Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water (about 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit)
2-1/4 tpsn (1 package) regular or fast acting dry yeast
1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cups flour
1 tspn olive oil
1/2 tspn salt
1/2 tspn sugar
cooking spray

Directions:

1. In a medium sized bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Using a wooden spoon, stir in half the flour, and all of the oil, sugar, and salt. Stir in enough of the remaining flour (1/4 cup at a time) until dough is easy to handle.

2. Sprinkle flour unto a counter top or large cutting board. Place dough of floured surface, and kneed dough for 10 minutes. Sprinkle surface with more flour if dough starts to stick. Dough should be smooth and springy. Spray a large sized bowl with cooking spray. Place the dough in the middle, turning the dough to grease all sides. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes. (For a warm place to rise my bread, I also stick a small cup of water in the microwave for 1 minute. After the minute is up, I put the bowl in the microwave, with the cup. DO NOT start the microwave, just let everything sit for the full time.)

3. Gently push your fist into the dough to deflate it. Recover, loosely, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (but no longer than 48 hours). If the dough should double in size during refrigeration, gently push fist into dough to deflate it

4. Ensure the rack is in the middle position. Preheat oven to 425. Place dough on the center of an ungreased cookie sheet, or 12-inch pizza pan. Press the dough into a 12-inch round, using floured fingers. Press dough from center to edge, so the edge is slightly thicker than the center. Spread sauce over dough, and top with favorite toppings and cheeses.

5. Bake 15-20 minutes, until crust is golden brown and cheese are melted.

(Thank you Betty Crocker!)

Chocolate chip Banana Muffins

(adapted from a recipe from Cooks.com)

1 stick butter, softened (or 1/2 c. butter)

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. sour cream

2 bananas, mashed well

1 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1 (6 oz.) pkg. Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Paper muffin cups

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with paper liners.
2. Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer. Add eggs and mix well.
3. Dissolve baking soda in the sour cream. Let it "rise" for a minute, then add it to the butter and egg mixture. Mix well with beater on medium speed. Add bananas and blend in.
4. Add flour and baking powder together. Mix in thoroughly, but no longer than necessary. Add vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Fill muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes. Recipe makes approximately 1 1/2 dozen.

Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

1/2 c. hot water
1 package (2-1/4 tsp.) regular or fast acting yeast
1-1/4 to 1-1/2 c. Flour (all-purpose or bread)
1 tsp. Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
cooking spray

Directions:

1. Heat water over medium heat until an instant read thermometer reads between 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast into the water. With a wooden spoon, stir in half the flour and remaining ingredients (minus the cooking spray). Stir in remaining flour at 1/4 c. intervals until the dough is easy to handle.


2. Sprinkle flour on the counter and knead dough for 10 minutes (sprinkling additional flour if dough starts to stick.)


3. Grease a large bowl. Stick dough in the bowl, turning dough to grease all sides of it. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Stick in a warm place to let rise for 20. (I use the microwave as my warm place. My trick is to put a small container of water in the microwave and cook long enough to make the water bowl. Then (leaving the water in the microwave), I add the bowl with the dough. Do NOT start the microwave at this point, just close the door and start your timer. This trick works for all yeast breads that need to rise). If you have questions, email me at cami.smithson@gmail.com.


4. Gently push your fingers into the dough to deflate it. Cover and stick in refrigerator for at least 2 hours (but not longer than 48 hours.) If dough should double in size during refrigeration, simply push your fingers into it to deflate it).


5. Heat oven to 425. Move rack to middle position in oven. Place dough on the center of an ungreased cookie sheet or 12" pizza pan. Using floured fingers, press dough into a 12" round. Press from the center out so the center is slightly more thin than the edges.


6. Spread pizza sauce over dough and add toppings!


7. Bake for 15-20 minutes (until the crust is golden brown and the cheeses are melted and lightly browned)

Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

Streusel Top:

1/4 Cup Flour

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon

2 Tablespoons cold butter

Muffins:

3/4 cup milk

1/4 vegetable oil

1 egg (large)

2 Cups Flour

1/2 Cup Sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can fresh, canned (drained) or frozen blue berries (I used 1/2 can blueberry pie filling)

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a paper baking cups in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the streusel topping ingredients (minus the butter) until they all blend together. Cut the butter into the mixture and (using a fork or your hands) mix until crumbly. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, beat milk, oil, and egg with a wisk or fork. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir until flour is moisten (batter will be lumpy). Gently stir in blue berries. Spoon batter into the cups. Sprinkle each with about 1 Tablespoon of Streusel

4. Bake for 20-25 min.

Number Of Servings: 12 muffins (though I got 12 large and 12 mini muffins from the recipe)

Preparation Time: Prep: 20 min. Total: 50 min

Thank you Camille S! For sharing

Coconut Bread

Ingredients:
4 eggs – beat well then add:
2C sugar
1C oil
1 tsp coconut flavoring
Beat well

Sift together:
3C flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
Add alternately with:
1C buttermilk

Directions:
Stir in 1 Cup chopped nuts (optional) and 1 Cup shredded coconut. Bake at 350* for 30 min. for mini loaves. Makes 6-7 mini loaves or 4 small and 1 medium loaf.
While bread is still warm pour glaze over the top.

Glaze
1C sugar
½ C Water
1 Tbs butter
1 tsp coconut flavoring

Boil 3-4 min. and drizzle over hot loaves.

(Thanks to Susan B. for sharing this recipe with us!)