Dinner and a Movie: I, Robot- The GAIA Health Blog

Some Healthy Food Fun: Dinner and a Movie
I, Robot

On the Menu Chicago (year 2035) Style Deep Dish Pizza (2 recipes, Traditional Whole Wheat and Gluten Free)
Video I,Robot movie clips, How to make Deep Dish Pizza

"Sometimes, 'I told you so', just doesn't quite say it"
--Will Smith

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I, Robot is one of my "neo" sci-fi favorites. Set in my former hometown of Chicago, it stars my boy Will Smith, the super smooth, hip-hop, modern day "Shaft".

Will Smith plays a Chicago cop, Detective Spooner. Slightly paranoid, he fears that the robots will turn on the humans. No one see it coming but him.

He initially has an adversarial relationship with one special robot, Sonny, who Spooner suspects has committed murder. The plot thickens, as Will and Sonny find themselves intertwined and connected in more ways that they originally thought.

With a Chicago backdrop, and an even bolder skyline than the current today Chicago skyline, the movie does more that a little to give some insight to how the city will look in the near future. I think I related to this Detective Spooner character, because often I seem to see the world as a little too, as I call it, "Hardwired". I have been saying lately that we all need to "unplug from the grid", that is, the mental programming and conditionings that are constantly being pumped into our heads via the media and such. Whoever fails to do so will simply become, for lack of a better word, a "Robot".

This 'Dinner and a Move' would obviously demand a meal suitable for the big, bold city with the broad shoulders. The meal would have to be one of Chicago's signature dishes, I call it Chicago (year 2035) style Deep Dish Pizza. I call it "year 2035" style because I hope and expect that the future will bring more consciousness to healthy ingredients in the foods that we enjoy. Healthy eating and the joy of eating, for sure in the future, we will merge the two disciplines. Since Chicago likes everything big and bold, no doubt Chicago pizza will still be that way in 2035.

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Whole Wheat Deep Dish Spinach Pizza

Dough
4 tablespoons organic olive oil
2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 tablespoon Coconut Palm Sugar
3/4 teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
2 cups lukewarm water (plus 3-6 tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon gluten
1 1/3 cups organic bread flour
3 cups organic whole wheat flour

Sauce
3/4 teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
Coarse Ground Organic Black Pepper
1tsp grass fed butter
Organic Oregano and Basil and Rosemary
Optional Onions and Garlic Cloves

Filling
1/2 lb grassed fed mozzarella cheese (slices)
1/2 lb grass fed provolone (slices)
1 (28-ounce) (BHP free) can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup grass fed Parmesan, Pecorino, or Romano cheese
10oz (or so) spinach, stems removed

Preheat oven to 425°F. In a bowl mix the dough ingredients, and knead to make a smooth crust. It will take about 5 minutes. I do this process by hand (you can use your mixer. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap, and let rise till very puffy, about 1.5 to 2 hours

FOR THE SAUCE: (I wanna to evolve to making sauce from fresh tomatos). While dough rises, heat butter in medium saucepan over medium heat until melted. Add onion, oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and onion is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes and Coconut Palm Sugar, increase heat to high, and bring to simmer. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. Off heat, stir in basil and oil, then season with salt and pepper.

DO NOT PUNCH DOUGH DOWN. Instead, transfer it gently to a greased 12" deep dish pizza pan and gently push the dough to fill the pan. Spread the dough up the sides of the pan for 1 1/2". Spread cheese slices evenly on top of the dough. The layer of cheese slices next to dough prevents dough from getting soggy.

Place spinach on top of the cheese and then spread tomato puree over the top. Optional top layer of additional grated cheese, types of cheese will vary to taste. Top with spices. Everyone's toppings will evolve to their own individual preferences.

Bake for 30 minutes or until crust is a deep golden brown and pulls away from the sides of the pan and the cheese has melted. Let pizza rest several minutes before cutting and serving

Gluten Free Deep Dish Pizza Recipe

I have never made or eaten a gluten free pizza, but just wanted to include one here because I've read gluten free deep dish pizza recipes are hard to come by.

Crust
2 TBS Corn Meal (AVOID BMO CORN!!!!)
2/3 Cup Gluten Free Bisquick
2/3 Cup Tapioca Flour
2 TBS Almond Meal/Flour (You may also use another nut meal instead)
1 Tsp Gelatin (OR for a Vegan Crust use Ground Chia Seeds)
1 Tsp Salt
1 1/2 Tsp Xanthan Gum
3 TBS Organic Olive Oil
1 1/2 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
3/4 Cup Lukewarm Water (Not too hot as it will kill the yeast)
1 packet Yeast (fast acting) ( or 2 1/2 Tsp yeast from a jar)
1 1/2 Tsp Ultimate Sweetener (Birch Tree) Xylitol
Filling
1 Bag of Mozzarella Cheese
1 can diced tomatoes trained
Pink Himalayan Salt and Coarse ground Black Petter
Fresh Basil, Garlic Powder, and Oregano.

Make sure all your ingredients are gluten free!

-- Turn oven on to its lowest temp- (To create a warm environment for the Crust to Rise)
-- In a small bowl combine the lukewarm water/ sugar and yeast. Set aside and allow the yeast to develop.
-- In a Large bowl combine the Cornmeal, Bisquick, tapioca, almond meal, salt, and xanthan Gum. Mix Well.
-- To this flour mixture add the yeast/sugar/water mixture, Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar. Mix the dough together and gently kneed. If the dough is sticky coat your hands in oil for easier handling.

-- Prepare your pan- Cover the bottom and the sides of your pan with about 2 TBS of oil. Sprinkle in a little additional Corn Meal.
-- Place the Pizza Dough into the Pan- (if needed, Lightly Oil your hands to prevent sticking)
-- Gently work the dough so that is flat across the bottom and then gently pinch up the sides – making the sides an inch or taller.
-- Turn the oven off and Place the prepared crust in- place a towel over it and allow it to rise for 25 minutes.

-- After this 25 minutes- pull the slightly risen crust from the oven and set aside. Preheat the oven to 425 Degrees. Once oven has reached this temp. Place the pizza crust back into the oven and par-bake for 7 minutes. Remove from oven and fill with toppings. Heavily cover the bottom with Mozzarella Cheese. Spoon the Diced Tomatoes on top. Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper. You may additionally add Fresh Chopped Basil, Garlic Powder and Oregano.
-- Place the pizza back into the oven and Bake for 30 minutes. Remove after 30 minutes and serve.

Make sure all your ingredients are gluten free!

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A few quick 'I Robot' Trivia facts

Denzel Washington was offered the role of Spooner. Had he accepted, this would have been the second time he played a previously-married police officer with a bionic left arm who chases down a killer robot, the first being Parker Barnes in Virtuosity.

Based on the movie, in the year 2035, a bottle of beer will cost you $23.25. This could be seen clearly when Spooner flashed his credit card and the text "Two Beers, $46.50" could be seen clearly on the screen.

No re-shoots were required, a rarity for a movie as big as this.

When Detective Spooner walks up to the garage containing the motorcycle, the code he enters on the door pad is 911.