Pizza Crust Recipe and Review (sort of)

Have you ever heard of America's Test Kitchen?  When we had a working TV a long time ago, I used to watch this half hour show on Saturday afternoons on PBS.  It was one of my favorite cooking shows ever.  They also have a magazine that they put out called Cooks Illustrated.  I have never subscribed, but I bet I’d love it.  I’m too cheap.  Speaking of too cheap, the one thing I HATE about this company is that you have to pay to get any of their recipes.  A subscription for one year to their website –with unlimited access to all of their recipes- is $15.  I have never purchased a subscription, but I think I may eventually.  If there’s any place that I trust ALL the recipes that come from, it’s this place.

I  have two big cookbooks from them.  One was a gift from my step mother that includes hundreds of baking recipes. 

The other was a gift to myself that includes 10 years worth of recipes from their TV program.  I figured, if I’m going to buy a cookbook of theirs (they’re pretty expensive), it might as well be one that includes everything I’ve ever seen them cook!

The fun thing about these cookbooks and their show is that they have taken hours and hours to try out these recipes to find out what works the best.  They switch things up (like oven temperature, ingredients, and cooking time) to see what makes the recipe work the best.  They include all the science behind the recipes in their cookbooks, which I love to read.  I like that they not only tell you, “salted butter works best for this…” but they tell you why salted butter works better. 

The reason I am sharing about America’s Test Kitchen is not because I’m getting paid or compensated in any way. They’ve never heard of me and have never sent me anything for free. Wouldn’t that be great if they did!?  I just happen to love their recipes, and this pizza crust recipe comes from their cookbook. I highly recommend their cookbooks if you ever come across them on sale.  They are pretty expensive, but they have so much more in them than just recipes.  And anything I’ve ever tried from them has tasted wonderful.

Okay, on with the recipe!   This pizza dough recipe is my adaptation of their pizza dough.  There really isn’t anything adapted except that I decided to add Italian Seasoning mix.  It takes a bit of time to let it rise and some muscle to spread out the dough, but in my opinion, it’s well worth it. 

Our family has Pizza Night every Friday night.  When I started menu planning two years ago, I decided that I needed something to make my workload easier.  I instated a weekly Pizza Night, and when no on complained about it, it stuck.  Here is my favorite dough recipe.  I hope you try it!

Pizza Dough (enough for 3 dough balls)

1/2 c warm water

2 1/4 tsp yeast (one packet)

1 1/4 c water, room temp

2 Tbs olive oil

4 c bread flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbs Italian seasoning mix (optional)

Add yeast to 1/2 c warm water in at least a 2 cup measuring bowl/cup. let sit for 5-10 min to allow yeast to 'bloom'. Mix dry ingredients in a stand mixer with a dough hook. Add remaining water and oil to yeast/water mix. Slowly pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Allow dough to knead in mixer for 2-5 minutes. Take out dough, spray the bowl with "pam", and return dough to bowl. Cover with a towel and let sit for 2-2.5 hours. After it has at least doubled in size, take it out and split into two or three dough balls. Store them in the freezer until ready to use.  No need to pre-bake - just spread, top with your favorite toppings, and bake for about 25 minutes @ 425-250.

 
*My notes*

I have used all purpose flour before, many times actually, and I find the taste isn't much different, but the texture is. It's a much stickier dough, and I think, if I remember correctly, it's a crisper crust. I do know that I always use bread flour now, since I like the texture better. 

If your yeast is stored in the fridge, use really warm water. If it's stored in the pantry/room temp, just follow directions as normal.

I put some olive oil on the pizza stone before spreading out the dough.  It makes it easier to spread.

ATK recommends pushing the dough out with your fingertips, not rolling or stretching it.  So that’s what I do.

Homemade Cereal Bars

I’ve been experimenting a lot with making every day food from scratch.  I’ve made pasta, bread, hamburger buns and pizza dough to name just a few.  It’s my new fun thing to do.  I’m finding that I love to cook – not only because it’s a huge money saver!

My latest adventure was homemade cereal bars.  I found a simple recipe online, and went with that.  I’m sure there are a ton of recipes out there, some healthier than others, so please don’t feel that this is the end all, be all recipe for cereal bars.   While I made these bars, I channeled The Pioneer Woman and took pictures along the way.  Enjoy my point and click/no touch up photos!

First, start with oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking soda. 

