Homemade Pizza

Easy & delicious!

Sauce:
6 oz. can tomato paste
6 oz. can water
1 T sugar
1 t oregano
1 t chili powder
1 t garlic powder
1 t basil
2 T parmesean cheese

Mix paste and water with wire whisk in bowl. Add spices, mix well. Add cheese last to prevent lumps. Makes enough sauce for dough recipe. Make the sauce a day ahead for extra flavor.

Dough:
4 3/4 C flour
1 T salt
2 T sugar
1 t basil
1 t garlic powder
Mix dry ingredients thoroughly in large bowl.

2 C warm (not hot) water
1 1/2 - 2 T yeast

In a separate bowl, using a wire whisk, stir water while slowly adding yeast. Whisk until yeast is thoroughly dissolved, then pour into dry mixture. Knead in heavy mixer like a Kitchen Aid or Bosch for 6-7 minutes (or by hand 8-10 min.). Allow dough to rise for at least 30 minutes.

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface. Spray pizza pan before putting dough on it. Work dough to edges of pan. Put on sauce leaving one inch around outside. Add cheese evenly, then add desired toppings. Sprinkle top lightly with extra cheese. Bake in preheated 460 degree oven for 14-18 min, or until crust is golden brown.

To make breadsticks, rub vegetable oil on prepared dough, sprinkle with garlic powder and cheese and bake for 8-10 minutes in 460 degree oven.

World's Best Green Bean Casserole

I was given the assignment of bringing green bean casserole to Thanksgiving Dinner this year. I wasn't really looking forward to making it, as it's probably one of my least favorite things on the dinner table each year, so I decided to look for a different recipe besides the can of green beans, can of cream of mushroom soup recipe that people typically think of. Boy am I glad I went searching! I truly found the world's best green bean casserole. I made a huge dish, and it was nearly completely gone by the end of the meal. Several people even went back for seconds! Enjoy!

Here is a link to the recipe.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Add vanilla and chocolate chips.

Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 10 -14 minutes until firm.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

I subscribe to a couple recipe sites, and decided to finally try one of the recipes out. My family loved this dessert!

1/2 cup cold butter
1 pouch (1 lb. 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker oatmeal chocolate chip cookie
mix
1 egg
2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, cut butter into cookie mix using fork or pasty blender. Stir in 1 egg until mixture is crumbly. Gently spoon 3 cups crumb mixture into pan; press into bottom of pan. Bake 15 minutes.

In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, 2 eggs and the vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Pour over cookie crust. Spoon remaining crumb mixture over cream cheese. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Cake Mix Cookies

These are the easiest cookies in the world, and I think they're pretty yummy!

1 box cake mix (my favorite is Funfetti)
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil

Mix all ingredients, form into cookie balls (I use a cookie baller), put on cookie sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Don't overcook!

Note: You can add chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc. to cookie dough before baking. Mint chips with chocolate cake mix is another of my favorites!

Fish Tacos

I think I could eat these fish tacos every night - they really are that good. And they're so easy to make! Don't let the name scare you away - my little sister doesn't even like fish, but she loves these fish tacos!

fish - I like talapia
carrots, chopped really small
zucchini, chopped small
red bell pepper, chopped really small
jalapeño, chopped really small
garlic
cinnamon
cayenne pepper
little tarragon
little seasoning salt
pepper
major greys chutney (optional)
tomatoes, cubed
cilantro

Stir fry the carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Set aside. Cook fish in pan, breaking apart the fish as it cooks. When the fish is done, add the veggies back, and then season the whole mixture with the cinnamon, cayenne, tarragon, salt, pepper, and major greys chutney (all seasonings are to taste).

Place mixture in a small soft white corn tortilla. Top with cilantro and tomatoes. It's also really good with a simple sauce - sour cream and some hot sauce (I used Tapatio)....................

Pumpkin Bars

These are yummy... and a perfect fall treat!

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups pumpkin, cooked and mashed (I used canned)
2 cups flour
1 t salt
2 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
4 T margarine
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 t vanilla

Combine eggs, sugar, and oil in a large mixing bowl. Beat well. Blend in pumpkin. Sift flour, salt, soda, and cinnamon. Add to pumpkin mixture. Pour into greased and floured 10x15 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool. Combine cream cheese, margarine, powdered sugar, and vanilla, blending well. Spread over baked mixture. Cut into bars.