Homemade Pizza!

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When my children were small, I decided that I was going to create my own family traditions for the holidays. One of those traditions is homemade pizza on Christmas Eve. It’s very simple really. If I’m pressed for time, I buy the pre-made pizza crusts but homemade from scratch is sooo much better! All you need is a good crust, a good sauce and your favorite toppings and then you’ve got your own homemade pizza! Here’s my recipe:

The crust:

4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups warm water
2 envelopes yeast
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
 
Mix the yeast and warm water, then add the sugar. Wait for the yeast to begin to get bubbly. Then start adding the flour until all is combined and the dough is slightly sticky. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and let the dough rise in a warm area for about 30 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a floured area and knead with your hands about 5 to 10 times. Roll the dough to desired thickness and put in your pans. I normally bake my pizza crust for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees before putting sauce and other toppings on. This keeps the dough from getting soggy. It doesn’t always get soggy so you don’t have to do it this way.

The sauce is a bit more difficult to put down since I actually just throw it together, so if you have a question just give me a holler!

1 (28 oz.) can stewed tomatoes, crushed
2 (28 oz.) cans of tomato sauce
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or 2 teaspoons garlic powder (or both, if you love garlic like I do!!)
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (if you like your sauce on the spicy side!)
1 – 2 teaspoons sugar (if you like your sauce on the sweet side!)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste (If your tomato sauce has added salt you may not need to add more.)

Notes: I wouldn’t use both red pepper flakes and sugar. Choose one or the other. You can choose to add finely chopped onion and bell pepper, sliced mushrooms and ground Italian sausage. If you like your sauce chunky, leave chunks of tomato, mushroom, bell pepper and onion in the sauce. If you like it smooth, then run your veggies in the food processor with a little tomato sauce before adding to pot. It’s just all about what YOU like and tweaking this recipe (or any other recipe) to satisfy your own family’s tastes. This sauce doubles as a Spaghetti Sauce so make a batch and then save some for your pizza! 

Let your sauce simmer while you prepare the pizza toppings. (It’s best if it simmers for at least an hour.)

Toppings:

I use a combination of Mozzarella and Monterey Jack chesses, Parmesan and /or Romano cheese, pepperoni, Genoa salami, anchovies, black olives, mushrooms, bell pepper. You can use whatever your heart desires! 
 
When your pizza is topped and everyone’s hungry, bake it at about 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.
 
Ta-da! Our Christmas Eve Tradition is alive again! Enjoy! 

Popcorn Cake Recipe – A Family Favorite

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I’m going to share a family favorite with everyone who’s interested. I don’t do that often. Call me stingy. This favorite recipe came from a co-worker back 25+ years ago. If you know me, then you’ve most likely had this yummy dessert before OR I’ve given you the recipe. Trust me, this is so yummy your kids will be screaming for more! So, here’s the recipe – the first recipe in a series of my favorite holiday (or anytime) recipes. Enjoy!

Popcorn Cake

1 lb. miniature marshmallows
2 sticks margarine
1 lb. M&M’s*
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
16 cups popped popcorn
1 small bag M&M’s with peanuts*

*Seasonal M&M’s can be used for the holidays.

Melt margarine on the stove, not in the microwave. Add marshmallows and let them melt. Turn off heat. Add and mix the rest of the ingredients. (I usually transfer the melted marshmallow and margarine to a large aluminum bowl for mixing in other ingredients.) Put in angel food cake pan that has been sprayed with Pam or buttered. Press mixture lightly into pan. Chill and remove from pan.

Not Such A Good Idea

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Image Copyright Being Aunt Debbie

Today, my daughter, my son, the 2 grandkids and I went to Walmart. We had a few things to pick up like milk and stuff for burgers tonight. Doodle Bug was a bit tired of riding in the cart and daddy took her out to let her stretch her legs. As we were standing in the check-out line, Doodle Bug decided to crawl under the basket and lay on the rack near the wheels. We were very mindful of where her little hands and fingers were. I’ve seen kids get their fingers ran over while riding below like this and I didn’t want her to get hurt. We weren’t moving though, just standing in line. The problem was, that her little legs were skinnier than the bars on the rack and her little legs got stuck in between. She was STUCK and not a happy camper! Her daddy helped her out and all was fine in the universe again. It was fun while it lasted!

Mr. Potato Head’s Cat

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Image Copyright Being Aunt Debbie

This is Mr. Potato Head’s Cat, Korn. “Yes, that’s Korn. Korn with a “K” and you have disturbed my slumber.”

This morning the phone rang and woke me up. I let the machine pick it up. I decided I’d better get up and see who it was. I put my glasses on and crawled out of bed.

Message important, but not urgent.

I guess my grandson, D.M., was shocked to see that I had my glasses on already. Usually, when I crawl out of bed he reminds me that I don’t have them. He uses sign language mostly – some that I taught him and some that he created himself. His sign for glasses is putting his hands over his eyes. He made this sign and then made the sign for sleeping, which is his head resting on his hand. I told him, “Yes, I have my glasses on. I don’t wear them when I sleep.” Then, just to be funny I asked him, “Do you wear your glasses when you sleep?” He cocked his head to the side (like a puppy) and looked confused. “Uh oh,” I thought. I’ve confused him alright!! He then ran to his Mr. Potato Head pieces and grabbed up Mr. Potato Head’s glasses and put them on his own face! Soon after he was trying them on the cat. Poor Korn. He’s a ‘good ol’ boy’ and really doesn’t mind being bothered, but doesn’t he looked thrilled?