Pizza Dough

Making homemade pizzas as a family can be fun and productive. We've made them for parties too.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 - 3 C Flour
1 Package Yeast
1/2 t Salt
1 C Warm Water
2 T Cooking Oil or Olive Oil

Directions:
In mixing bowl combine 1 1/4 C flour, the yeast, and salt.

Add warm water and oil.

Add as much of the remaining flour as you can.

For Thin Crust Pizzas don't let it rise, for thicker crust let the dough rise for 30-45 minutes.

Separate dough into two balls, place one on floured (or oiled) surface. (I just clean my counter top really well and do it there. Oil is much easier, but flour is healthier!)

Roll out the dough into a 12-14 inch circle and place it onto a pizza pan, cookie sheet or circle pan.

Add your sauce and your toppings. The possibilities are endless!

My favorite topping combination is tomato sauce, sprinkled with Italian herbs, with pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and covered in mozzarella. Another idea is my barbecue chicken recipe, located over at Arizona Mama.

Turkey and Noodles

This Recipe Has Moved! Please click here to see it over at Monzanita's.

Tomato Basil Soup

I was craving some good soup, so I searched Pinterest for something I could make with stuff I had on hand. I'm pretty proud of what I came up with! The idea for this was taken from this BlendTec Video.

Ingredients:
1 Bag of Frozen Tomatoes (As prepared Here)
1 Can of Tomato Sauce
1/2 Cup of Milk
1/3 Cup of Chopped Frozen Green Peppers
3 Tablespoons of Basil Flakes
1 teaspoon of Montreal Chicken Seasoning
1 Tablespoon of Butter
2 Cups of Cooked Rice, Seasoned with Garlic and Onion (I would have done a little less rice, but I used a premeasured package)

Directions:
Defrost Tomatoes until pliable. Put tomatoes, tomato sauce, milk, green peppers, 2 T of basil, and Montreal chicken seasoning in Blender. Blend at "Soups and Fondues" setting or equivalent.

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add soup mix from blender to it. Add the rest of the basil, and the cooked rice. Heat until simmering, then cook for 5 minutes or so. Serve hot!

I also served it with these Olive Garden Copy Cat Bread Sticks.

Crunch Top Ham Casserole

Taken From: A Taste of Home
Ingredients:
1 package (32 ounces) frozen cubed hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 cups cubed cooked ham
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups crushed cornflakes
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine cornflakes and butter; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until heated through.

We make this a lot, sometimes I use other meats, or lunch meat if that's all we have. I also have substituted another can of cream of something for the sour cream. I also use freeze dried hash browns, and it takes two cartons of those.

Chicken a la King

This recipe has moved! Go see it here at Monzanita's!

Chili Dog Casserole

This recipe has moved! Please click here to be redirected to Monzanita's for the full Recipe.

Chicken Italian Sandwich

I love a good sandwich. You know it's good when I have to post about it as I'm eating it! (See also: Chicken Salad Sandwich) Ohh it's good! SO amazing. Anyway... here's the recipe, or just the idea of it. I got the original recipe from What Meegan Makes and changed it up a bit to fit what I had on hand. Hers is probably better so go check it out here.

Ingredients:
(Can be adjusted to whatever you like/ what you have on hand!)

Cooking Oil
Bell Peppers (Mine were sliced and frozen, from the Market on the Move a few weeks ago)
Onions (Also chopped and frozen)
Chicken (Mine was already cooked and shredded, leftover from lemon chicken the other night. Did you know you could shred chicken in the kitchen aid?!? It's so easy!)
Montreal Chicken Seasoning
Bread (I was sad I only had cheap bread, but it was still delicious!)
Italian Dressing
Cheese (I used Mozzarella, sliced)
Tomato Slices

Directions:
Pour a small amount of cooking oil in a frying pan and saute your peppers and onions.

Meanwhile toast your bread, and spread some Italian dressing on it. Afterwards, put your sauteed vegetables onto your bread.

Heat chicken in the frying pan, season as much as you like. When heated/cooked thoroughly put it onto your bread as well.

Add cheese and tomato slices and enjoy! I finished eating mine mid-post and I really wish I had made two!

If you need any other sandwich ideas, check out my post at Arizona Mama on How to Make an Amazing Sandwich or Sub.

Almond Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can French-style green beans
1 pound cooked egg noodles
8 ounces of plain yogurt
½ Cup mayonnaise
1 Cup chicken broth
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon parsley
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
3 Cups shredded, cooked chicken
1 Cup slivered almonds
1/3 Cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:
In a bowl, combine yogurt, mayonnaise, broth, salt, parsley, and garlic powder.

In a 3 quart casserole layer half of the noodles, green beans, chicken, almonds, cheese and yogurt mixture; repeat.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serves 6 - 8

Source unknown

Tried and Liked:Cresent Rolls and French Dip Sandwiches

I made something really delicious tonight, and it was pretty easy! The rolls my mom started making this thanksgiving, and they have been a family favorite ever since (as in everyone tries to get mom to make them as often as possible!) The rolls are great, and then turning them into french dip sandwiches made them even better. Next time I have to remember the cheese. My au jus didn't turn out too great this time, but I know how to make it better next time, and I can't wait!

Click here to see How Does She's Delicious Dinner Rolls.

Click here to see Mama Love Food's French Dip Cresents.

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Ingredients:
6 Hard Boiled Eggs
2 1/2 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing (or Mayo)
2 Tablespoons Italian Dressing
3 teaspoons Mustard (Spicy or Brown is good, if not yellow works!)
1/4 Cup Fresh Chopped Onions (Optional)
Bread (I used sourdough, but any will work)
Tomato (Optional)
Lettuce (Optional)

Directions:
Cut up eggs into small pieces. Mix the eggs, ranch, italian, mustard and chopped onions. Toast bread if desired. Spoon egg salad onto bread, lay lettuce and tomato slice on top, as well as the other slice of bread.

Originally Taken From: Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook (1981), Adapted by Monica

Pasta Pizza Bake

Ingredients:
1/2 pound ground sausage, browned (We used hot Italian, it was delicious!)
1 pound rotini pasta
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Tablespoons onion flakes
2 Tablespoons flour
1 26 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
1 12 ounce can evaporated milk
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
3/4 Cup diced pepperoni
2 Cups mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Heat olive oil in medium size sauce pan. Add onion flakes. Stir in flour. Add spaghetti sauce, evaporated milk, and oregano. Stir until thickened. Add sausage and pepperoni. Combine pasta and sauce in a large casserole dish. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Make-Ahead Directions:
This can be made ahead and refrigerated. Cover pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional five minutes.

Ridiculously Easy Chicken Parmesan

I keep this stuff on hand at most times for when I want something quick!

Time: About 10 minutes from start to finish

Ingredients:
Frozen Breaded Chicken Patties
Spaghetti Noodles
Spaghetti Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella (optional)
Parmesan

Directions:
Cook the noodles on the stove. Warm the spaghetti sauce on the stove or in the microwave. Warm the chicken patties in the microwave. If you're feeling fancy, cut the chicken into strips. Serve the noodles with the sauce on top and the chicken on the top or on the side, sprinkle mozzarella (you can warm it for a little bit in the microwave to melt it) and parmesan on top.

Taken From: A Random Idea Created From Hunger Pains