Makin' and Bakin'

So, I would not consider myself a covetous person. I mean, don't get me wrong...I like things, especially pretty things, but I don't usually really really really really want them, I just kinda want them if they don't cost very much and I'm in a purchasing mood. Well, a few weeks ago, I was browsing the internet, when I came upon a pattern.

And I felt what it was like to be covetous.

It cost way more than I would normally pay for a pattern (uhhmmm, $.99 when they have them on sale at Hobby Lobby), but I SO did not care, I just wanted it.

I bought it as a present to myself for my birthday. (See...I told I bought myself presents)

It came in the mail. I made it. I love it. (Please don't think I'm a dork)

Ok, Ok, that is not a very flattering picture (I had just finished gorging myself on delicious pizza), but it's not about my not so hot body, it's about the cute apron. Here it is from the website I purchased it from (you can click on the picture if you want to go to that website).

One of my fav features is that it is reversible. These are the two prints I used, with brown ties.

Flowers for when I'm feelin' girly, polka dots for when I'm feelin' funky. So, now that the rush of covetousness is over, I feel like I need to get my money's worth from this pattern. Therefore, if it's your birthday, Christmas, Easter, New Years, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, Civil Rights Day, Flag Day, Father's Day, the Fourth of July, Daylight Savings, Halloween, Yom Kippur, Memorial Day, Pioneer Day, Valentines Day, the first day of Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall, Labor Day, Mother's Day, Columbus Day, or the first day of school, and you receive a present from me....there's a pretty good chance it's an apron.

Since, you will all be wanting new aprons, I thought I should include a delicious recipe for pizza that requires the use of an apron. My sister, Jill, introduced me to the the Alfredo Pizza, but the dough is the product of two past life pizza slingers. Here goes:

Alfredo Pizza (yum!)

The dough (makes 2 pizzas):

1 and 1/2 cups 110 degree (or just hot) water

2 heaping tsp. of yeast

3 tsp. of sugar

Put these into your mixing bowl, and let set until the yeast is activated (a few minutes).

Add 1 and 1/2 tsp butter

1/8 cup of milk

1 Tblsp. olive oil

2 and 1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups all purpose flour

1 and 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (see?? pizza IS healthy!!)

Mix all this together with a bread dough attachment on your mixer. It should make a nice dough ball. Take your bowl off your mixer, cover it with a towel, and let raise for 2-3 hours (or however long you need it to).

Once it's raised, punch it down and divide in half. You can either use both now, or put one in a ziploc bag, and freeze it until you need it (you'll just have to take it out of the freezer, the morning of, and let it thaw to at least room temp). If you have a pizza stone, put it into your oven and let it warm at the lowest temp. possible. Using pletny of flour,roll your dough out like such (I even like to sprinkle some corn meal under it once it's rolled out, which makes it extra crunchy on the bottom)--

Now, while you dough is rising a little on your pizza stone, you need to get your toppings together. This is for one pizza. First, cut and cook 1 large, or 2 small chicken breasts. I usually saute them with a little bit of oil. Season with lemon pepper seasoning. I like my onions not to be so crunchy, so I throw my cut red onion into the pan and saute for a few minutes. Then I throw into my pan fresh, cut mushrooms and just let them warm (no need to cook) and add more lemon pepper seasoning. You can also add fresh spinach, too. It's really good, I just forgot this time. Boil a big pot of water, and add one bunch (for one pizza) to the water. Cook for just a few minutes. Drain completely and squeeze all the water out of it. Next, spread 1/3 to 1/2 jar of alfredo sauce on you pizza dough (sorry, I forgot to take a picture. I was in a hurry). I like Ragu creamy alfredo, 'cause it's cheap and good, but you can use whatever you want. Spread plenty of mozzarella cheese on top, then add your toppings. Sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake at 450 degrees for about 25ish minutes, or until your cheese is turning golden brown in the middle. Enjoy!