My Little Crafty Corner

Archive for June, 2009

I went garage saleing today, and found one home that had a few bins of yarn, for very cheap!  What to make?  A blanket, hat, scarfs, mittens/gloves.  Hmmmm

With all of the fat loss pills out there, why is it that we still have so many obese people out there?  I know they say that some people are just born that way, but I just don't buy it.  If they would just have some self control they could lose the weight.  And here's a thought, stay away from the fast food places.  When I find myself gaining the unwanted weight, I cut back on my calories and possibly start exercising, which I hate, but do it.  There is no reason to live the way they do.  

… a new hobby. Camping. I went for the first time, in quite a long time with some mom friends and our boys. We had lots of fun. So glad the weather cooperated for us! I wish I would have had a video camera, as we had some interesting moments that would have been great to have on video! I think I am going to look at some digital camcorders this weekend and see if I can find one that isn't to costly.  Then not only can I film a new hobby, but I can post lots of bloggy videos!

In the midst of a lovely thunderstorm, my hubby and I take off to look for tennis shoes for him. He has been wearing the only pair he has to work instead of his work boots, and they are looking very bad. I am hoping we find some good sales, as tennis shoes are costly. He also needs some work jeans. I wanted to go to the store closer to home, but that was the way the storm was headed so we went to the other one. Great choice on his part, we got inside just before the rain started. These are the shoes we found They are just like the ones he already owns.  He is not one for change, no matter how hard I try.   Though they weren't on sale, we did have a gift card he received for Christmas, so that helped.  

As we were leaving I said, "Oh shoot!  I wanted to get ice cream to try out a recipe for a shake I found."  He was going to turn around and go back in, but I told  him no, the weather is looking pretty grim over the house area, and we should get home.   The closer we got to home I did talk him into stopping at the little grocery store so I could get the ice cream.  I am going to whip  up the shakes in a little while, as soon as he is finished in the basement.

I have always wanted to try this.  I think this week I just may give it a try!

Grilling Pizza

Preparing pizza on the grill results in a crispy, chewy crust with a wonderful smoky flavor.

Grilled pizzas are a specific style of pie: thin-crusted, with minimal toppings. Cheeses won't turn brown, since there's no upper heat source. These pizzas are lightly sauced, since too much liquid can cause the crust to become soggy and difficult to transfer from the grill. They're also very fast-baking.

Make the dough

Use your favorite crust recipe. For workability, divide the dough into two or more pieces and shape into balls for individual-sized pizzas. Tip: if you have a heavy-duty mixer or bread machine, double the recipe. Divide and shape the dough, and freeze each portion in a plastic freezer bag greased with about a tablespoon of olive oil.

Set the dough aside to proof while you prepare your toppings.

Assemble your toppings

With grilled pizza, the crust is the star–think of it as a great flatbread. Choose a few simple ingredients that can showcase the smoky flavor and crispy crust. Or go for minimalism: top the grilled bread with a brushing of good olive oil, a sprinkling of coarse salt, and a scant amount of chopped fresh herbs.

    Suggested bases: marinara, pesto, flavored olive oil, barbeque sauce

    Suggested cheeses: mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, goat cheese, Parmesan, Gorgonzola

    Ideas for toppings: grilled vegetables, prosciutto and fresh figs, salami, chicken, fresh herbs, fresh arugula, toasted pine nuts, olives or capers, caramelized onions, roasted garlic

Grill the crust

Prepare the grill for high heat. Shape the dough into rounds, either stretching it by hand or using a rolling pin. Each round should be no more than ¼ inch thick. Dust a baking sheet, a peel, or a plate with flour or cornmeal for easy transport, so the dough won't stick. You can stack the rounds by layering waxed paper, parchment, or a clean well-floured kitchen towel in between the individual crusts.

When the coals are hot, have all of your toppings ready near the grill. The easiest method for grilling pizza is to par-bake the crust: grill one side just long enough to firm up the crust so you can move it easily. By taking it off the heat, you can take your time arranging the toppings and are less likely to burn the bottom of the pizza.

Begin by placing one dough round on the grill.

    * You can oil the grill's grate, but it's not necessary; once the crust has set, after about three minutes, it should be easy to pull off the heat with tongs, a spatula, or your fingers.
    * Don't worry if it droops a little through the grate, as it'll firm up fast.
    * After two to three minutes, give it a little tug–it should move easily. If it sticks, give it another minute or so.
    * When the crust is set, remove it from the heat and transfer it to a plate or peel; flip it over so the "done" side is up, and add the toppings.
    * Repeat the process with the rest of the dough rounds.
    * If this is a group effort, friends and family can start topping the pizzas while you grill the crusts.
  
Grill your pizzas

Grill the topped pizzas until the cheese melts and the toppings are heated through. Depending upon the heat of the grill and the size of your pies, this can take two to ten minutes (if your grill has cooled dramatically, you may need to cover it with a lid to finish the cooking).