Recipes of the Week

We love to make homemade pizza. We rarely go out for pizza because what we make at home is just so much better. We bake our pizza on a stone and would highly recommend getting one if you want to be serious about your pizza making. We tried a new dough recipe last weekend. We usually make one that is classified as a "thin and crispy" dough and we add some wheat flour to it. This one is a thicker, yeastier dough. It was really good topped with hot italian sausage, fresh peppers, and carmelized onions.

Easy Pizza Dough

Ingredients

3/4 cup water (110-115 degrees, preferably)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 Tablesppoons butter, melted or very softened
2 1/2 cups flour
1 Tablespoon yeast

1. Place ingredients in your bread machine in the recommended order.

2. Run the dough cycle.

Saturday I cooked a whole chicken in the crockpot. With the leftovers I made some stock, chicken salad, and the following recipes: Poppyseed Chicken Casserole and Cream of Chicken Soup. I made the Cream of Chicken soup specifically for the casserole. I didn't have any on hand, and had always thought about making some, so it was the perfect chance. Instead of canned chix broth, I used some of the stock I had just made. I used half of it in the casserole and froze the rest. Ok, and for the Poppyseed Chicken Casserole...it was super good! I wasn't quite sure if Ryan would like it, but he loved it and so did the boys. We had it with garlic roasted green beans.

Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt (or less; taste to test)
1/4 teaspoon parsley
dash of paprika
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup flour

Instructions:

1. In medium-sized saucepan, boil chicken broth, 1/2 cup of the milk, and the seasonings for a minute or two (longer if using fresh onions or garlic).

2. In a bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 cup of milk and flour. Add to boiling mixture and continue whisking briskly until mixture boils and thickens.

Poppy Seed Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded (turkey can be substituted for chicken)
• 1 (4 ounce) packet Ritz crackers
• 1 tablespoon poppy seed
• 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

Directions

1. Combine chicken with soup and sour cream in a bowl.
2. In another bowl add crushed crackers and poppy seeds to melted butter.
3. Mix well.
4. Mix half of cracker mixture in chicken.
5. Put in casserole dish.
6. Spread remaining cracker mix on top.
7. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
8. Cover for first 15 minutes and then uncover for last 15 minutes.

And for the last recipe...some "crunchy granolaish" bread. I made this bread twice over the weekend. The first time I baked it in the bread maker and the second time I just made the dough in the bread maker and then baked it in the oven. It turned out better for me when I baked it in the oven. It has a great flavor and it perfect for sandwiches or toast.

Sunflower and Grains Bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup regular rolled oat
• 1 1/8 cups buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dry active yeast
• 1/2 cup shelled sunflower seed

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a 1 1/2 or 2- pound bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.
2. Slect whole wheat or basic white bread cycle and desired color setting.