Pizza from Scratch!

Pizza Crust

Prep Time: 30 min Cook time: 20 min Ready in: 1 hr 50 min

Serves 15

Ingredients:

2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast

1/2 tsp brown sugar

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 tsp salt

2 Tbs olive oil

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and brown sugar in the water and let sit for 10 minutes.

2. Stir the salt and oil into the yeast solution. Mix in 2 1/2 cups of the flour.

3. Turn dough out onto a clean, well-floured surface and knead in more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Place the dough into a well oiled bowl and cover with a cloth. Let the dough rise until double (about 1 hour). Punch down the dough and form a tight ball. Allow the dough to relax for a minute before rolling out.

4. Preheat oven to 425 F. Roll out dough onto a cookie sheet and let rise 15 more minutes. Bake for 5-7 minutes. Top with sauce (recipe below) and top with desired ingredients (we used romano and mozzerella cheese, pepperoni and sausage. YUM!).

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

Pizza Sauce

Ingredients:

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp oregano

1/8 tsp pepper

1 tsp sugar

1 16 oz can tomato sauce

1 3 oz can tomato paste

2 Tbs olive oil

Directions:

Saute garlic in olive oil until lightly brown. Add all other ingredients. Stir and heat until sauce comes to a boil. Cool and use.

Pineapple Chicken

This is one of our favorite recipes! It's also one of the easiest.

Pineapple Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 frozen chicken breasts

20 oz. can pineapple chunks, drained

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

Directions:

Place chicken in crockpot.

Mix pineapple, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes.

Pour mixture over chicken.

Cook on low 4-6 hours, on high 3-4 hours.

Serve over rice.

See how easy!!! :)

Taco Soup

Taco soup is one of the easiest and yummiest things ever! One of our favorite meals for sure!

Taco Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 6 oz. can tomato paste

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can corn

Fritos

Mexican Blend cheese

Sour Cream

Directions:

Cook meat until no longer pink. Combine meat, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, and corn in a large pot. Stir in taco seasoning. Cook over medium heat until hot. Serve with Fritos, cheese, and sour cream

Preview

Here are some recipes that are forthcoming! Love me some delicious food!

Butternut Squash Bake

Sausage/Pepperoni Pizza (with homemade crust and sauce)

Pineapple Chicken

Honey-Crusted Chicken (courtesy of Larissa Terry, my cousin)

Taco Soup

Get excited!!!!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Time

Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 25 min

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

2 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 cup hickory flavored barbeque sauce

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon molasses

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1 (12 inch) pre-baked pizza crust

1 cup mozerella cheese

1/2 cup romano cheese

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

4-5 slices bacon, cooked and cut up

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 425 F. In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine chicken, barbeque sauce, honey, molasses, brown sugar and cilantro. Bring to a boil.

2) Spread chicken mixture evenly over pizza crust and top with cheese, onions, and bacon. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana

Okay, so this isn't the healthiest soup you'll ever eat, but it sure tastes good!

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana
Time

Prep: 20 min Cook: 3-4 hours

Serves: A lot!!! This will almost fill a pretty big crockpot.

Ingredients:

3 cans (14oz) Chicken Broth

2 cups whipping cream

red pepper flakes (to taste)

salt and pepper (to taste)

1 small onion, diced, sauteed

1/2 pkg. bacon (cooked and crumbled)

4-5 cups chopped kale

3 to 4 potatoes scrubbed and cut into slices or small chunks (skins left on)

1 lb Johnsonville mild Italian sausage (shaped into small rounds, browned, and put on paper towels to de-grease... or if you are in a rush, just brown the sausage like you would ground beef).

Directions:

Put everything except for potatoes together in a large crockpot and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Add potatoes the last 40-60 minutes (if you add them too soon they will get soggy).

Honey-Whole Wheat Bread

So I've been really into baking bread lately. I think I'll stop buying it at the store. This bread is way better!

Honey-Whole Wheat Bread

Time:

Prep: 35 Min Rise: 1 hr 50 min Bake 45 min

Makes: 2 loaves

Ingredients:

3 cups whole wheat flour

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup shortening

3 teaspoons salt

2 package regular or quick active dry yeast (4 1/2 tsp.)

2 1/4 cups very warm water

3-4 cups all purpose or bread flour

Butter or margarine

Directions:

1) In a large bowl, beat whole wheat flour, honey, shortening, salt and yeast with electric mixer on low speed until well mixed. Add warm water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough all purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough east to handle.

2) Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes (adding more flour as necessary) or until dough is smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with shortening or olive oil. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 40 - 60 minutes or until dough has doubled in size. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.

3) Grease bottoms and sides or two 8x4-inch or 9x5-inch loaf pans with shortening or spray with cooking spray.

4) Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Divide dough in half. Flatten each half with hands or rolling pin into 18x9-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough up tightly, beginning at 9-inch side. Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Pinch each end of roll to seal. Fold ends under loaf. Place seam side down in pan. Brush loaves lightly with butter. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 35 - 50 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.

5) Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 375 F.

6) Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire rack. Brush loaves with butter; cool.