 

Then cut in a stick and a half of butter (this isn’t the healthiest recipe out there, I’m sure)

When your pastry cutter doesn’t work, use your hands, then a fork, then the pastry cutter, and then a fork again to cut in the butter.  After about ten minutes, it should all be combined nicely. *sigh*

 

Press half of the mix into the bottom of a pan, size unknown.  I went with a medium sized pan, and it was TOO SMALL.  I had leftovers.  I would imagine this would fit in a regular, large baking dish.

 

Spread your sister’s HOMEMADE BLACKBRERY JAM on the first layer.  YUM!  Talk about completely homemade!  It was a little tricky getting the jam spread to the edges, but I managed pretty well.

Spread the remaining mix over the jam.  Make sure everything is covered.  Bake for 30 min at 350.

Make a powdered sugar and cinnamon glaze (RICH!), and drizzle that over the bars when they are still warm.  Let cool, then cut into bars.

 

If you have extra mix, because you didn’t know what size pan to use, make a mini batch in a small baking dish.  But don’t use your sister’s homemade strawberry jam, because it wasn’t completely set up and ended up making a mushy mess.  A YUMMY mushy mess, but still a spoonable, mushy mess.

So, there you have it.  Pretty easy.  Jack LOVED the strawberry mess.  It’s pretty sweet with that glaze drizzled on top.  I stored the bars in the refrigerator, and am eating it for a mid-morning snack this week.  You know, the post breakfast, pre lunch meal.  Everyone has those, right??

What other everyday convenient food can I make from scratch?

Master Chef

Last night, my husband paid me the best compliment in the world – at least to me.  He said I had turned into a Master Chef.  Evidently, he has been enjoying my cooking for a while now, and last night threw him over the edge.  He could barely speak through the groans of yummy pleasures he was uttering. 

I had a huge grin on my face all through dinner, put there by the pride I could feel oozing from my husband’s pores.   Of course, the smile was quickly misplaced when I came down from Cloud 9 to see all the dishes waiting for me to clean.  But I enjoyed the moment while it lasted. 

Some of you may need to hear something like this coming from your husbands and family, so I thought I’d share what I made.  It all started with a simple Christmas gift from my sister….

She gave me this….

And I’ve since been trying every dish in this thing!  Some are too Southwestern-inspired for me,which I’m not a huge fan of,  but a lot of what she makes is just good old fashioned comfort food.   (If you don’t know who the Pioneer Woman is, you haven’t been around blogs much, have you? It’s alright.  She’s fun to read – hope on over and check out her site sometime when you have OODLES of free time at your disposal – The Pioneer Woman

I made her Chicken Pot Pie last night, with her Perfect Pie Crust on top.  She has her pie crust online, so I’ll just share the link with you here Perfect Pie Crust Recipe.  But her Chicken Pot Pie recipe is not on her website, so I’ll type it out.  I must admit that I didn’t use white wine, because we never have it in the house, and I’m CLUELESS when it comes to picking out a wine to cook with (unless it says “cooking wine” but EVERYONE says never to use cooking wine in your cooking – Go figure!).  I also left out the chicken bouillon cube, because I didn’t have any left in my pantry.  Oops!  And finally, when it came to the seasonings, I pulled out an Herbes de Provence that I got as a wedding gift (5 years ago!) that hasn’t been used much.  I never know what to use it in, and this seemed like the right thing to do. 

But I’ve made it before, and it is great as is.

The Pioneer Woman’s Chicken Pot Pie

3 celery stalks

3 medium carrots, peeled

1 large yellow onion

4 Tbs (1/2 stick) butter

½ cup frozen pees

2 cups cooked chicken

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 chicken bouillon cube

¼ cup white wine (optional)

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp ground thyme

1 tsp kosher salt, or more to taste

Black pepper to taste

1 pie crust

Preheat oven to 400̊. Begin by finely dicing the vegetables. Slice the celery stalks into narrow strips, and then slice in the other direction to create a fine dice. Repeat this process with the carrots and the onion. Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery and peas. Sauté until vegetables start to turn translucent, a couple of minutes. Add the chicken and stir to combine. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the vegetables and chicken and stir to combine. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring gently. Pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly. Stir in the bouillon cube and wine, if using. The flour will combine with the chicken to create a delicious gravy. Pour in the cream and stir. Allow the mixture to cook over low heat, thickening gradually, about 4 minutes. Season with the thyme, salt and pepper. Remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Be sure it’s adequately salted! Pour the chicken mixture into a deep pie pan or small casserole dish. Roll out the crust so that it’s 1 inch larger than the pan. Place the crust on top of the chicken mixture and cut small slits in the top. Press the crust gently into the sides of the dish to seal. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Use a large spoon to serve.

