Homemade Pizza & Sauce

Okay, first the recipe for the Pizza Sauce. I got this from allrecipes.com and then tweaked it a bit.

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 tablespoon ground Oregano
1 teaspoon dried garlic
1 teaspoon ground paprika
1 teaspoon basil
1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions:
Honestly, this couldn't be easier. Dump everything in a medium bowl and mix very well. That's it! This recipe made enough for two large, heart shaped pizzas with enough leftover for a single-serving lunch of spaghetti.

Next, our heart shaped pizzas. Normally we don't make shapes, but it was Valentine's Day. This recipe is enough for one large pizza. Naturally, we doubled it — it makes great leftovers.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon Active Dry Yeast
4 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
3/4 cup warm water

Directions:
Mix sugar and water in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Add yeast and allow to activate for 5 minutes. Add oil.

In Kitchen Aid, add dry ingredients. Mix for 15 seconds then add wet ingredients and continue mixing until it becomes a ball. One in a ball, add flour until the dough is no longer sticky.

Place covered dough on counter top for 45 minutes to rise. Knead and allow to rise 45 minutes more.

Here's where the fun starts! Flatten dough onto pizza pans so it is evenly distributed. You should look something like this handsome young man to the right.

Once flattened, you can take this opportunity to shape it as desired. You can choose the classic circle, the heart we chose or any other festive geometric pattern.

Now, top with sauce, cheese, toppings and more cheese. I chose tomatoes and bell peppers, he chose pepperonis — let your imagination be your guide.

Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is lightly brown and bubbly. Make sure to allow some time for it to cool before taking your first bite.

Most of all, enjoy!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Today I actually had time to make a real meal for my hubby and myself. Now, when it comes to cooking, I have a history of making some pretty awful mistakes (I once left out the sugar in the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie!). However, this recipe is super easy and takes only 30 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients:
3-4 large green peppers
1 chopped onion (we don't use this... Garrett hates onions)
chopped green pepper from tops
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. dried parsley
2 cups tomato sauce
1 medium sized tomato

Directions:
Cut of the top, seeds and membrane of the green peppers. Simmer in boiling, salted water for about 5 minutes. Remove, drain and salt and pepper inside.

Brown meat. Add onions and chopped peppers. Add seasonings and mix with 1 cup tomato sauce, brown rice and tomatoes. Stuff peppers and pour 2 Tbsp. tomato sauce over each pepper.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Add shredded cheese to the top if desired, once baked.

Now, cut it up and enjoy! This is such an easy way to hide a whole bunch of vegetables!