Rustic Vegetarian Pizza

While we're in pizza mode, let me share this recipe for a vegetarian pizza.  I found this in a Quick Cooking magazine a few years ago.  The combination of zucchini, tomatoes, onions, fresh basil, and loads of mozzarella looked scrumptious to me, so I gave it a try.  Then I promptly dog-eared the page and put it right on the shelf with my cookbooks because I knew I'd be making it again and again.  I make one of these at lunch rather frequently for the girls and me.  It always brings great big smiles and hearty "Mmmmm, mmmmm's!"

I made a couple simple changes to the original recipe.  First of all, it called for refrigerated pizza dough.  So I just substituted my own super simple recipe instead.  Secondly, it called for sliced mozzarella cheese.  I have used that, but usually what I have on hand is grated mozzarella, and it works just fine.  So just use what you like.  I will say that sliced mozzarella probably works best for giving it a more authentic Italian taste.

This is made in a couple stages, explained below.   All the vegies don't go on at once, nor all the cheese.  But it's worth the extra effort.  Trust me.

Oh, and this pizza does not have a red sauce.  In fact, it has no sauce at all.  With all the fresh tomatoes, you won't miss the sauce.  I don't!  And  I need to mention that I've been known to thrown on some sliced mushrooms, if I have them on hand.

But, only if we want a fungus among us.

Ahem...

Moving right along.

Holly is my handy dough roller.

She's never far from the action when I'm cooking.

I use dense, meaty tomatoes like plum, so they aren't too juicy.

Take out some aggression on a zucchini and some onions. 

 Place zucchini around the edge, fold the dough over, and pile on some cheese.

This bakes for about six minutes or so.

 

Next the tomatoes, onions, and rest of the zucchini go on.

It bakes a while longer, with the final layer of cheese going on last.

This is the final product.  You can tell I'm not OCD about the shape of my pizza.

I was trying to achieve a relatively decent rectangle.

I think I failed. 

********

Don't do what I did and forget the fresh basil.  I made this one from memory and completely overlooked it, with all the picture taking and what-have-you.  Ughhhh....such a disappointment when I realized it was missing.   You really want that fresh basil.  My plants are growing right outside the kitchen door, so I can go out there and buzz some off with my kitchen shears in about 10 seconds.  Dried basil will work....but, you know....

Rustic Vegetarian Pizza

• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
  
• 1 recipe of pizza dough, or one can refrigerated dough
• 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• about 1 1/2 - 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 small zucchini, cut into 1/8 inch slices, divided
  
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 4 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch slices
• salt/pepper
• 1/4 cup torn fresh basil

Sprinkle cornmeal over a greased baking sheet.  (Or use a baking stone, ungreased)  Roll pizza dough into a 12 inch square.  Brush with 1 teaspoon of olive oil.   Arrange half the zucchini slices around the edges of the dough, about an inch from the edge.  Fold the dough over the zucchini.  Put about half the cheese around the center of the pizza.  Bake at 400 degrees for about six minutes.  Remove from oven.

Layer the onion, remaining zucchini, and the tomato slices over the cheese.   Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return to oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or more, till it starts to brown and look done.   Add remaining cheese and bake an additional 4 or 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Remove from oven and drizzle with  remaining oil.  Sprinkle with fresh basil.  Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

I'll take the biggest piece, please.

I mean,  I'll take that little ol' piece right there.   Thank you!

 I'm off to work on a quilt all weekend.  I can't wait to show it to you!

Enjoy your weekend!

Love,

She Keeps Us in Stitches!

Lacy, our resident yarn buff, has been stitching up some stylish togs for her little sisters' American Girl dolls.  She amazes me the way she can fashion these without a pattern.  She just dreams them up and turns them out like it's nothing.  Today I thought I'd show you some of her latest creations. (click on the photos to enlarge them)

 

This is Holly's doll, Elizabeth, ready for a day of shopping on the town. 

 

Here is Felicity, Maggie's doll, warming up in ballet class. 

 

By the way, Felicity and Elizabeth are best friends.

 

Elizabeth removed her poncho to show you her adorable top and

skirt ensemble.  The shoes are also crocheted.

Felicity is all gussied up in her formal evening wear.

The black and white dress works for any special occasion.

Showing you another style is Elizabeth,

with a quick change into her jumper.

Here Felicity dons her black pants and green poncho.

Her boots are really fun, with their fuzzy tops!

 

Did I tell you that Elizabeth is engaged?

 

 So is Felicity...imagine that!

 

They are planning a double wedding in the Spring! 

Lacy would like you to know that she would be happy to create clothes for your daughter's, granddaughter's, or friend's American Girl doll as well.  Just give me a holler at the email address in the sidebar if you're interested.

Love,

Dessert Pizza

"Dessert Pizza?  Is that all?  Just Dessert Pizza?  Not 'Appley, Cinnamony, Nutty Awesomeness'?"  Lacy asked as she read my post title.