Let me know if any of you try it! I’d love to hear what your family says.!  

Not-So-Much

I love being a mom.  I love being a wife.  I love cooking.  I love baking.  These things were not always loves of mine.  The first two obviously came with certain life changing events.  The last two have grown over time.  I love finding recipes and creating delicious meals for my husband and I to enjoy when he comes home from work.  I love baking cakes, brownies, and cookies to have on hand for dessert.  Perhaps this is why I'm not losing any weight.  That's another topic for another day.

With all of these loves come 'not-so-much' moments.  For example, when Jack throws his food off of his high chair, refuses to sleep in his crib by himself, or removes every last item from the lower kitchen drawers, I think "not-so-much!"  When my husband wants to work on the computer in the evenings, watch some weird PBS show, or go to bed right after dinner, I think "not-so-much!"  *For the record, I do enjoy PBS*

It's the not-so-much moments of cooking that have me down recently.  I meal plan, grocery shop every week, and plan yummy -and sometimes healthy- dinners for us throughout the week.  But you know what comes along with the fun cooking?  A crabby baby who doesn't want you to do anything but hold and play with him when you need to get dinner ready.  A kitchen sink that is overflowing with dirty dishes on one side and clean dishes on the other.  A dishwasher that can't be emptied unless the boy is strapped in his high chair, thus keeping his hands out of the clean/dirty/sharp dishes.  Plates, cups and napkins from lunch that haven't been red up (I've got PA in my blood, sorry), because running after Jack is more demanding than those dishes. 

Sometimes, when I look around the kitchen, I feel very defeated.  It is never ending.  A wife and mother's job literally never ends.  I try to think what it would have been like to live in the early 1900's as a wife and mother.  Then I become very thankful for my dishwasher, paper towels, and dish soap.  I do love my life, but sometimes....Not-So-Much!

My First Award

I received an award! (And I immediately say in my head "What's it all mean, Bazil?")

Mandy, at Mommy Musings, passed this award on to me this week, and I'm honored!   I don't remember how I found her blog, but it was shortly after I started mine.  I was hooked on her blog, because she has a little girl only one month older than Jack, and a lot of what she was posting was what I could relate to.  I love Mommy Blogs. Thanks so much, Mandy!!!  (I hope Little M gets her naps figured out!)

Okay, now down to business....Here are the rules:
1-Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2-Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3-Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4-Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.
5-Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6-Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7-Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated.

 Here are 7 things you may not know about me (though, since most of you reading this are family, you may already know this stuff).

1-I've recorded a CD.  In a real studio.  So maybe it only has 5 songs, and none of them are my songs, but it's still a CD, and it's still really cool!  And I'm also credited on a real album.  One that's sold to the public. (so it's discontinued...my name's still in there!)

Avenues by Canvas (Audio CD - 2002)

9 Used & new from $24.49

Download MP3 Album: $8.99

This item has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

 (2)

  

2-I have been on TV.  This is a running joke in my family.  I really was on TV, but it's even worse than the 'I recorded a CD thing.'  I won a Karaoke competition in a hole-in-the-wall bar years ago (before I met my hubby).  The prize was a trip to Vegas to be in a big competition for a karaoke CD maker, which would be aired on TV.  Ummmm...it was an infomercial that aired at 4:30 in the morning.  Once maybe.   But I had a blast in Vegas with some great friends!



3. I've been to Great Britain THREE times.  Can you believe that?  I can't. The first time was with my Dad when I was 16, and the next two times was with my college choir on a choir tour.  They were  the most amazing vacations I've ever taken.  I LOVED being in the cathedrals and castles.  My favorite place was Wales.  All of it.  I would go back in a heartbeat if we could afford it. 



4.  I ramble.  A LOT. I can go on and on.  You may have guessed that. 



5.  I went to Alaska last summer with my husband and mom (Thanks, Mom!!!). That is my other most favorite vacation ever.  We took a cruise tour from Fairbanks down to Vancouver. Rick and I often toy with the thought of moving up there.  It was so beautiful


6.  I love cooking new things. It may stress me out to try new recipes, but I really do love making new meals for me and Rick.  But I always end up forgetting what I've tried and never making it again!



