Mac and Cheese Pizza

Yet again I found another pizza crust recipe that I like more than the last. It is easy and cooks up great. If you've never tried mac and cheese pizza, it's a delicious creation you're missing out on.

Ingredients:

For Pizza Dough-

1 c warm water

1 pkg active dry yeast

1 Tbsp sugar

2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp olive oil

3 c Flour

Pizza Topping-

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tbsp butter, softened

Cooked elbow macaroni 

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 shallot, chopped

8 oz cheese (I used a mix of mozzarella and cheddar)

1/4 c milk

4 oz plain greek yogurt

3 Tbsp butter

Recipe:

Dough- Makes 2 crusts

Stir the yeast and sugar in warm water and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy. In a large mixing bowl, or a stand mixer, pour in yeast mixture, salt, oil and flour and mix together until well incorporated. Then knead for 6 minutes. The dough should be smooth and not too sticky. Grease a large bowl, place the dough ball inside and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise for 1-2 hours. Divide into two dough balls.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Topping-

Combine 2 minced garlic cloves with 2 Tbsp butter and spread over the pizza crust. In the pot that you boiled the pasta, combine the cooked macaroni, minced garlic, shallot, cheese, milk, yogurt and butter. So much dairy deliciousness!

Spoon the mac and cheese mixture over the crust and bake for about 12 minutes.

Vegetarian Cowboy Beans

I know it looks like there are a lot of ingredients, but the recipe is very simple. Even if you don't cook, you can definitely throw this together. I also have to say that these are the best vegetarian baked beans I have ever had. 

 Ingredients:

1/2 bag boca crumbles

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can pinto beans, drained

1 can butter beans, drained

1 can chili beans with sauce

1/2 can corn, drained

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tbps. molasses 

1 Tbps. chili powder

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

2 Tbsp. mustard

1/2 cup celelry, chopped

1 medium chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp each salt and pepper

olive oil for sauteeing

Recipe:

In a frying pan brown the crumbles, then add the onion and garlic and saute for 4-5 minutes.

Add all ingredients in a crock pot and mix together. Cook on high for 1 hour, then on low for 2 hours. Or if you don't have a slow cooker add all ingredients in a large ovenproof dish and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

Ingredients:
1 can chickpeas, drained, juice reserved
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup chickpea juice
1/2 tsp each salt/pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
2-3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp olive oil

Recipe:
Place all ingredients in a food processor and mix on low until smooth. Add more chickpea juice for a smoother consistency.

Serve with pita bread, pita chips, or veggies.

Five Cheese Pizza on Homemade Crust

The dough recipe makes two pizza crusts.

Ingredients:
1/2 c. warm water
1 pkg. instant yeast
1 1/4 c. water at room temp.
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp salt

Minced garlic
Extra olive oil for brushing
Cheeses: Mozzarella, Provolone,
Parmesan, Romano, Asiago


Recipe:

Mix the warm water and yeast together and let it sit for 5 minutes. Add the other water and oil. In a separate bowl mix together the flour and salt. Add the liquid to the flour and mix until a mass forms. I used my Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook attachment to knead the dough for 5 minutes. After a ball has formed place it in a deep oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

After the dough has risen, press it down to deflate it. At this point you can divide it into two dough balls. I froze one, and used the remaining one. Cover with a damp cloth for 10 minutes before rolling it out.

Brush the dough with olive oil and spread minced garlic over the top. Add your toppings and bake. I just put mine on my Pizzaz which I feel didn't get hot enough, but it still tasted delicious. If you have a pizza stone it's best to heat it in a 500 degree oven and bake your pizza for 10-12 minutes.

Cheesy Buffalo Cauliflower-Potato Soup

              

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower, core removed and cut into florets

2 (about 1-1/2 lbs) potatoes, peeled and cubed

2-1/2 Tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

4 cups vegetable stock

1 cup heavy cream

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack (or Colby Jack) cheese

1/2 cup Frank's Buffalo RedHot Wing Sauce

Forgot this in the ingredient picture, I go through this garlic like crazy:

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower and potatoes with 2 Tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes or until tender.

Meanwhile, in a large pot over medium heat, saute onion in remaining 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil until soft; about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and thyme, and cook for another minute.

Pour in vegetable stock, roasted cauliflower and potatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes, uncovered.

Puree in blender in batches or use an immersion blender. Add puree back to the pot and warm the soup to a slight simmer. Add cream, cheese and buffalo sauce. Stir until cheese is melted and soup is warmed.

Serve with a drizzle of Frank's on top.

Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse salt

Recipe:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter. Mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough is too wet, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.

Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over high heat and add the baking soda (do this part slowly or you will have a mess to clean up).

Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough and roll into long ropes then twist to create a pretzel shape. Boil the pretzels in the water solution for about 30 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon and place pretzels on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching. Brush the tops with the egg wash and season with coarse salt. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Place pretzels on a cooling rack and let rest for 5 minutes before eating.

Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake

Ingredients:
Cake-
Red velvet cake box mix plus ingredients on package (eggs, oil, etc.)

Cheesecake-
2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
2/3 c sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs

Cream cheese frosting-
1 pkg cream cheese
1 c powdered sugar
1/2 tub of cool whip

Set oven at 325 degrees F.

For cheesecake, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in sour cream, salt, and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time blending after each addition.

Pour mixture into a 9-inch springform pan bake for 45 minutes until cream cheese is set. Cool for one hour then freeze for several hours. This makes the cheesecake easy to handle

For the cake, prepare as directed according to the box to make two round cakes.

To assemble the cake, put the frozen cheesecake on the bottom layer of the red velvet cake, and place the top of the red velvet cake on the cheesecake. There is no need to frost inbetween layers. You may need to trim the cheesecake to make it even with the other cake.

Apply a thin lair of frosting to act as a crumb coat and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then apply the rest of the frosting and decorate as you wish.

This was my graduation cake so I decorated it with UWM colors, black and yellow.