Thursday, March 29, 2012

Sourdough Pizza Crust


I love having a sourdough start in my fridge. I was able to easily make this crust and not have to put much effort into dinner. If you have been thinking about using sourdough...get a start. Now. You'll love it.


1 1/2 cups of Sourdough Starter
1 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil or Coconut Oil
1 tsp Salt
1- 1 1/2 cups of flour

-In the morning, pour starter, olive oil, and salt into a medium size bowl. Stir.
-Add 1 cup of flour to this mixture. Mix well.
-Dust your countertop with flour. Place dough mixture on counter and begin kneading.
-Knead dough until ingredients are combined. It should be soft and not sticky. Add flour as necessary. If it is too dry, add a little water.
-Place your dough back into a bowl, cover with a plate or damp cloth. Leave your dough to "sour".
-Now it is dinner time and your ready to bake your pizza. Preheat oven to 450° F.
-Roll out your dough. Place it on a greased cookie sheet and poke it several times with a fork.
-Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.
-Add sauce and toppings and return to bake for 10-25 more minutes.

{Recipe from Here}

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Hmmm


This is my garden. 
In August it will be beautiful. 
Filled with yummy fruits and vegetables.
My mouth is watering just thinking about it...

Today,
I must stay away from my computer.
It distracts me. 
 I think the weeds are growing as I type.
There is so much work to do.

It's a good thing I love it out there!



Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Chicken Tikka Masala


I love Indian food! I was very excited to find this recipe. It is so easy to make. This is going to become a regular dish at my house! It is extra delicious if you have it with naan (Indian flatbread). Find a great recipe here. Or sourdough naan here. I have made both!

1 cup Yogurt or Milk Kefir
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
2 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Ginger
1 tsp black pepper
4 tsp Salt
3 Chicken Breasts, cut into pieces
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper, optional (I don't add any)

1 Tbsp Butter
1 clove Garlic, minced
2 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Paprika
1 (6 oz) can Tomato Paste
1 1/4 cup Cream

-In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 tsp cumin, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
-Preheat oven to 350° F
-In a 9x13 pan, add your chicken mixture to butter, garlic, cumin, paprika, tomato paste, and cream. Stir.
-Cover and bake for 50-60 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

{Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com}


Monday, March 26, 2012

Someday...Monday

Hi Everyone!  I found something super cute for the kids...



Don't you love it?
I know my kids would!

 

Find it here.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Birthday Pictures

Here are a few pictures from my birthday. 


Some cute ladies from my church put this sign on my doorstep.





I got a cute new dress from Down East
And the book, Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders). I can't wait to start reading it with Kimball. 
Also, Photoshop! Notice my pictures look a little vintage? Love it!


It was a great birthday!

Enjoy your weekend!
 I am going to be doing some much needed weeding!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Vanilla Pudding Trifle







Okay, now you know how easy it is to make your own vanilla pudding. Add some whipped cream, strawberries, bananas and you have another delicious dessert. Trifles look so fancy and they are super easy to make.

Vanilla Pudding (I doubled the recipe)
2 cups Cream,  whipped
4 Bananas
2 packages Strawberries
Pretzels. Wafers. Nuts. optional (something with a crunch is great)

Add more or less of any of the ingredients.

-Start with a layer of pudding.
-Add whipped cream.
-Be generous with your bananas and strawberries.
-Start your layers over again.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The One When I turn 27

Well friends, today is my birthday! 
Here are a few things on my wish list. 
And a wish list it is...some things are not in my price range.
Tonight Kimball and I are going to dinner. Usually after we eat out I think, "I should have cooked something at home.  It tastes better".  I'm really loving home cooked meals. Maybe we will go to a steak house. You can't go wrong with a juicy steak. 


find bedding here


find dress here


find couch here


find plates here


find swimsuit here


find jeans here


Thank you mom for calling and singing Happy Birthday. 
It made me smile!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Someday...Monday


Hi everyone! Did you have a good weekend?  It was really wet and cold in my area. 

I want to share with a you a blog I LOVE. It's called Sweet Pickins


You will find the cutest furniture on her blog. One day I will get my paint out and redo a bunch of old furniture that I have...and I will be looking on Sweet Pickins for inspiration! 
Enjoy!

See you tomorrow!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Life Lately


I have started a new quilt. 


This is how Dieter was sleeping on our bed the other night. 



 Here is Samantha playing with her lion. 




We had a fun time at the park. I'm loving the spring weather!


Kimball loves his new gun that he received for his birthday. 



