Homemade Pizza

Mmmmmm mm. My friend Tina and her husband have been apparently going on and on about my homemade pizza ever since they came over for dinner a few weeks ago. We went out to lunch yesterday in Savannah and returned to their house to later cook dinner. Ideas were thrown about, what to cook and what not. The final word was pizza. Made by me. So we made two because you know, not everyone likes the same types of pizzas. One was topped with pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, onions, and green peppers, while the other was just hamburger and pepperoni. I tried the first, and I have to say it was by far the best pizza I have made e.v.e.r. Have you ever eaten something and wished that you could for that one meal extend you stomach, I don't know, twenty-five times it's size so you can continue to eat without feeling sick? Well, two slices is usually all it takes to reach my maximum capacity level, so I wasn't able to eat the entire thing my self. *sigh* However, I'm sure my scale is thanking me today that I stuck with two slices instead of the entire pizza. Another couple joined us for dinner as well, the wife gave the ultimate compliment of stating she thought it was the best pizza she'd ever eaten. Hello, I made it! I'll go ahead and let you in on the staple ingredients... including the one secret ingredient I swear is what makes it so good... the crust!

Ingredients:
2 boxes Jiffy pizza crust
1 c. water
3 cups shredded mozerella & provolone cheese
pepperoni
1 lb hot Italian sausage
1/2 white onion (sliced)
1/3 green pepper (chopped)
1 jar Classico pizza sauce
butter (I butter the pan really well and also my hands when stretching out the dough)

Directions:
Follow the instructions on the back of the crust box =) I use 1 large cookie sheet per 2 boxes of crust mix. Usually serves 4 people (2-3 slices per person)

Drop Sugar Cookies

So, I was expecting these little guys to flatten out a bit upon baking but, I have to admit they were kind of cute in their little fluffy ball shape. I also have to admit my favorite part of the cookie is the inside, I've never been much on 'crunchy' cookies unlessssss you bring up the ever so famous Oreos, but that's another cookie, another day. Can't let the Oreo steal the show here. The truth is, after a few glasses of wine anything of the cookie variety sounded absolutely delish so I dove on in and started baking. Between the wine and trying to converse with my mom via telephone the entire duration of ingredient mixing I'm surprised these little guys turned out so well.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 c. AP flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. butter (room temp.)
3/4 c. sugar
1 large egg
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In mixer, blend egg, sugar, butter, and vanilla until combined. Slowly add flour mixture until dough is formed. I dropped them with a cookie scooper and baked at 350 for 8 minutes.

Chicken Caesar Salad

I know you guys have been refreshing the blog page for days, holding onto your seats in anticipation for the next round of new blog posts. Don't worry. I think I've brought you a few delicious things to look at today my foodie friends. This salad was way better than anyone I've had to pay $8 for! Maybe because it was made by my lovely hands or maybe because I didn't have to sit in a noisy booth waiting an hour for it to be brought to my table. All I know it that is was goooooood. The only thing I would change is shaved Parmesan cheese versus the grated.

Ingredients:
8 oz. Tyson grilled chicken, sliced
1/2 head romaine lettuce
3 tbsp. Caesar dressing
1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
handful of Italian style croutons

Directions:
Combine all ingredients, plate, and top with croutons. Sit, eat, and enjoy!

Chicken Caesar Wrap

Is there anything better than a Chicken Caesar salad? Yes my friends, behold the delicious chicken ceaser wrap! Are you guys tired of all the wraps? Well, I'm not! So many possibilities my friends! I also can't believe how many times I've paid 9$ for one of these things at a restaurant! Really? I'll spend 10 minutes making it myself and save my money, thank-you-very-much-over-priced-corporate-restaurants!

Ingredients:
8 oz. Tyson packaged grilled chicken, sliced
2 wraps
1/2 head romaine lettuce
3 tbsp Kraft caesar dressing
1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Toss all ingredients together, place down center of wrap and... wrap!

Banana-Nutella 'Ice Cream'

Now, I know you're thinking, what the heck is that a picture of? Well my blogging friends, that WAS delicious, chocolate-y, banana-y, goodness! This was super easy and a little challenging at the same time. I originally found a recipe that was titled 'Nutella Fudge Pops'. So I venture to Wal-Mart that day looking for Popsicle molds... na-da. After searching the darn store for over 30-minutes I gave up. I decided I'd try and just put the contents into plastic tumblers with a Popsicle stick and hope for the best. Well the best wasn't good enough so I pulled that stick out, grabbed a spoon, and well, the rest was history. Ice cream with no milk or cream? Yes, please!

Ingredients:
3 frozen peeled, ripe bananas
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup Nutella
pinch of salt

Directions:
I threw all the ingredients in my Kitchen Aid mixer and mixed it at level 2 until the bananas started combining, then turn speed up to mix into a creamy consistency. I learned my lesson on trying to speed up the mixing process because I cranked that bad boy up to 5 to see what it was really made of and well, what came next was a 1/2 frozen banana flying towards my face leaving chunks of nutella on the counter, the floor, and yes, my shirt. Take it slow my friends, take it slow. Think of this recipe as a 'wine & dine' type of gal! Place in desired container and freeze. Grab a spoon and enjoy!

'Sweedish' Meatballs

So, I hate to admit that I grew up having a weird love for the Lean Cuisine 'Sweedish Meatball' meal. I somehow managed to recreate a not so lean version with 3... yep, 3 ingredients!

Ingredients:
Farmrich Italian Style pre-packaged meatballs
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/3 bag of wide egg noodles

Directions:
Place can of cream of mushroom soup in small crock pot on high for 3 hours with desired amount of meatballs. I probably used about 15. Cook noodles according to package directions, drain. Combine contents of crock pot with noodles and dinner is served! Super easy and very tasty! Not my favorite picture so I've got it at the bottom of all the new posts!