Archive for June, 2009

I decided to make pizza for dinner tonight.  It just sounded a little better than the ham dinner   Here’s the recipe:

Pizza Dough Crust

1 1/2 c. warm water (110-115 degrees)

2 Tbsp. sugar

1-1/4 oz packet or 2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast

1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. olive oil

4 c. white, all-purpose flour

Pour the warm water in a large mixing bowl.  Add sugar and yeast.  Stir the mixture slowly until the yeast and sugar are dissolved.  Let sit to allow the mixture to mature for about 10 minutes.  The mixture will begin to react;  clouding and forming a foamy “head” on the surface of the mixture.

Add the salt and olive oil and stir again to combine and dissolve the ingredients.  Add 1 cup of flour and whisk in until dissolved.  Add the second cup of flour and whisk it in.  Add the third cup of flour and combine.  By now the dough mixture should be fairly thick.  Add the last cup of flour and, with your hands, begin to combine and knead the dough.

Remove the dough ball to a tabletop to knead.  You may need to add a dusting of flour from time to time to reduce the stickiness of the dough.  Be patient, folding the dough ball in half and then in quarters, over and over again for about 8-10 minutes.  Better to over knead than under knead.  You’ll know you’ve done well when the ball no longer sticks to your hands.  It will become a smoothly-textured ball, slightly larger than a large grapefruit.

Coat the dough ball with a thin layer of olive oil and place in the bottom of a large mixing bowl that has also been coated on the inside with olive oil.  Stretch a piece of saran wrap over the top and set it in a warm place such as an unlit oven.  Allow the dough to rise, undisturbed for 60-75 minutes.  The dough will have grown to at least twice its original size.

Take the dough out of the bowl and cut it in half with a knife.  Take each portion and hand-mold them into balls.  Press each dough ball flat to squeeze and release any air trapped inside.  Form the portions back into balls, smoothing the outer surface and tucking each ball “into itself” from underneath.

This recipe will make two 12″ pizzas.  Top with sauce and your favorite items and bake for 12 minutes at 450 degrees.

Cari’s Pizza Sauce – I came up with this after a little experimenting

1 (6 oz.) can of tomato paste

1 (8 oz.) can of tomato  sauce

1/4 tsp. pizza seasoning

1/4 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp.parsley

1 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Whisk together.

Feel free to use these on your blog. Please provide a link back to me

Here are 5 Things to do with Flour:

1.  Clean playing cards ~ When your cards are looking a little gray, put them in a plastic bag with a half-cup of flour.  Shake for a minute.  Remove the cards and shuffle the deck a few times over the sink to clear.

2.  Clean heavy white fabrics ~ Spot clean white canvas, leather, faux leather, vinyl and even curtains by rubbing flour into the dirt lines, then brushing them clean.

3.  Make clay ~ Knead together 1 cup water, 3 cups flour and 1 tsp. vegetable oil.  Add food color.  To store, moisten and wrap in plastic wrap and put in the fridge.

4.  Unstick a lid ~ If you have a plastic container that closes a little too tightly, dip the edge of the container in flour to prevent it from sticking.

5.  Mix up some glue ~ Whip up craft glue for the kiddies by mixing one part flour with 3 parts water.  Boil, stirring until it becomes a paste.  Store it in the fridge.

I can’t believe that we’re at the end of June and I’m sitting here cold! Just doesn’t seem right.

No big plans for today.  I have to go through my dresses to find one for a friends upcoming wedding, I want to dust the ceiling fans and the rest of the house, then comes vacuuming, a couple loads of laundry and I want to give the bathroom a good once over.

I’m trying to decide between a ham dinner tonight or a homemade pizza.  Both sound really good!  I made fresh strawberry bars last night.  I was too full from dinner to try them but Lloyd said they were really good.  The base is a peanut butter one and it’s topped with strawberry jam and fresh strawberries.  I’m thinking it probably tastes like a pb & j dessert!

….in other words….

Get your creativity flowing… what does this quote inspire you to write?

Quote for Jun 30

The least of learning is done in the classrooms.

– Thomas Merton

I think this quote is very simple. You learn more in every day life and experiences than you do in a classroom.

Do you usually wear perfume/cologne? If so, what’s your current favorite? I do wear perfume on most days and my all time favorite is Rapture by Victoria’s Secret.

What’s the last book you’ve read that you thought was really good? If you don’t have one, what looks promising on your to-be-read list?  It’s been so long since I’ve actually had time to sit down and read!  I am looking forward to reading Lloyd’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” book.

Fill in the blank: I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing hot pants.

Today is a little bit better than yesterday was.  I’m feeling better about things now and I hope everything will start getting on a better track.

Grilling again today.  We’re having steaks, potatoes and salads for dinner.  It’s a beautiful day for grilling!

Lauryn is so close to crawling now.  She tried so hard this afternoon and it was the closest she’s ever come to actually doing it!  She’s getting to be such a big girl!

randomness…feed your mind and your blog

week of june 28: Imagine This

Imagine your life story was being made into a movie. What would the title be?  I can’t think of a clever title right now.  Maybe I’d just stick with Not Suzy Homemaker

What actor would play your part?  Probably Drew Barrymore.  She can be a big goof ball and I can be too!

What genre of film would it be? Would it be a tear jerker? A musical? A comedy? A romance?  I’d have to say a romantic comedy.

I don’t feel like myself at all today.  I know what’s wrong but I feel like if I say it out loud, feelings will get hurt.  Things have been building up for a while now and I just keep wondering when somethings going to give or when I’m going to snap.

1. Where were you when you heard that Michael Jackson died? In my kitchen. My mom called and told me.

2. How do you think that he will be remembered? Probably for a lot of things. His music and dance moves, his eccentric lifestyle, the white glove and the child molestation cases.

3. What was your favorite Jackson tune? “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5

4. Did you watch the original Charlie’s Angels? No.

5. Did someone you know have that poster of Farrah? Not that I can think of.

6. Did you consider her battle with cancer heroic? I don’t know if it’s more heroic than anyone else who’s battled it. Just because she was a celebrity going through it doesn’t make her a hero.

7. Were you a fan of The Tonight Show Starring Johnnie Carson? I was pretty young but I did see a few and I liked them.

8. Did you like Ed McMahon on the show? Other than, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!” I don’t remember him much on there.

9. What else will you remember McMahon for? Star Search

It’s so nice out today!  I love it when it’s sunny but not too hot!

Lloyd and I weeded the garden last night.  It looks so much better!  I love to see the tomatoes starting to grow!  Next year I want to expand it and try some fruit too!

Mom isn’t coming over tonight.  She has to be at work tomorrow at 4 am so I took her to run errands and then dropped her off back home.  Lloyd just sent me a text saying he was on his way home which makes me very happy because we thought he was going to have late appointments tonight.  We’re having burgers and potatoes on the grill and salads for dinner.  I think we don’t have any big plans this weekend so it will be nice to spend some time together!