Sew Boring

OK, I think it's safe to say I've hit a blog time low and I don't see things changing anytime soon. Honestly, there's just not much to share, just piddling and cleaning. I might, however, start a new quilt today since it's snowing like crazy, and I suppose I could finish one of my numerous unfinished home improvement projects.... or not. I don't know. Sew boring. tee hee hee

Here's something kind of fun and kind of not, that I've been doing these last couple of weeks. I've been experimenting with pizza doughs, and have come across a great recipe and tweaked it a bit. It's super easy and versatile.

FAST AND EASY, THICK AND CHEWY PIZZA DOUGH:

1/2 – 3/4 c. warm water

1 T. dry active yeast

1 t. sugar

2 c. bread flour (add a couple of tsp of gluten if you have it)

1 T. olive oil

1/2 t. salt

A handful of cornmeal

1. Combine 1/4 c. water with yeast and sugar. Stir to dissolve the yeast, set aside until bubbly about 5 minutes.
2. Mix flour and salt, then add the oil.
3. Stir the yeast mixture into the flour mixture, adding water until it forms a ball you can work with. I start with a wooden spoon and then switch to using my fingers to squish and mix. Knead for a few minutes (I just knead it in the bowl). Cover with plastic wrap or another bowl and let stand for 5-10 minutes.
4. Spread the dough out on a surface sprinkled with cornmeal and shape into a round crust. Here's a tip from the original recipe (While messing around with the toppings–chopping things up, the dough rises enough. I don’t preheat the oven. Instead, I stick the pizza(s) in the oven with it cold, and let the crusts rise a little more as the oven heats up.) I use that tip for cinnamon rolls as well.
5. Put all the toppings on, brush the exposed crust with olive oil and bake at 400 or 425˚ 15 or 20 minutes or until done–I lift with a spatula to see if it’s brown on the bottom as well as watch the cheese).

This is the BEST pizza dough I've come across and it's seriously no fail. I made some last night in no time and topped mine with onions, olives, artichokes, peppers, feta and mozzarella cheeses. I didn't have mushrooms or fish however... bummer. There's nothing better than stinky, salty anchovies on pizza. YUMMMM!!! You could also roast garlic and knead it into the crust. I'll try that next time!