Bread and Pizza...

Friday was my dad's 57th birthday. Doesn't seem like he should be that old. He doesn't act that old.  I kept Jake all night so mom and dad could go out on a date.  I made pizza from scratch and it was Delicious! I will definitely be keeping that recipe. 

FLEISCHMANN'S PIZZA DOUGH

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This recipe for pizza crust is unique in that it can be mixed and baked without any rising time! It only works using Fleischmann's Pizza Crust Yeast, a specially formulated yeast just for making pizza.


1 3/4 to 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 envelope Fleischmann's Pizza Yeast
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup very warm tap water (120-130°F)
3 tbsp. oil (we used olive oil)
pizza sauce, toppings and cheese


Preheat oven to 425°F for 15-20 minutes before baking. Brush a 12-inch pizza pan with olive oil.
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Stir in water and oil, mixing together until well blended, about 1 minute.
Gradually add 1/2 cup flour, stirring until a soft dough is formed and dough ball begins to leave sides of bowl; dough will be slightly sticky.
Knead dough on a lightly floured work surface until smooth and elastic (about 4 or 5 minutes). If additional flour is needed to keep dough from sticking, gradually add a few tablespoons at a time (but use as little flour as possible).


Cooks Tip: Coat hands with olive oil to keep dough from sticking. Alternatively, dust hands with flour.


Using fingertips, press dough out to fit pizza pan (or roll out). Dimple the surface to make indentations for the sauce.


Brush the dough lightly with olive oil. Spread pizza sauce over the dough, using the back of the ladle or spoon to spread evenly. (Make sure sauce is not hot.)


Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over sauce, then a little Parmesan cheese, a pinch or so of basil and oregano, and other favorite toppings, such as pepperoni, chopped peppers, sliced mushrooms, onions, anchovies, etc.


Bake pizza on the bottom oven rack for 12-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and crust is nicely browned.


Cooks Note: For a fresh taste, top the pizza with the sauce only; add the cheese during the last final minutes and finish off on the top shelf until the cheese is bubbly and the crust browned. Keep a pan of hot water in the oven for an extra crisp crust.


Submitted by: CM

I put hamburger, pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, lots of cheese and homemade sauce on it. It was divine!

Since I was already in the bread making mode-I decided to go ahead and make bread! I tried a different recipe than I had been making and I think I will continue making it!  My great-grandmother's recipe is a lot like it and dad said it tasted a lot like her bread.  The recipe is called Amish Bread and is very simple to make.  It made a nice fluffy bread.  Chris wants me to start making bread all the time and quit buying regular sandwich bread.  I think I am going to try it for awhile.  He said it makes sandwiches taste so much better!

The recipe is:

Amish White Bread

2 cups warm water

2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour, give or take some

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.



Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.


Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

It was not dense at all and was very moist. I used olive oil to brush my pans since I already had it on my brush from the pizza crust.  I think I am going to keep doing that.

On another note my chickens have started laying more eggs, which really excites me.  This morning when I went to let them out there were already 3 eggs in the nest.  Yesterday we got 5 eggs. Hopefully soon I can start selling eggs again.  I think if they keep laying 5 eggs a day I will call my neighbor and let him know that I can sell him some eggs again.  I am really likeing this feel of self sufficency (if that is a word) ... raising chickens, gathering eggs, raising beef, baking bread, raising kids at home, cooking from scratch, etc.  I feel that it is my calling. 

There are days of course that I just want to run away-no one is perfect and someone let my kids know that early on!  My kids and my hubby drive me insane somedays, but most days I really really love my life. 

Oh and I don't think I mentioned it before- Chris bought a 70 John Deere a couple weeks ago.  He got it running Friday night and finally took it for a test drive yesterday. He is so excited.  We only had to pay $1200 for it- it is worth so much more than that. The body is pretty straight and the paint is good.  We are going to try and find some new tires for it though, since it had set for at least 4 years and they are cracked and have threads showing.  He wants to pull it some this summer just to play- and then he is planning on selling it.  It really makes him happy- I just wish it had enough horse to pull the 530 JD Baler that he bought earlier in the month!  He will be needing a tractor for that soon-but for now-- well, at least this summer, Dad will let him borrow a tractor to pull it.  I hope he can pick up quite a few custom baling jobs this summer.  Especially since he has the round baler and the square baler. Plus he said he is thinking about advertising to combine for people.

The price of corn has risen greatly lately as so the price of cattle.  If the prices stay high than the price of fescue and wheat will probably be high next summer-if that is so than more people will want to combine. 

I just can't wait for summer.  I complain so much I know when it is 100 degrees and miserable, but I really like it much better than winter.  Everything is much more prettier and easier to do in the summer.  Plus I can stay occupied more outside and I don't get cabin fever as bad.  I think this summer since the kids will be bigger and can play outside better, it will be easier to work out in the garden.  Oh I get so excited when I think about it.

Okay I have rambled on enough in this post, I reckon. :)