room temperature, cut into 8 pieces⠀
1/2 cup olive oil, for brushing⠀
1/4 cup sesame seeds⠀ ⠀

CHEESE FILLING:⠀

1 1/4 pounds shredded mozzarella⠀
3/4 pound feta⠀
1 tablespoon olive oil⠀
1 teaspoon salt⠀
1/2 teaspoon black pepper⠀
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes⠀
Juice of one lemon⠀
1 tablespoon chopped parsley⠀ ⠀

TOMATO FILLING:⠀

2 cups diced tomatoes⠀
1/2 cup feta⠀
2 tablespoons chopped parsley⠀
Zest and juice of one lemon⠀
1 tablespoon olive oil⠀
1 teaspoon salt⠀

To make the dough:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat milk to 110 degrees.

In a small bowl, add 1/2 cup milk, and sprinkle yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar over milk.

Stir to dissolve. Allow to sit and bloom for 10 minutes, then stir in remaining milk.

In a large bowl, add 3 cups flour, and make a well in the center.

Add yeast and the remaining sugar and butter. Stir until a ball is formed.

Turn ball onto a floured surface, and knead for 10 minutes.

Place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until it doubles in size.

Punch dough with fist and allow to rise again for 40 minutes.

While dough is rising, make the fillings.

In a small bowl, add mozzarella and feta.

Stir in olive oil, salt, pepper, chili flakes, parsley and lemon. Set aside.

In another small bowl, mix tomatoes, parsley, lemon, olive oil and salt and set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough in half.

Roll each half of the dough into a large circle, approximately 15 inches wide.

Transfer to a sheet tray lined with parchment paper.

With a bowl approximately 6 inches in diameter, mark the center of the dough by pressing the bowl down lightly.

Begin by placing the cheese dip into the center circle and making a ring around the outside of the circle.

Leave room between the center circle, outside ring, and edge of the dough. 

Roll out second dough round so it fits over top of the bottom layer.

Place on top of the filling and using the same bowl, place on dough and press down slightly. Using a fork, press the two pieces together to seal.

Brush entire top of dough with olive oil.

Cut edge into 16 sections by first cutting into quarters, eighths and then sixteenths. Lift and turn each section and press the outside point together and down with your finger to seal. Add 1 teaspoon of tomatoes to each petal and brush top again with olive oil. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the pull-apart is golden. Serve immediately.


If you're talking about how you promoted synergy in an organization, that could mean you just got everybody together for donuts twice a week.

Southern Donut Muffins


Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups flour
1 cup milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a muffin tin with paper or silicone muffin cups and grease the cups with non-stick spray.

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, vegetable oil, and sugars until smooth.

Add the eggs and beat to combine. Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla.

Alternate gradually stirring a little flour and milk into the butter mixture, making sure everything is thoroughly combined.

Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin pan, filling the cups nearly full.

Bake the muffins for 15 to 17 minutes, or until they're a pale, golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of one of the center muffins comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and let cool until you can handle them. Serve plain, or top with a glaze or simple cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Enjoy!