Happy Weekend!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Apricot Bars



Apricots are my very favorite dried fruit. I knew I would love these as soon as I saw the recipe. I used arrowroot powder. This was the first time I had ever used it. It has a different flavor...almost peppery. It's not a bad alternative if you can't have wheat.  However, next time I make these, I will use wheat flour.

3 cups Dried Apricots, unsulfered
1/2 cup Sugar, any kind
2 cups Almonds
1/2 cup Butter, softened or Coconut Oil
1 1/2 cups Arrowroot or Wheat Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Almond Extract

-Cook apricots in water until tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and blend in a food processor with 1/2 cup sugar. Let cool.
-Using a food processor, blend your almonds. Add remaining ingredients.
-Press 2/3 of almond mixture into a greased 9x13 pan, making a very thin crust. Bake 15 minutes at 350°
-Spread the apricot mixture onto crust.
-Sprinkle your remaining almond mixture overtop of apricots.
-Bake at 325° for about 45 minutes.

{Recipe from Nourishing Traditions}

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding Pie



When I was younger, I would have never eaten bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. I'm liking that flavor more and more as I get older. This pie was delicious. Use whatever sugar you want. I'm sure honey would work just fine too. Personally, I don't think it's a problem to have sugary desserts like this now and then.  There are plenty of other healthy, delicious desserts for your family to have more often.


Crust:
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Filling:
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups whole milk, divided
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:
3/4 cup chilled crème fraîche***
3/4 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar (Whole New Mom has a great recipe for making your own)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Crust: (can be made one day ahead of time, lightly covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated)
-In the bowl of combine flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt.
-Add butter; mix on low speed until butter is the size of small peas, about 5 minutes. 
-Add egg; mix until ingredients come together to form a dough.
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to just thicker than 1/8 inch. Brush off excess flour; transfer dough to a 9-inch pie dish. Press dough into bottom and up sides of pan; trim excess flush with edge. Lightly prick bottom of dough all over with a fork. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
-Bake shell until firm, about 15 minutes.
-Immediately sprinkle chocolate over bottom of shell; smooth with a spatula.

Filling: (can be made 2 days ahead of time)
-Whisk sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt to blend in heavy medium saucepan.
-Gradually add 1/3 cup milk, whisking until smooth paste forms. Whisk in remaining milk, then 1/4 cup cream. 
-Using a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, stir mixture constantly over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Make sure to scrape bottom and sides of pan until pudding thickens and begins to bubble at edges.
-Add chocolate and stir until smooth. 
-Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour hot pudding into crust and spread evenly. Cool 1 hour at room temperature. 
-Cover and chill overnight.

Topping:
-Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche, whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl just until stiff peaks form and mixture is thick enough to spread. 
-Spread topping over pie. 
-Cut pie into wedges and serve.

***Make your own crème fraîche. It is so easy and I'm sure it's cheaper than store bought. 

-1 cup whipping cream mixed with 2 tablespoons buttermilk.
-Combine well in glass jar and cover.
-Let stand at room temperature 24-36 hours, or until thickened.
-Stir well and refrigerate.
-Use within 10 days.

{Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart and Mel's Kitchen Cafe}


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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Vanilla Pudding


I shared this recipe over at Mess for Less. When I found this recipe online, I was amazed at how easy it is to make. It is also very delicious! Your family will love it!


In a saucepan, combine honey, flour, and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until it bubbles. 


In a separate bowl, beat your eggs.


Combine one cup of the hot milk mixture with your eggs.  


Stir the egg mixture into your saucepan.


Stir in your butter. 


Add in your vanilla. 

Your done. So Simple! 
Let it cool and enjoy!



Instructions:

3 cups milk (try coconut milk if you can't have dairy)
2 eggs
1/3 cup freshly ground flour or cornstarch (you can also use arrowroot powder)
1/2 – 3/4 cup honey or sugar
1 TBL butter
2 tsp vanilla


1. In a large saucepan, combine honey, flour, and milk. Cook and stir with a whisk over medium heat. Cook until the mixture starts to bubble. Cook 2 more minutes and remove saucepan from the heat.

2. In a small bowl, beat eggs and then gradually stir in a cup of the cooked mixture, continuing to stir vigorously. 

3.  Pour egg mixture into the saucepan and return to medium heat. Stir until nearly bubbly but not a boil. Reduce heat and stir for 2 more minutes.

4. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. 

5.  Let cool for 5 minutes and serve warm. 

6.  Refrigerate uneaten portion.

{Recipe from The Healthy Home Economist}





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