7.  I struggle with knowing what to do with Jack all day, every day.  I want to be a great mommy, but sometimes I worry that I'm not doing enough.  *sigh*  



These are the 7 blogs I'm choosing to pass this award to.  *You don't have to pass it on if this isn't your thing.  No pressure.  But it's kind of fun coming up with those 7 things and seeing who you 'read'. *





http://gracefuldiscipline.blogspot.com/ (I'm learning a lot about praising my son from her!)
http://apgacruz.blogspot.com/ (she has a ton of ideas for rhymes and songs and FELT!)
http://thompsonfun.blogspot.com/(her stories about her kids are so funny!  And she takes great pictures!)

http://itfeelslikechaos.blogspot.com/(I've read her blog longer than I've had mine.  I always end up laughing or learning something)

http://www.momtriedit.net/ (I just recently found this one, and I've told ALL my mom friends about her.  GREAT ideas!!)
http://dreamingofthecountry.wordpress.com/ (she's in Wales!  I've been to her town!  That makes me smile)
http://kristinandthegirlygirls.blogspot.com/(she has a daughter with special needs and is so honest about dealing with it all) 


Ok, so that's it.  You don't have to leave a description telling why you nominated your 7 blogs, but I thought I'd add it to my list.   I hope you at least check out some of those blogs.  Thanks again, Mandy! 

Random Cleaning Tips

This week has a theme!  We were asked to submit our cleaning tips this week.  Now, my family will laugh when I say I do have some cleaning tips, but really, I do!  I may not keep the cleanest house, but here are a few random tips I've used to make things just a little cleaner in my little world. 

Let me start by saying I use cloth diapers.  And because I use cloth diapers, I use flushable diaper liners.  They're what keeps me going in my cloth diaper endeavor!  Here is how I make dealing with a poopy cloth diaper just a little less messy  When I change my son's dirty diaper, I put the dirty liner in a little basket I keep by the changing station. After I put it in the basket, I use the antibacterial hand sanitizer on my hands.  When we're done with the diaper change, I say "let's go put your poopy in the potty!"   We walk to the bathroom and watch the poop go down the potty, sometimes saying "bye-bye poopies!" (meaning I say it, because my son is only 9 months old)  I have only had to touch the liner once, I've cleaned my hands quickly, and I didn't have to move his changing table to the bathroom!  (And just maybe I'm getting him used to the fact that poopy goes in the potty, so potty training will go quickly!) 

When I made this recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Balls, I knew it was going to get messy.  I was going to have to mix crumbled cake with frosting.  Luckily, I knew my hubby had a box of disposable, vinyl gloves in the garage.  I grabbed some of those and mixed away.  Not only did it make the cleanup practically nothing (just throw the gloves in the trash), it made it kind of fun to play around in the cake-play-do-like mix.  By the way, I highly recommend making this recipe, but be prepared for a lot of mess and a divinely rich dessert. 

When we bought our new van over two years ago, it had that "new car smell" and it also looked spotless.  I loved it.  I don't know about you, but my cars have never stayed very clean for very long.  This time I thought I'd try harder to keep my new van clean.  I went to Wally-world and purchased a Dusting Microfiber cloth for around $2.  I keep it tucked in a bottom compartment in the van console, and pull it out every so often to dust my dashboard. Every once in a while, I throw it in the washer to get the dust and dirt off of it.  I've also used it to wipe the rain off my door when I have to open my window in the rain.  It has kept my dashboard clean for these 2+ years.  If only I could keep my cup holders clean too!

And finally, back to the cloth diapers.  I found this company when I was looking for cloth diaper tips that sold trial-run packages of cloth diapers.  They included a bunch of different brands of diapers in this package so you could "test drive" different brands before you spent all your money on them.  They send out a pack, let you try them for a few days/weeks, then you return the pack to them.   I loved that concept, but like some others who commented on their site, wondered how they kept the diapers clean.  It turns out that they strip them every time they get them back. So, I took this bit of wisdom, and strip my diapers every few weeks as well.  It really helps to get the stink out.  All you do is put your diapers in the washer with HOT water, dissolve some Oxi-Clean, let them sit in the water for a while (usually I let them sit for a half hour), then finish the wash cycle.  I also do an extra rinse on the days I strip them, just to make sure they're squeaky clean.  This has kept my diapers looking great, with very few stains.

Those are all of my random cleaning tips for this week's What Works For Me.  Stop by We Are THAT Family to see what other cleaning tips you can find.