Pizza Dough Recipe

I have been using this recipe for several years. It makes an easy pizza crust that tastes great. I also use this recipe to make bread sticks and cinnamon rolls. The instructions for all of these are listed below.

Pizza Dough



2 Cups Very Warm Water
1 Tbsp. Yeast
1 Tbsp. Sugar
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
4 ½ - 5 Cups Flour
1 tsp. Salt

Mix water, yeast, sugar and olive oil and let stand until bubbles form on top. Mix flour, salt and wet ingredients together. I like to use my Kitchen Aid mixer because it does the work of kneading for me. I mix the dough until it forms a ball in the mixer. Let rise, or you can use the dough immediately. (Letting the dough rise results in a better dough.)

To make this dough using 100%  whole wheat flour all you need to do is add 1 Tbsp. of white vinegar and exchange the flour cup for cup.  Easy and more nutritious.  

Pizza



Divide the dough into two sections. Use a little flour to help roll out the dough. Press into two pizza pans. Poke holes in the dough with a fork.  Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and add pizza sauce, toppings of choice, and shredded cheese. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

The dough recipe can also be doubled which results in four large pizzas. The pizzas can be cooled before adding the toppings and then frozen with good results. Baking time for frozen pizza will vary but should be roughly 15-20 minutes.

Bread Sticks



Use pizza dough recipe to make bread sticks. Roll dough into bread stick shapes and lay on a baking sheet or stone. The kids like to make these because it is like playing with play dough when I ask them to make the dough look like snakes. Brush a little melted butter mixed with garlic salt and/or herbs of choice onto each bread stick. Bake in a 400 degree oven until lightly browned.


Cinnamon Rolls



Use the pizza dough recipe to make cinnamon rolls as well. Roll out dough until it is about 1/4" to 1/2" thick. Brush the dough with melted butter. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the melted butter. Roll the dough, from the outside in, into a log shape. Use clean string or plain dental floss to cut the dough into rolls. Place the cinnamon rolls into pans (I like to use my 9x13 glass dish). Bake in a 350 degree oven until rolls are golden brown. This may take up to half an hour. Just keep an eye on them once you start to smell them. Once the rolls have cooled you may want to make a powdered sugar glaze to go over the top. To make the glaze take some powdered sugar and a small amount of milk. Whisk together and then drizzle over the top of the rolls.

I hope you enjoy this easy dough. I have found it to be a money saver and it is tasty, too.

Pizza Dough Recipe

Crocheted Clothespin Bag from "Plarn"

You may be wondering about the word "plarn" in the title of this post. It refers to yarn made from plastic grocery bags. When I stumbled upon this site that described how to make "plarn" I was intrigued. My husband had been doing most of the grocery shopping so we had quite a few bags lying around (I try to use my cloth grocery bags when I shop, but hubby doesn't want to mess with them.).

Well, when he saw what I was doing with the bags he thought I was nuts. Regardless, I decided to continue with the project. I finally finished the clothespin bag this week. I like it, especially since the only cost involved was my time. I still have more plastic bags around the house, so be prepared for the possibility of different projects crocheted from "plarn" to show up here in the future. You can't beat crafts made from free recycled materials.

Crocheted Clothespin Bag from "Plarn"

Crocheted Ski Masks

My oldest son has been asking for a ski mask (I know it is hot, but he is planning ahead.). I found this pattern and through some tweaking came up with the hats pictured above. I mostly followed the pattern, but had to make them bigger than the child's size and do a few other modifications. I think the kids will like them. They are made from acrylic yarn which will allow them to be washed easily.

Crocheted Ski Masks

Apron/Bonnet Combo

My daughter has been enjoying the Little House on the Prairie books and some of the American Girl books. This has led to her interest in pioneers. So, for her birthday I stitched up this apron that doubles as a bonnet. She really likes it and it looks cute on her. I loosely followed this tutorial. The fabric was some I have had for a long time (I keep trying to use up my stash, but there is still a lot left.).

Apron/Bonnet Combo