Pizza Crust - 04 14 11

I tackled another Bucket List item - pizza crust!  I love the idea of making everything from scratch.  While trying to eat simply, healthy, and on a budget I decided to make a pizza crust.  With Kristen in town, I prepared the pizza crust and pizza sauce on a Wednesday night.  When she arrived Thursday, all we had to do was assemble and bake.  And, it turned out quite good! 

Sources:
Pizza Crust: The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Pizza Sauce: Annie's Eats

Kristen and I made a veggie pizza with lots of cheese!  We had green peppers, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and onions.  For a time and wallet saver - I purchased the items from the salad bar at a local grocery store.  I think I got all the veggie toppings for under $2.00!

Let me know what kind of pizza is your favorite - I have another crust and batch of sauce in my freezer.

Enjoy!
Jessica

Easter Stollen - 04 22 11

Another one off the Bucket List! 

I decided to make a Stollen using rum soaked fruit, almonds, and orange and lemon extract.  I took it to my Grandpa's house for Easter and he especially enjoyed it!  (He even said it was better than the Martin's kind).  I definitely need to work on my shaping (it was supposed to look like a blanket in a manger but after the 2nd rise looked more like a crescent moon).  I think next time I will divide the dough in half and experiment with other shapes.  Check out my pictures below and if you tasted it, let me know your thoughts!

Source: The Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart 

Enjoy!
Jessica 

Bucket List: Tamale Pie

Well, I've started.  I made one item from my Kitchen Bucket List - tamale pie.  This was very quick & easy  (but it could be more difficult if you cooked the polenta or made the salsa from scratch).  However, I am thankful I tried this recipe and I can think of ways to change it up already - salsa verde, chicken, pork, etc.

Source: A Couple Cooks - Vegetable Tamale Pie 

Jessica's Notes:
- I used an 8 x 8 dish since I have no 9 x 9 square
- I used only 1 tube of polenta and that was plenty
- I used fire roasted corn and it definitely gave it a kick
- I added in some left over chick peas and results were still delicious
- Of course, I added more cayenne too!

See below for some of my photos!

 

Enjoy! 

Jessica

Pistachio Cake with Honey Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Family in town = guinea pigs for first attempt at layered cake and homemade frosting.

I choose to make a Pistachio Cake with Honey Vanilla Buttercream Frosting as a dessert to a pizza party attended by my parents and aunt and uncle.  I made the cake on Friday night.  Then I made the frosting and assembled it Saturday to be ready for every one's arrival.

I have to say I was pleased with my first attempt.  I modified the recipe from Pink Parsley Catering from a 3 layer to a 2 layer (mostly because I only had 2 8-inch cake rounds).  That adaptation in combination with an egg white mishap led to cake to be a little on the dense side.  But the frosting!  Oh the frosting!  Thank goodness for the frosting!  It definitely saved the cake and was super delicious!

For the recipe check out:  Josie at Pink Parsley Catering

For my pictures, look below:

 

I have my eyes on: 

Hydrangea Cake from I am Baker

Neapolitan Layer Cake from Annie's Eats

Ruffle Tower Cake from Martha Stewart

Stay tuned for more updates!

Jessica