She's right, too.  A name like "Dessert Pizza" is really lacking.  But we're not going to wrangle over the name.  Just take Lacy's word on this, OK?

Pizza night at our house goes like this...  I make a big ol' batch of dough and divide it into four parts.  I use this recipe.

I put meat and cheese on a couple, and make a vegetarian pizza for the third, then make this dessert pizza for the last one.

Here's how to do it.

 Roll out the dough.

Melt the butter in a bowl.

Measure out a heaping helping of brown sugar.

Add some flour.

Chop some nuts and grab a big, tart apple.

Peel and chop that baby.

The butter/sugar goes on first.  Then, load up with the nuts and apples

and sprinkle liberally with cinnamon.

Bake at 400 degrees till done.

Mmmmmm.  Mmmmmm.  Mmmmmmm.


Laura Lee's Dessert Pizza

• pizza dough for one pizza
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2- 3/4 cup brown sugar
• about 1/4 cup flour
• one tart apple, peeled and chopped
  
• about 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• cinnamon to taste
  

Roll dough to sides of pan or edges of baking stone.  Build up edges slightly.  Mix melted butter with brown sugar and flour.  Spread over dough, almost to edges.   Sprinkle dough with apple, nuts, and cinnamon.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 16 minutes or till top is bubbly and edges of crust are golden brown.

Have a beautiful Lord's Day tomorrow!

Love,

Sewing Room Makeover

 

My sewing room has been a work in progress for the past year or so.  Various and sundry "kids" have moved in and out of this bedroom for years.  However, I knew when it was vacated for good, it would become my designated sewing room.  It also doubles as a guest room, with a day bed, and a pop-up trundle underneath.  Still, there is a lot of room in here for spreading out and letting those creative juices flow.

I've been making it as cheery and bright as I can.  Today, for instance, I recovered my ironing board.  Goodness!  It was a sight! I can't believe I'm even going to show you the before picture.  But here it is. I have had a beautiful, cottagey floral set aside for this project, and I finally dragged it out and made this in less than half an hour. 

I layered the floral fabric with some cotton batting, then flipped the ironing board over, traced around it, and cut it out,  leaving approximately three inches on all sides.

Then I folded over the edge about half an inch and took it to the sewing machine to stitch that down.  Afterwards, I folded it over another half inch, sewing it down and inserting the scavanged string from the old cover as I went. 

Voila!  Such an improvement!  And it now coordinates with the pillows on the daybed and the quilt that hangs behind it.   Now I may even enjoy ironing.

Don't laugh.  I said, "may."

Below is the sewing table with my nearly 20 year-old Bernina.  I seriously would not trade it for a new one.  I love this machine!  (Well, as much as you can love something that can't love you back!)

My happy Chinese children pin cushion....thanks, Erika!

This enamel-top antique table is a favorite of mine.  It is perfect as a cutting table, with the rotary cutting mat there on the top.  I thought it needed some pretty, pink sides, so I went to town with some paint.  And I added a little scrapbook paper to the drawer with Mod Podge.  Mmmmm, these colors make me so happy!

 

So, what's next project-wise?  These fabulous fabrics are going to become a little quilt and I'm so excited to start, I can hardly stand it.  Stay tuned 'cause I'm gonna show you how to do this one.  I'm planning to cut those 13 fabrics in one fell swoop and turn out some really cool star blocks.  AND, my plan is to make two of these.  One for me, and....one....for one of you!

 

 

In the meantime, cuddle up with a friend and have a great weekend.  We plan to!

Love,

Fall Mosaic

Glimpses of Fall Happiness!

Love,

Homemade Graham Crackers

Do you like to bake your own healthy snacks?  I do.  I want to share this recipe for homemade graham crackers with you because we love them, especially dunked in milk!  They are sweetened with honey and a dab of molasses.  I can't even remember where I found this recipe, but I'm sure glad I did.  It calls for whole wheat flour, so I ground some up just for these.

It's a simple dump and stir recipe.  Just mix the wet ingredients well and then stir in the dry ingredients.

It should form a nice ball that holds together well but isn't too sticky.

 Pile it onto a jelly roll pan and roll it all the way to the edges.

Score it into squares by cutting part of the way through the dough.  Then prick it with a fork to keep it from bubbling up in the oven.

 Serve them up with your favorite bears!

I'm taking a road trip this weekend, and you can bet I'll have a bag of these sitting beside me while I drive! 

Graham Crackers

• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2- 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4- 1/2 cup milk

Mix wet ingredients.  Sift together dry ingredients.  Mix together well.  Divide dough in half.  Roll thin onto 2 cookie sheets.  Score into squares.  Prick with fork.  Bake at 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. 

Have yourself a beautiful weekend!

Love,