Come out this Friday to enjoy live music and a variety of handcrafted microbrews from more than 30 Northern California breweries as part of the 5th Annual Raley Field Brewfest .
The May 13 festival benefits the Northern California Brewers Guild with proceeds going directly back to the breweries. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and VIP tickets are $50. For more information, visit www.raleyfield.com and click on the event calendar.
Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza
The SacFoodies have written about OneSpeed Pizza in the past, but being new to the area I recently made my first visit with some friends and loved it! I ordered a salad, which was delicious, but I admittedly spent most of the meal stealing pizza from my fiancé. Can you blame me? If you have ever been there, then you know the OneSpeed pizzas are full of fresh and unique ingredients.
With this experience in mind, I was so excited to find a recipe in this month’s Real Simple that reminded me of the wonderful pizza served at OneSpeed. Now you can make gourmet pizza in your own kitchen! Of course if you feel like relaxing and letting someone else do the work, head over to OneSpeed for the real deal.
Recipe: Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature
- Cornmeal, for the baking sheet
- 1 pound asparagus, halved crosswise and lengthwise
- 5 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups baby arugula
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400° F.
- Shape the dough into 4 rounds and place on 2 cornmeal-dusted baking sheets.
- Dividing evenly, top the dough with the asparagus, mushrooms, and garlic, then add the ricotta, Parmesan, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
- Season with the salt and pepper.
- Place in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, switching the pans halfway through, until the crust is golden brown and crisp. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the arugula with the lemon juice, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
- Top the pizzas with the arugula just before serving.
- Makes 4 servings.
Variations
I made one big square pizza and added chicken to bump up the protein content.
Recipe by Charlyne Mattox and Courtesy of Real Simple May 2011
Mother’s Day Events in Sacramento
If you’re looking for ideas to treat Mom this Sunday, look no further because we’ve got the scoop on some fun Mother’s Day offerings around town!
For Moms who love the garden, don’t miss the East Sac Garden Show from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $20 and include a luncheon. Continuing with the garden theme, UC Davis will be sponsoring Rose Day, a free event, where families can tour eight acres filled with beautiful roses and learn more about gardening.
For those who want to enjoy the holiday on the water, Hornblower Cruises will be celebrating Mother’s Day with two-hour champagne cruises. Boats depart Old Sacramento at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Onboard, guests will enjoy a mouth-watering buffet, free-flowing champagne and live entertainment, all while sailing the scenic Sacramento River. Call 1-888-467-6256 for reservations.
There are also several great places to take Mom for that special Mother’s Day brunch on dry land. Ella Dining Room will be serving a three-course Mother’s Day menu for $65 per person. Food choices will include ricotta gnocchi, Alaskan halibut with lemon beurre banc and braised shoulder of spring lamb with saffron pearl couscous. Call 916-443-3772 for reservations.
33rd Street Bistro will also be serving a brunch buffet from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call 916-455-2233 for more information or to make a reservation.
Stop by The Firehouse restaurant between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to enjoy an exceptional Mother’s Day brunch. For $49.95 per person, indulge in oysters on the half shell, filet tournedos and eggs, and fresh pastries, among other delicious selections. Call 916-442-4772 for reservations.
Finally, if you still need more ideas, visit Open Table to view a complete list of Mother’s Day specials and open reservation times – it doesn’t get any easier than that!