Friday night feasting--pizza

bell pepper, cheese, ham and onion toppings

          Two weeks ago I was looking for a little inspiration for dinner.  Knowing that “Maverick” doesn’t enjoy a take-away pizza as much as he does a homemade one, I dug out a recipe I’d found at www.allrecipes.com. 

Recipe Link:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/6776/pizza-dough-i/

          It seems that most pizza dough recipes I come across don’t let the dough prove or rise before shaping it and adding the toppings.  But I decided that I would give the dough a bit of time to rise in a warm spot and then make the pizza.  I liked the texture better and I think it baked better. 

         To my surprise “Maverick” enjoyed it so much he asked me to make it again.  So, I tweaked the recipe and the result was that “Maverick” said the second batch was better than the first. 

My Recipe:

1 (.25 oz.) package of active dry yeast

1 Tablespoon Sugar

¼ cup warm water (110º/f or 45ºC)

2 cups of whole wheat flour

1 cup of baby oats/oat flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons of oregano

1 generous teaspoon garlic powder.

1 cup warm water (110º/f or 45ºC)

3 Tablespoons of Almond oil

Method:

1.       Do NOT preheat oven.  There is a reason for this!

2.     In a small bowl pour in the active dry yeast, the sugar and ¼ cup of warm water and stir.  Let sit for about five minutes.

3.     Place 2 cups flour, 1 cup of oats/oat flour, garlic powder, oregano and salt into a large bowl and mix until blended.

4.    Add the almond oil to the 1 cup of warm water.

5.     When the yeast has begun to foam (or become spongy) pour this into the flour mixture, using a wooden spoon to mix.

6.    Stir in the water/oil mixture until it sticks together. 

7.     Using your hands, knead the dough for about five minutes.  You can do this in the bowl, if the bowl is big enough.  Or you can kneed it on the worktop. 

8.     Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or some cling film.

9.    Place the bowl in the cold oven.  Now, light the stove and leave in on the lowest setting for only one minute.  Turn the oven off.  This creates a warm enough atmosphere to help the dough rise, yet will not kill the yeast.

10.Let the dough rise from 40 minutes to one hour.

11.    Remove dough from oven and now preheat the oven to 375ºF/160ºC.

12.  Punch the dough down and divide into two pieces.  (Or smaller balls, if you are making personal pizzas)  Using your hands or a rolling pin, flatten dough to about ¼ to ½ inch thick.  Place on pizza pan or baking sheet.

13.  Add toppings and bake for about 25 minutes. 

This makes two twelve inch pizzas. 

Another thing I did differently was using a can/tin of chopped tomatoes instead of Passata or pasta sauce.  I added cheese, onions, diced ham and bell peppers. 

Night Walk and Sausage Casserole

                Being relegated to recovering my health over 10 days has put me behind on my blog schedule.  So, after calculating where I currently stand, it appears I need to write and post something every day this month.  Forewarned is fore-armed, at least on your part. 

                Wednesday morning’s start was about 4.30 am, certainly not typical for me. (Typical for me is about 9.00 am.) I’d already been up once before for my nocturnal visit to the loo—which is typical for me and a lot women.  I’d settled and was drifting off to sleep when Maisy whimpered and I hoped she was having a bad dream.  My fingers stroked her little head and she seemed to settle.  Well, for a couple of minutes.  After 15 minutes of whining and whimpering, I just knew she wanted to go out. 

So at 4:45 am I flung back the warm duvet, shuffled around the bed and into the hall.  I stepped into my rainbow stripped Wellie boots, drew on my full-length rain coat and hooked Maisy up to her lead.  My four-footed fur-baby scampered down the stairs and waited at the back door, the eight-foot lead fully extended, waiting for me to catch up.  I opened the back door and she darted out.  Within a minute she had found a spot where she could relieve her little bladder.  She looked around, sniffing the air and hoping to catch sight of one of the urban foxes that frequent our area.  I called her, and we moved on.  It was only a couple of minutes later that she found a second spot and completed her toilet.  She was quite happy to make her way back home. 

                The thing about late night/early morning “Maisy runs” is that I get to observe the quiet of the night.  A silver crescent moon hung in a jet-black sky, tiny twinkling stars scattered across the velvety expanse.  A deep, cool breath tickled the phlegm in my throat and random thoughts cast about in my mind.  God spoke to Abraham through the images of the stars.  Those pin-points of light were a symbol of the great nation God promised to raise from Abraham.  I was reminded that I am a part of that promise.  The night is dynamic and inspiring.  But I didn’t want to stay out long, as I had work Wednesday and needed my sleep.

                Although I went straight back to bed, it was actually about 5.30 am before I could get to sleep.  Two hours later I begrudgingly crawled out of bed, raising my eyebrows at Maisy as she lay, curled up in her blanket.  Cheeky little critter! 

                Out the kitchen window clouds the colour of pink cotton candy streaked against a turquoise atmosphere, with gold shining from the East.  Smiling despite my tiredness, I felt hopeful.   Another day to experience God’s love—and find a way to share His love with others.

