Quickie Pizza Crust (from scratch)

The kids want pizza, but I don't want to order out.

I don't have any pre-made dough in the fridge...and I don't feel like going to the store to buy a pre-made crust.

I really, really don't want to order delivery.

What's a mom to do??

Make a quickie crust. Mixing time (5 minutes) plus resting time (10 minutes) then bake time (10 more minutes). After that load and bake. Viola! Dinner is done!!

Better yet - get the kids to help and use the resting time and 1st bake time to prep the ingredients to top the ready crust...

Or, if your house is like our house...use that time to fight about what kind of pizza to make.

Yay!!

Ingredients:

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water (100-110 degrees F)

2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups AP flour

*cornmeal*

Directions:

1. Combine active rise yeast in warm water until completely dissolved.

2. Add olive oil to water and yeast mixture.

3. Begin mixing wet ingredients on low using an electric mixer with a dough hook. Gradually add sugar, salt, and flour.

4. Increase mixer speed to medium and continue to beat (mix) until a soft dough ball forms.

5. Cover dough ball and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

6. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prep baking stone or pan using non-stick spray and sprinkling with a light dusting of cornmeal.

7. After dough has rested, knead into a ball - then stretch to desired shape for baking. (I use a small dough roller to help stretch the dough to the desired shape and size.) Prick stretched dough with a fork.

8. Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes.

9. After the crust has baked alone, remove from oven and top with desired toppings.

10. Bake for additional 10-12 minutes after toppings are loaded as desired. Allow additional baking time, if desired, for melting and browning of pizza toppings.

11. Enjoy!

Hint: When we want a thicker crust pizza, we use this recipe to make one large rectangle pizza. When we want a thinner, crispier crust I divide the dough ball on to two separate baking stones and stretch the dough further. If all else fails, tortillas make great pizza crust and in our case...Pizza Hut is about 4 blocks away! Although, my kids prefer my pizza over take-out these days...I kinda like that!!

This recipe is being shared at Everyday Mom's Meals this week for Church Supper #36 - go visit and tell her I said hello!  Check out what other great recipes are being shared this week while you are there :)

Curried Beef Kabobs

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 4 bay leaves
• 16 whole peppercorns (I subbed 2 tsp ground black pepper)
• 2 lbs. beef tenderloin, cut into 1 1/4 inch cubes
• 2 large green peppers, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 3 medium onions, cut into wedges

Directions:

1. Combine olive oil, beef broth, lemon juice, garlic, curry powder, salt, bay leaves, and peppercorns to create marinade for beef cubes. Reserve 2/3 cup for basting, and refrigerate.
2. Add beef cubes to main marinade mix in a covered dish or resealable bag. Turn to ensure beef is fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
3. Prior to assembling kabobs, drain and discard marinade from beef cubes. Prepare kabobs on metal or soaked wooden skewers by alternating beef cubes, tomatoes, green peppers, and onions.
4. Grill or broil on high heat 3 minutes on each side. Baste with reserved marinade.
5. Continue cooking on high heat, turning and basting for 10-12 minutes - or until meat reaches desired doneness. (medium = 160 degrees F, well-done = 175 degrees F)

Hint: I think this may be my favorite new recipe - even me, the non beef fan...loved this dish! (Although, I am equally sure that it would be great using chicken too!) As it turns out, our propane for our grill ran out as we getting ready to put these on the grill - so we used the broiler in our kitchen oven to cook these delicious kabobs. The only complaint from my kids, why did I make more... I hope your family enjoys them as much as we did!!

This recipe is being shared at Everyday Mom's Meals for Church Supper #35. If you haven't stopped by to check at a Church Supper - please do! This is a great exchange of wonderful recipes!!

Mom's Spanish Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice, prepared as directed

1/2 medium white onion, diced

1/2 medium green bell pepper, diced

1 can stewed tomatoes (Mexican seasoned)

3 TBS butter or margarine

1 small can of tomato paste

1 1/2-2 cups of chicken broth

1 1/2 tsp southwestern seasoning

3 dashes of hot sauce

2 tsp taco seasoning

* Melt butter in a deep skillet, then saute onion and green pepper in butter.

* Add stewed tomatoes with juice to onion and green peppers and stir until well combined.

* As vegetables begin to simmer, add tomato paste and chicken broth.

* Add cooked rice, and seasoning and continue to stir until well combined.

* Simmer on low for an additional 5-8 minutes. Add hot sauce (if desired) just prior to serving.

HINT: When I was still living at home my mom would make this rice for us when we had tacos for dinner. Another comfort food from my childhood! Occasionally she would brown ground beef and add it to the rice for serving as the main dish. If there are any leftovers...it is even better the second day! Enjoy!

This recipe is linked up to Church Supper #31 over at Everyday Mom's Meals...visit to check out more recipes from this week's Church Supper!

We're also posting this week on Sweet & Simple at Cups By Kim....go check it out!

Grilled Sandwiches

Ingredients:

thinly sliced Italian bread

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 TBS softened butter or margarine

1 tsp minced garlic

sliced pepper-jack cheese

deli sliced smoked ham

Dijon mustard

1 medium tomato, thinly sliced

dried basil

* Combine softened butter or margarine with minced garlic and grated Parmesan cheese.

* Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter mixture, place buttered side on grill or griddle.

* Top unbuttered side of bread with 1/2 slice of cheese, ham, Dijon mustard, sliced tomato sprinkled lightly with dried basil, and finish with the other 1/2 slice of cheese and another slice of bread - buttered side up.

* Grill on medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side. Sandwich should be well browned and crispy.

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This recipe is linked up over at Everyday Mom's Meals...go see what other fabulous recipes are being shared!!