Calzone!

This is a great recipe. The dough is incredible and the final product is so delicious! Mine doesn't look very pretty but it tastes sooooo good. It's the best kind of pizza because you can hold it and eat it and not get messy like you do with a normal pizza. It's easy and fun to make, just make sure you get all the toppings you want on it. I almost forgot the cheese and had to unwrap it all and put it on! I'm very glad I remembered. Anyways here is the recipe!

Pizza Dough

Ingredients:
2 1/2 to 3 c. flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 package (2 1/4 tsp.) yeast
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 c. very warm water

Directions:

1. Combine yeast, sugar, 1 c. of the flour, and salt in a large bowl.
   
2. Add the warm water and oil; mix well.
3. Stir in remaining flour slowly until dough is soft but not sticky; knead until smooth.
4. Let dough rise in a warm spot for at least 30 minutes.

Calzone Directions:

1. Once the dough is ready, roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle the length of your baking sheet (it can be wider than your sheet though).
2. Place onto baking sheet and put sauce on the center half of the dough. Add your favorite toppings then the cheese.
3. Next cut the dough on the sides at about 3/4 inch intervals (it's easier to use kitchen scissors for this part). Don't cut all the way to the filling.
4. Wrap the strips in a lattice pattern. Start at the bottom and alternating sides, overlap the strips of dough onto the filling. You can stretch the pieces to fit all the way over the filling.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for about 25-30 minutes. Once done remove to a wire rack to cool. Cut it into slices and enjoy!
   

Spring/Easter Wreath

I wanted to make a wreath that was good for Easter and Spring so I went looking around Michael's for any idea. I was thinking I could cover it entirely in tulips, which I still may later, but found that it would be way to expensive so I had to find a plan B. Luckily, my wonderful husband Greg was with me. He found and chose these pink apple blossoms and also the ribbon. Isn't he fantastic? And what great taste! And I absolutely LOVE the finished product. He did so good! I feel like it is the perfect springy/Easter wreath. It is bright and cheery and welcomes warm weather, which I like.

I got the wreath, flowers, and ribbon at Michael's for $15.17. To make it I cut the long twigs apart and wove each one into the twig wreath. No glue-gun needed = no burned fingers = happy Amanda. Next, I cut the length of ribbon I wanted and tied each end to the wreath to hang it. I also cut some of the ribbon and tied little bows on the end of the ribbon next to the wreath for a finishing touch.

That's it. Easy, pretty, springy, and it also makes me look very crafty and talented. I'll take it!

St. Patrick's Day Wreath

I totally made this. Not only is it awesome and perfect for St. Patrick's day, it was easy and not too expensive. I got a styrofoam wreath, ribbon, and the clover wire all from Michael's for a total of $16.86.

First I hot-glue-gunned the beginning of the ribbon to the back of the wreath and wrapped it around, covering the wreath entirely and gluing the end piece to the back to secure it. Next I glued the beginning of the wire to the back, wrapped it around the wreath, and glued the end of the wire down . Last I made a loop of the extra ribbon and glued that on to the top to hang the wreath. That's it. It was really easy and exactly what I wanted. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Beef Barley Lentil Soup

I am in love with my slow cooker. It makes life so easy and makes me feel like a good wife and cook. I throw everything in, let it cook all day which makes the house smell AMAZING, and by dinner time it is done and delicious. It has also made dinner time earlier when Greg is home from work which makes life nice. It has been especially nice to have a slow cooker this week because we found out at the doctor yesterday that Greg has bronchitis and my Grandpa Walton had surgery yesterday too. What tastes better when you're sick or recovering than soup? It makes me feel like an actual wife taking dinner to people which is kind of funny to me but I enjoy it.

So, remember how I discovered that I own a slow cooker cookbook? This is the first recipe I have made out of it. Two words: super excited.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 c. cubed potatoes
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. dried lentils, rinsed
1/2 c. medium pearl barley
8 c. water
2 tsp. beef bouillon granules (or 2 cubes)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. lemon-pepper seasoning
2 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) stewed tomatoes

Directions:

1. In a large nonstick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pick; drain.
2. Transfer to slow cooker. Layer with the potatoes, celery, carrots, lentils, and barley.
3. Combine the water, bouillon, salt and lemon-pepper; pour over vegetables.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until the vegetables and barley are tender.
5. Add the tomatoes; cook 2 hours longer.

There you go! Super easy and delicious, the perfect combination.

Banana Bread

Let me start off by saying that I hate bananas. HATE them. They are gross and mushy. I love my husband but if he just ate a banana, there is no way I am kissing him (he finds this very amusing). I like banana chips and banana flavored candies but not just a plain banana or one in a smoothie. I know that doesn't make sense but that's the way it is and I'm pretty pleased with the situation. However, I absolutely LOVE banana bread. It is so good! I love it for breakfast on the way to school, a day-time snack, and especially a bed-time snack.

I have made this so often that I have became quite proficient at it. It is my Grandma Walton's recipe and is absolutely the best banana bread I have ever made or eaten.

Ingredients:
1 heaping cup of sugar
1/2 c. butter
2 eggs
4 very ripe bananas, smashed
1 c. sour milk (mix in 2 Tbsp. of vinegar to make it sour)
1 c. nuts (optional)
3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Beat together sugar, butter, eggs, and bananas with a mixer.
2. Add sour milk and mix well.
3. Add dry ingredients and mix with a large wooden spoon.
4. Pour mixture into 2 greased and floured bread pans.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the top springs back and it's golden brown.

That's all there is to it and it is incredible. Enjoy!

Chicken & Brown Rice - Slow Cooker!

This is the very first meal I have made in my slow cooker and I can tell you that I will be doing it a lot from now on. I love it! I never used it before because I thought it would be hard (it's not) and I didn't know how to do it. That is changed now and it is so easy! I wake up, have breakfast, put everything in and turn it on, do homework and whatever else all day and by the time Greg gets home from work, ta-da! Dinner! It has been the best thing.

I found this recipe on pinterest and it turned out so well and made me love my slow cooker. I wanted to do more with it but I didn't have any recipes so I have been asking everyone for them. Then last night I looked in my cookbook cupboard and what do you know! I have a cookbook titled "Slow-Cooker and One-Dish Recipes" that we got for our wedding. I was so excited to find it. There is some great stuff in there that I will be making.

Anyways, I guess the point of this story is that slow cookers make life easy and food delicious and tender. I am a fan.

Now here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 c. chicken broth

1 tsp. poultry seasoning

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 1/2 c. brown rice

1 small onion, finely chopped

3-4 chicken breast halves

Directions:

1. Whisk the can of cream of chicken soup in with the chicken broth, poultry seasoning, and pepper.
2. Grease the inside of the slow cooker and add the brown rice and onion.
3. Pour most of the soup mixture over the rice; reserve about 1/2 cup.
4. Place the chicken breasts on top of the rice and pour the rest of the soup over it.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.

A good side for this is asparagus. I prepared it by seasoning it with garlic powder and sauteing 2 inch sections in olive oil until it turns bright green (this means it's done) and is tender. It is quick and delicious. I encourage all of you to try this recipe. It is so good!

(http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2011/02/chicken-brown-rice-slow-cooker/)