Quick Meals

Hi Girls,

Here are a couple of my quick meals. It has taken me a whole month to get around to this, which makes me realize this is quite the request. Maybe on your month you can post a few favorite recipes if you don't have time now. :)

I found this pizza crust recipe in Prevention's Diabetes Diet Cookbook, which I got at DI for one dollar. (A well spent one dollar for me!) It is nothing spectacular I assume but what was thrilling to me was the fact that pizza crust can be frozen and then baked as usual by just adding toppings at dinnertime!

I like to make this crust times 6 which makes three Saturday's of meals at once if I freeze them. (We eat two pizzas at once in my family). It is a little work to make the crusts and freeze them, then wrap them, but I love being able to pull out frozen crust, add toppings and bake! This leaves time for making a nice salad! I do not have a food processor but I do have a kitchenaid so I adjust it for this. I am sure you could do it by hand.

I can be such a dreamer, but my current desire is to have a family game and pizza night on Saturdays. I love having one meal planned for each week, and if I need to, we can pull this together quick on a weeknight too.

I am posting my timed by six amounts below in parentheses, feel free to check my math. :)

One crust (8 servings, 1 thin crust 14 inches in diameter):

2/3 cup warm water
(4 cups water)
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeastz
(12 tsp yeast (4tb?) I use less, about 2- 3 tbsp)
1 3/4 cup-2 cups flour
(less than 12 cups flour)
1/4 tsp salt
(1 1/2 tsp salt)
2 tsp olive oil
(12 tsp olive oil (4 TB?)

Coat large bowl with vegetable oil spray; set aside. In a gladd measuring cup, mix the water and the yeast to dissolve. In the bowl of a food processor, combine 1 3/4 cups flour and salt. Pulse to mix. Add the oil to yeast and water. with the machine running, add the yeast water through the feed tube. Process for 1-2 minutes, or until mixture forms a moist ball.

Transfer the dough to work surface lightly floured with remaining flour. With your hands, knead about 1 minute, or until dough is smooth. Use scants amounts of remaining flour only to prevent surface sticking. Some flour may not be needed. Place the dough in the prepare bowl. coat lightly with vegetable spray. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside to rise for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Punch down dough, shape into a ball and transfer to a work surface. Let stand for 5 minutes. Shape, add toppings, and bake according to recipe directions.

To freeze dough after first rise: Punch down dough and shape into ball. Coat well with with vegetable oil spray, place in freezer-quality plastic bag. Squeeze out all air and close tightly. Store in freezer for up to one month. To thaw, place in refrigerator overnight. with scissors, cut away plastic bag. Place the dough on lightly floured work surface. Shape according to recipe directions.

To freeze unbaked pizza crust: Roll or pat the dough according to recipe directions. Place on pizza pan dusted with cornmeal. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, then wrap in aluminum foil. Store in freezer for up to one month. To bake, remove from freezer (no need to thaw). Remove wrappings. Top and bake according to recipe instructions.

Easy Creamy (I didn't say healthy) Italian Chicken Thighs

(Why are all the easy recipes not the healthiest?!)

boneless skinless chicken thighs
one package of cream cheese, or half if you aren't using lots of thighs
one package dry Italian dressing mix (or homemade version)

If using frozen thighs, place on high for about 4-5 hours. Unfrozen for low 6-8 hours or high 4-5 hours. About one hour before dinnertime, place cream cheese and dressing in crock pot. Stir well before serving. Works well over rice.

Sloppy Joes in a Bowl

Make your favorite sloppy Jo recipe and place over rice in a bowl. Here's one EASY one I found on Allrecipes, for crazy nights. If you have a favorite I would love to know what it is!

1 lb lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Brown ground beef, onion, green pepper, drain liquid. Add other ingredients and simmer up to 30 minutes.

Here's a link to Huevos Rancheros we have enjoyed, slightly changed to our taste of course. (Fancy beans? Not quite!) Thinking about these makes my mouth water. I miss tomato season! Push HERE for link.

Books....oh yea, I guess I'll have to get around to those tomorrow! Have a good season, I love you all dearly.

Lindsay
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