Easy (and Quick) Pizza Crust

When the work day is long and time to prepare dinner is as short as me {{smile}} the go-to for many families is take-out or frozen pizza. True pizza crust can take several hours (mix, proof, shape, etc.) but here’s one that will take only minutes.

This homemade pizza costs far less than store-bought, take-out, or delivery and you can have it just the way you like it.  Want extra onions? No problem. You'd rather have green olives than black? We can do that.

(Photo Credit: Image by Paweł Maryniak from Pixabay)

Ingredients

·         1 cup warm water

·         2 tsp. active dry yeast

·         2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

·         3 tablespoons olive oil

·         1 tsp. salt

·         1 tsp. sugar

·         1/2 tsp. dry oregano

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Place warm water in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast over and stir just to moisten. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and stir quickly to mix thoroughly. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead about 10 times. Divide dough in half and place each half in the center of a lightly-greased 12-inch pizza pan. Press or roll the dough to the edges. (A lightly-floured pizza roller makes this a cinch!).                      
4. Top your pizza as desired and bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are brown and the cheese and sauce are bubbling.

How to Build Your Perfect Pasta Salad, and How to Plan a Picnic

It's been far too long since I've shared any recipes with you. But rather than reinventing the wheel, why not help you leap over to my other blog, where my alter-ego reigns supreme with summer salad recipes and tips, and menus for the perfect picnic?

This first link will guide you in building your own pasta salad. Pick your pasta shape, and then I'll give you ideas for the fruits or veggies, protein, special add-ins, and even several dressing options.

Next, how to plan a picnic, menu ideas, recipes, and even some packing tips. 

Chicken salad -- healthy doesn't have to be boring

I invited a dear friend over for lunch today. I knew that I wouldn't have much time to prepare a meal, so came up with something I could make the night before. She loves chicken and fresh veggies so why not a chicken salad?

Traditional chicken salads, the ones you buy at the deli counter at your supermarket typically consist of chopped cooked rubbery chicken, a bit of celery, and a LOT of mayonnaise. Yes, creamy is dreamy, but I'd rather be able to actually taste the chicken.

How Do You Make It Memorable?

1. Use white-meat chicken (dark meat isn't pretty and the flavor is a bit too rich for a delicate salad.)
2. Use crisp celery and dice it finely.
3. A bit of chives adds some zip.
4. Dried cranberries provide a sweetness that contrasts with the other savory flavors.
5. Rosemary is an aromatic herb that will surprise (and please). Most people won't recognize it, but they'll ask "what is that interesting flavor in the salad?"
6. Mayonnaise is good, but the tang of Greek yogurt makes this salad even better and reduces the total amount of fat.
7. Still not sure? I have lots of suggestions at the end of this recipe for substitutions and other ingredients you can add.

Carb Diva's Best Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced (I think white meat is best in this recipe)
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives, minced
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise, (I used non-fat)
• 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Cover and chill at least one hour to allow flavors to blend. Spread on the bread of your choice. My personal favorite is honey oatmeal.

Here Are Some Suggested Changes

This is such a versatile recipe. Here are a few suggestions on how to adapt it to what you have on hand:

herbs

• use fresh minced tarragon in place of the rosemary

fruits

• sliced seedless grapes
• diced apple
• chopped fresh pitted cherries

crunch

• pumpkin seeds
• chopped smoked almonds

savory/salty

• crumbled bacon
• shredded Cheddar
• shredded Swiss cheese