Pizza Dough

 Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cup warm water (Between 100-110 degreesF)
• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (One standard packet)
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups flour

Directions:

1. Whisk warm water, yeast, and sugar together in bowl.  Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.  
2. Add olive oil, salt, and flour.  Beat on low speed for 2 minutes.  I use my stand mixer with dough hooks. Knead dough an additional 5 full minutes. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft.  Poke it with your finger - if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise.
3. Lightly grease a large bowl with oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it once to coat all sides. Cover bowl with clean kitchen towel and allow to rise 60 minutes or so until it has doubled in size.
4. Punch down dough to get rid of any air bubbles.

That's it.  Now you just make the pizza.

It is best if you bake the pizza on a stone and when you preheat the oven have the stone in the oven too.

Put cornmeal on the peal and we make the pizza right on the peel and then just slide the pizza off onto the stone.

The recipe makes enough dough for two 12 inch pizza's.

If just using one at a time the other dough can be frozen. 

Cream Cheese Icing

Cream Cheese Icing

 This is super easy to make and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz block cream cheese - room temperature 
• one stick of unsalted butter - cool room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups icing sugar

Directions:

1. Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla on medium-high speed until very light, creamy, and smooth. 
2. On low speed, gradually add in the sugar and beat until fluffy. 

NOTES

Cream cheese frosting, alone or on cake or cupcakes, can sit at a cool room temperature for up to 8 hours before it should be refrigerated.

The frosting can be made and transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. 

Bring to room temperature and rewhip with electric mixer.

Cole Slaw

 Cole Slaw

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Mayonnaise 
• 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 4 Cups Shredded Cabbage
• 1 Cup Shredded Carrots
• 1/2 Cup Chopped Green Pepper
• 1/2 Cup Raisins (optional)

Directions:

1. In large bowl stir together first 4 ingredients.
2. Add remaining ingredients and toss to coat well.
3. Cover - chill at least 2 hours before serving.

You can also add some finely chopped apple too.

Taco Spices

 Instead of buying the taco packet of spices for making tacos

I use use my own spices.

Mix together

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1 1/2 Teaspoons cumin

1 Teaspoon pepper

1 Teaspoon salt

1/2 Teaspoon paprika

1/4 Teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 Teaspoon oregano

1/8 Teaspoon cayenne pepper

Use 2 Tablespoons per pound of ground beef.

I quadrupled the recipe and put it in a mason jar for future meals.