Pizza Dough Galore!

Today was my day off (GO ME!) and on my days off I love to cook. I work most of the weekend and 9-7 shifts Monday-Thursday next week so I always try to cook extra when I have days off. Its a nice way to have left overs through out the week and that way I don't end up wasting money (and calories) on food around my work.  I had a lot of free time today so I decided to try a new pizza dough recipe. Usually I do a whole wheat pizza dough using whole wheat pastry flour (recipe and pictures below) but today I wanted to try something new! 

I decided to try and do a multigrain pizza crust! I used:

2 1/2 cups warm water (you don't want it too hot or it won't activate the yeast properly)

1/2 yeast packer

1 tbsp sugar

Combine these ingredients in a large bowl. Stir them together until the yeast dissolves. Let stand for five minutes. 

Next I added (one cup at a time, mixing after each one):

1 cup oat flour 

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup ground flax meal

and kneeding until dough was properly formed. Then I let the dough stand for a few hours.

I had left over turkey sausage from a few nights ago so I decided to use it in my pizza. First I sauteed some spinach, garlic, and mushrooms in a large pan. Use lots of spinach because it tends to wilt.

Before 

After

Then I sliced the turkey sausage really thin and added it to the pizza with my homemade sauce and the spinach mixture

I bought some Tuscan style goat cheese from the grocery store the other day and thought it would work perfectly with this pizza. I crumbled it and placed it on top of the toppings.

Then I added some 2% mozzarella, parmigiana-reggiano cheese, and some fresh basil and oregano!

Baked it in my oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes and then it was finished :)

You know I love the close-up!

I cut a HUGE slice for dinner. Mostly because I don't have a pizza cutter and just used a knife and I wanted lots of pizza!

Absolutely cheesy and delicious

Today is your lucky day! You get two pizza dough recipes for the price of one! Below is my whole wheat pizza dough recipe. Following the same principles as before except use solely whole wheat pastry dough.

So pretty and ready to rise!

Back in the bowl to sit for a few hours

Always throw a towel or plastic wrap over the dough...keeps the top from drying out

Hand crafted right into the pan (realized that I do not own a rolling pin!)

Let the dough rise again while I get the toppings ready

This pizza is super easy. Just a basic tomato sauce pizza with ricotta, mozzarella, and provolone cheese!

Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for 20 minutes! Looks a hell of a lot better than some delivery pizzas I have gotten!

Close up time!

Always a big slice

And I am a happy camper! I love pizza and REFUSE to ever give it up, therefore I try and create ways to make it a little healthier. You should never have to give up your favorite foods when trying to eat healthier. Just watch your portions and find ways to make it a bit healthier!

Well I am a stuffed girl who must finish her laundry...Have a great night!!

Billy Goat Trail

The other day I was searching threw my camera and was delighted to find some pictures of when I went to the Billy Goat Trails in Great Falls, MD! I remember that day, it was absolutely gorgeous, not a cloud in the sky. I decided at last minute that I didn't want to waste the day indoors so I grabbed my camera and off I went!

The Billy Goat Trail is located about a half hour away from Washington DC and  has three different sections, A, B, and C. I decided that I was going to hike Section A which is a mild easy hike.  Below is a photo tour of some of the scenery I had the pleasure of enjoying! 

I don't really know what the purpose of this boat is or anything. Just thought it was cool looking

This picture reminded me of something you would see in an old Hollywood movie. Imagine it in black and white!

Another :)

Beaver dam. I just find them so cool looking. Imagine the amount of work it takes for one or two small beavers to build something this insane??

Small water fall

Old wooden dam.

One of the waterfalls on the way to the Great Falls overlook

Great Falls overlook...

After I took these pictures I went on my hike, which I realized I never took any pictures of...EPIC FAIL! However, I do have some pictures coming from when I was tricked into hiking Old Rag...NOT COOL 

Zucchini Pancakes

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that my favorite breakfast food is PANCAKES! I mean who hates pancakes???? I always try new ways to spice up my favorite breakfast food and this recipe came out just awesome :) I absolutely love zuccihini and I had an abundance of it in my fridge the other day. Therefore, I thought why not make a zuccihini pancake! I absolutely LOVE zucchini bread so the thought of a pancake that mimiced it made me extremely delighted!  


First I added the following ingredients in a large bowl:


3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup flax meal
2tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Dash of cloves
Dash of ginger
1/4 cup brown sugar

DRY  

Next I added the wet ingredients in a separate bowl: (pictured below) 

3/4 cup nonfat greek yogurt

1/3 cup skim milk

1 tbsp apple sauce

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups of shredded zucchini 

Next I mixed the dry ingredients with the wet. The mixture will be a little thicker than your traditional pancake mixture!

While I was preparing the batter I preheated a pan on the stove for about 3 minutes, just to warm it up. Next I scooped about 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan. Use the back of the measuring cup to smooth out the pancake batter in the pan.  When the pancake batter starts to bubble on one side than it is time to flip the pancake!!!

Looks delicious! While the pancakes were cooking I took some nonfat Greek yogurt (Chobani is my favorite) and placed it in a small bowl with some honey and cinnamon. I mixed them together and was delighted to have a sauce to place on top of my pancakes! If you aren't a fan of a yogurt sauce than maple syrup works perfectly :)

I cooked the pancake for about three minutes on the other side and plated them! My entire kitchen smelled so good. My friend Stephanie came over about a half hour after I made them and she said that my apartment smelled fantastic! Double win for me! 

I topped my pancake with the yogurt sauce and was ready to chow down!

Absolutely delicious! One of my best pancake creations to date. Tasted just like zucchini bread! Stephanie suggested next time that I add shredded carrot also since they are similar taste profiles. Challenge accepted! 

 I had a lot of left overs which I love because it provided me with breakfast for the rest of the week! It is always nice to be able to have pancakes at work in the morning, its like a little treat :) 

I love experimenting with different tastes in the kitchen. Cooking is supposed to be fun and exciting. Don't ever be afraid to just try something new. I can't tell you how many successes (and complete failures) I have had while trying to experiment in the kitchen. One time I was trying to make a low fat chocolate cupcake and it turned out like a chocolate dinner roll...sounds good...totally wasn't


Well enjoy your day all :)