Pizza Dough Recipes

Basic Pizza Dough

2 tsp. active dry yeast

1/2 tsp. sugar

1 cup warm water

2 1/2 cups flour ( I use a mix of unbleached white and whole wheat)

1 tsp. salt

Place yeast, sugar and water in a bowl and mix to combine. Set aside in a warm place for 5 minutes, or until bubbles appear on the surface.

Place the flour and salt in a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the yeast mixture and mix together with well floured hands to form a dough.

Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 - 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

Divide the dough in to two or four portions, two large pizzas, or four smaller ones. Place on a lightly floured surface under a clean damp cloth in a warm place for 30 minutes or until they have doubled in size. I put my dough under an upside down bowl.

The dough is now ready to form into your pan. spread with your favourite toppings and bake at 425 F, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.

Thin Crusted Pizza

1 1/2 cups unbleached flour ( or a combination of flours)

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup warm water

2 tsp. active dry yeast

2 tbsp. olive oil

(If you double this recipe to make 2 pizzas, do not double the yeast)

Place the flour and salt in a bowl, stir to mix well, make a well in the center.

Measure the water into a small bowl, sprinkle with the yeast and leave it to soften for 3 to 4 minutes.  Whisk the yeast and water together then whisk in 1 tbsp. of olive oil.

Pour the liquid into the well in the flour, and stir to make a soft sticky dough. Turn onto a floured surface and knead about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic, and no longer sticky. Try to avoid adding too much flour or it will make a tough dough. Place ball of dough on a lightly floured spot and cover with an upside down bowl. Let rise for about an hour or until it is doubled in bulk.

I used a rolling pin to stretch the dough out thin, or it can be done gently with your fists.  If the dough resists, cover it and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow it to relax.

When the dough is properly stretched it should be about 1/8" thin and the border should be about 1/2" wide.

Top with your favourite toppings and bake in a 450 F oven for 15 minutes, or until baked to your liking.  

Enjoy!

This Was Our Canadian Inuit Team

With Mark, Kinoje and Cali away camping, I have been thinking about Mark camping in past years when we had all the dogs. They were a magnificent team, real beauties. Hard working fun loving dogs. He must be missing them out there.

I know Tukker is sad to be here with me, but he is too wobbly to walk in to the campsite, poor old bugger. He loves camping.

Front to back, Rupert, Wikey, Cali Coco Bean, Ellesmere, Tukker and Kinoje.

Handwoven Felted Wool Rag Rug!

I have not posted for a few days, self absorbed in my work. So many colours to weave with, hard to do anything but scissor and weave.

Mark and the two younger dogs are out camping, I hope they are toasty warm and dry tonight in the tent. It rained all evening and now it is snowing, big fat wet flakes. Pretty!

I wove this rug today, I am very pleased with the colour and colour interaction, beautiful runner. Colour does make my heart sing! I know I am a little bit corny, but it is who I am.

Close up of colour and texture, so soft and thick and cozy. Great to sink your soles onto.

Handwoven Red Sweaters and Jewels

I have finished my second red rug. This one has variations of colour in it, black and grey mixed with the red. My photography skills do not do justice to the interaction of colour in this rug. Colour on colour, it gets me excited.

A close up showing colour and the soft cushy texture.

Here are two items I have listed in my Etsy shop. Both have hearts of different sorts. 

This gorgeous freshwater pearl, sterling silver, and lampwork heart focal bead (made by Gillianbeads of Etsy) is aptly named Black Cherry Bubble Gum. KritterKnitter also if Etsy named it for me this afternoon.  

Working once again with copper, I made this pair of etched copper earrings.The hearts in this pair of earrings match the hearts in a necklace I listed earlier this week.

Red Wool Rug and Crunchy Wasabi Salmon

This is the first rug I have wove this year. The first rug from my newest bales of sweaters. It is a range of reds and rusts, mostly reds. It is really quite beautiful, if I can say so myself! Gorgeous cushy, so soft underfoot.

A close up of the rug, many shades and variations of red, so soft an thick!

For dinner tonight I cooked a very simple, and easy salmon dish. I served it with blanched snap peas, and brown rice. Here is the recipe!

Crunchy Wasabi Crusted Salmon

(or any kind of fish you would like)

4 (3/4 to 1" thick) skinless salmon fillets (6 oz. each)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsps. wasabi paste (from a tube)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 to 1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

Prep:

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 400 F. Line a shallow baking pan with tin foil. Grease lightly.

Pat fillets dry, then arrange in baking pan. Sprinkle salt all over fillets. Stir together wasabi paste and mayonnaise in a bowl, then spread tops of fillets with half of mayonnaise and sprinkle with half of panko. Turn fillets over and spread with remaining mayonnaise, the sprinkle with remaining panko crumbs.

Bake until fish is just cooked through, 12 to 16 minutes, then broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until crumbs on top are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. 

Serves 4, or two if you are very hungry! Enjoy!!!

A Necklace for Kristi!

My niece is going through a rough patch in her young life. I promised her a necklace similar to one I made my sister for Christmas. I just got the pearls today, Gillian of Gillianbeads was kind enough to make me more of the pink and grey lampwork beads. It really is a pretty necklace.
Pink and grey pearls, hematite, pale pink bicones and pink and grey lampwork beads.
I hope Kristi will love it, I am mailing it to her tomorrow!

I love copper!

I have been playing with some new copper beads and findings. Copper tugs at my heart strings, it is a passion!

Earrings I just listed in my Etsy shop!

I listed this gorgeous copper necklace with a lampwork bead made by Gillianbeads of Etsy. She does beautiful work, I have bought a few of her beads. I will surely be buying more in the future!!