Let's make Pizza!!!

So a few years ago I got this recipe for "tried and true" pizza dough. I copied it out of friend's recipe binder and have made it HUNDREDS of times! It makes two 10-12" pizza crusts (depending if you want thin crust or a bit thicker) I will share it with you because I think everyone should have an easy pizza dough recipe. There really is nothing like home made dough.

Here you go!

You'll need
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup of warm water (on the hot side)
1 tbsp honey (we use Babe's on Vancouver Island)
2 cups of organic unbleached white flour
1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tbsp organic olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp corn meal

~Preheat your oven to 200*
~Pour yeast into a large mixing bowl and add warm/hot water and honey. Mix, cover with a dish towel and put into the 200* oven for 5-10 minutes until mixture is foamy. Turn off oven.
~Meanwhile,combine both flours and set aside
~Add olive oil and salt to yeast mixture using a wooden spoon and mix well.
~Add one cup of the flour mixture and stir until smooth
~Add a second cup of flour mixture and continue to stir until dough forms a soft and sticky mass that comes a way from the bowl

~Flour your work surface and you hands with some of the remaining flour
~Turn the dough out of the bowl onto floured surface and knead in more flour until dough is smooth and elastic.

~Shape the dough into a ball. Put some olive oil on the inside of the bowl with your hands so the dough ball will not stick while rising.

~Cover the bowl again this time with plastic (I use an old grocery bag but cling wrap will work too). Put the bowl back into the oven that was turned off but remains warm, close the door and set a timer for 45-50 minutes.

~We use pizza stones but regular pizza pans work just fine too. (the pizza stone really crisps up the crust nicely)

~Put cornmeal on your pizza stones or spray oil onto 2, 12" pizza pans
~Punch down dough, divide in two balls and roll out to circles.

Now, here's the fun part!!!

Spread your choice of sauce (we often use yummy organic pasta sauce with garlic or mushrooms in it but really, you can use whatever you choose!)

Place meat on the sauce, follow with cheese and then your chosen toppings.

Remember* put toppings on your pizza from driest to wettest (Wettest ones going on the top so they dry out when cooking in the oven)

~Preheat your oven to 450* and cook from 13-17 minutes until cheeses are bubbly and crust is browned a little.
~Let the pizza sit for 3-4 minutes before cutting and enjoy!

mmmm...

Quinoa Salad (TDF!!!)

Refreshing, light and tasty quinoa salad

Serves 4; Yields 5 cups

3 Tbs raisins

3 Tbs dried apricots, sliced into thin strips

1 cup organic quinoa

1 large organic lemon (wash well before zesting)

3 Tbs organic olive oil

1/4 tsp ground coriander

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp ground paprika

kosher salt

1 large organic avocado, not too ripe

3 organic green onions thinly sliced

3 Tbs chopped toasted almonds (if you toast them yourself, I think they taste soooo much better)

Make quinoa following directions on package. Cool to room temp.

Grate the zest from the lemon into a small bowl and whisk 2 Tbs of the lemon juice, olive oil, spices and a 1/4 tsp Kosher salt.

In a large bowl, toss the quinoa with the fruit and nuts, then the vinaigrette. Mix well. Carefully cut the avocado and add folding it in carefully. 

Season with S&P and enjoy...

Mmmmmmm!

Heirloom & cherry tomatoes from the Saanich Peninsula

Spring!

Here it comes! My favourite time of the year. Days filled with gardening, farmers markets, sunshine and fresh food ideas.

Will be posting a fantastic quinoa salad recipe that I discovered.

It will knock your taste buds off!!! See you soon!

AJ