                I was expecting to be really tired after my time in the office, needing a nap once I got home.  I left the office about 2.00 pm, to the sun shining and to feel the sun’s warmth—though it was lukewarm.  I walked home, sharing a smile with the few who were out.  Unlocking the door, I anticipated a wiggling bundle of fur and maybe a few barks.  But NO!  Neither “Maverick” nor Maisy were home!  That also meant that I didn’t need to trundle back down the stairs to walk her…as she was being walked now.

                Since I wasn’t feeling sleepy or overly tired I shoved a load of laundry into the washing machine, since I’d sorted it on Tuesday.  Waiting for my computer to boot up, I picked up a book and sat on the couch, reading.  

                I’d been home about 20 minutes when I heard the seal on the door open; a little being, dressed in brown-and-black tresses, came like a bolt of energy, catapulted onto my lap, ran over my shoulders and yipped with glee.  For a whole minute Maisy ran circles around my head and arms, delirious with joy at my being home.  I don’t know how she would have behaved had I been standing up—he he!  

                Upon his arrival on Sunday evening, “Noddy” ("Maverick’s" son) unpacked some goodies.  Amongst the lot were homemade sausages.  “Noddy” and his family enjoy a semi-farming lifestyle and raise some of their own meat.  He had brought the latest yield of their butchering labour to share with us. 

                “Noddy” informed us that the sausages would be best in a casserole, as they were a little over salted.  The photo shows my version of sausage casserole.  It has two ounces of rice per person, chopped carrots, onions, parsnips, a tin of kidney beans, a tin of chopped tomatoes, a red bell pepper, and black pepper.  First I grilled the sausages for about five minutes per side, then placed it on the rice and vegetables, covering the dish with foil.  I baked it an hour-and-a-half at 350F/180C.  The temperature should have been a bit higher, (about 400/200) and cooked about ten minutes longer.  I had vegetables left over, so when I reheat it, I will add some sausages from the grocery store.  The sausage was nicely favoured, just a hint of spice.  “Maverick” and I always enjoy the treats “Noddy” brings us.  

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

“Lady Helene”

               

Cooking again, meeting demands

          During the autumn of 2013 I joined an on-line dieting and healthy-eating website.  It was a successful time, and I lost about 15 pounds.  I got bored, and realised that I wasn’t making the best use of the website and cancelled my subscription.  I managed to lose some early in 2015.  But towards November last year I was sliding back into bad habits. 

          My intention was to create my own four-week menu plan, posting it in my kitchen.  This project got interrupted; over the last couple of months I’ve been preoccupied with other things.  So, I decided that I needed to make it a priority.  So today I’ve been working on it—between taking Maisy out for walks, doing lunch and eating dinner.  (Maverick cooked tonight!)  I still have a couple of days to complete and recipes to organise.  Then I will print it out, laminate it and post it in the kitchen.

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          It seems I like to post photos on my blog.  I think it is because I loved picture books and illustrated books when I was growing up.  On Tuesday I took a photo of another dish I made. 

          I saw a recipe for seafood enchiladas.  You can find the link here.Seafood Enchiladas 

        Inspiration tickled my brain and I decided to use some leftover mash, add some tuna to make my own recipe.

Tuna and Bacon Enchiladas

Ingredients

4 rashers of lean bacon

1 can of tuna (spring water or in oil, it doesn’t matter), drained

8 oz shredded cheese

½ to 1 cup of mashed potatoes

1 medium onion

4 ten-inch tortilla wraps (large)

1 cup double cream (UK) – half-and-half (USA)

½ cup soured cream

¼ cup melted butter

1 teaspoon dill

1 ½ teaspoon parsley

Method:

1)    Pre-heat oven to 180ºC/ 350º /Gas mark 4.

2)  Chop onion finely

3)  Cook bacon until well browned.  Once done, chop up into medium pieces.

4)  Place left over mash into a large bowl.

5)   Add in onion, 4 oz. shredded cheese, chopped bacon and herbs.

6)  Add in the drained tuna.

7)   Mix well.  Add a bit of milk if it seems too stiff.

8)  Heat tortilla wraps in microwave.

9)  Divide the filling into four parts, placing it in the middle of the tortilla.

10)                     Roll the tortilla up and place it in a 9” x 13” baking dish.

11)                       In a small pan, pour in cream, soured cream and butter, garlic powder, dill and parsley.  Heat over a medium heat until luke-warm and well mixed.

12)                      Pour over the sauce over the enchiladas. 

13)                      Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese over the top.

14)                      Bake for 30 minutes.

The mashed potato makes it very filling.  

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          The last couple of photos are of Maisy.  Being clever, she is always surprising me with her antics.  On Tuesday, Maisy started barking.  She was in the lounge and I was in the kitchen.  So I turned around to see what she was going on about.  

          On the radiator was the broom brush without the handle.  When she was a puppy, she started playing with it.  Since the handle is long-gone, we’ve just let her chew on it as a toy.  Maisy wanted that brush.  She jumped up on the chair, hoping she could reach it.  She couldn’t, so she was “Asking me” to get it down for her.  Being so cute, I had to say yes!

 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

“Lady Helene”