Breadsticks, Dinosaurs, & Hearts!

I recently posted this quick and super easy Pizza Dough Recipe, and I've gotta say--it rocks!  Since then, other than making pizza, I've used it for breadsticks as well!
Here is what my breadsticks looked like before and after baking. 

They were a super hit!  I brushed some butter, fresh pressed garlic, and italian herbs on some of them, while the others I left plain with just butter brushed on top.

Tonight I needed a quick meal.  So once again, I threw together some of this fabulous dough and made my son a dinosaur shaped pizza and my daughter a heart shaped pizza at their requests!  They were THRILLED!!!
Here are some photos of the process!

Everything tastes even better when it looks cuter apparently! 

Enjoy!
=o)
Jen

The Quickest and Best Pizza (Dough) Ever!

I found this EASY and QUICK homemade pizza crust recipe online and I've been meaning to get on here for forever to share! It came out amazing and the kids loved it!!

My husband had to run out to Earth Fare (not far!) to pick up some Organic Mozzarella cheese. In the time he was gone, I had mixed the ingredients and rolled out the dough and was ready to pop it into the oven! One of the best things about this pizza dough is that you don't have to wait forever for it to rise!

Here is what ya need:

1 (1/4 ounce) package yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1 cup water

2 1/2 cups flour *

2 teaspoons olive oil *
1 teaspoon sugar *
1 teaspoon salt


* indicates an organic ingredient was used


Combine yeast and warm water.
Stir until dissolved.
Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Let rest 5-10 minutes.
Roll out to fit your pizza stone. (I found it easier to place the dough directly onto my round pizza stone and roll it out on there rather than on a mat and having to transfer it over.) You can add a little flour to make rolling easier if you find the dough too sticky.
I prebaked mine for 10 minutes at 450*. Then, I added the sauce and toppings and baked for another 8-10 minutes until the cheese was melted.

Definitely keep an eye on the crust (even during prebaking) as it can brown FAST! I found that I had to poke holes in the crust as it bubbled up during prebaking.
Instead of sugar, you can throw in some Italian Seasoning or even brush some olive oil mixed with some freshly pressed garlic before prebaking--yum! Your house will smell divine!
You can use this recipe for calzones, breadsticks, individual pizzas, or whatever!!!

Here are some photos of the process!

This pizza is seriously healthier and quicker than ordering out for delivery!

YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!!

Enjoy!

=o)

Jen

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with a Healthy Twist!

My kids love eating grilled cheese sandwiches (or "toasted cheese sandwiches" as my husband calls it)!  In fact, these are really the only type of sandwiches they do like.  We use organic cheese, organic margarine--however, my husband is not a fan of organic bread, so we've been buying conventional bread that is free of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils.  I am hoping to try to start making homemade bread to see how that turns out.  If anyone has any tips on doing so or some foolproof recipes, please share!  =o)
Anyway, back to the sandwiches!  I try to make everything as healthy as I can--even if it means sneaking in some "hidden" ingredients!
Here are some of the things that I use to make my grilled cheese sandwiches (all of which can be found at Earth Fare) :

The twist here is that I like to sprinkle flaxseed over the cheese before I put the sandwiches together and grill them!  The kids NEVER know it is there, and flax is a great way to add some extra nutrients and fiber! 

I always serve lunch and dinner with a side of veggies, and my daughter seems to think that carrots taste better when they've been cut into sticks, so that's the route I went!

Enjoy!
=o)
Jen