Pesto Pizza with Pine Nuts and Feta

Pesto Pizza with Pine Nuts and Feta
Printable Version

1 batch pizza dough (I used our Pizza Hut Pizza Dough recipe)
1 1/2 cups shredded chicken
Pesto
4 oz feta cheese
1/2 red onion, cut in slivers
1-2 large tomatoes sliced (I used grape tomatoes cut in half)
Shredded mozzarella (to your liking)
Toasted pine nuts (to your liking)

Put cold stone in cold oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees. I preheated my pizza stone for about 30 min until the stone is nice and hot. This gives your crust a nice crispy, restaurant-like quality. Roll out prepared pizza dough and place on pizza peel (see picture below) or on pizza pan if you aren't baking it on a pizza stone.

Top pizza dough with the pesto, spreading to outer edges of dough. (I put my pesto on thin otherwise I think it gets too greasy) Layer on additional toppings to your liking (I like to reserve some of the toppings and put them on top of the final layer of cheese) and bake for 8-10 minutes until nicely browned.

I didn't know what a pizza peel was until today. Here is what a pizza peel looks like:

I don't own a pizza peel and wished I had one as I tried to transfer my pizza to the hot stone without one :( I must get one soon.

Recipe by My Kitchen Cafe

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Seriously my favorite cookies ever. I have never messed them up... besides cooking them too long. They are no fail! Delicious every time. They are also great peanut butter cookies without the chocolate chips. I can't make them without the chips though... too good. :) YUM!


Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Printable Version

1c sugar
1c brown sugar
1 c peanut butter
1 c butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (12oz) bag of MILK chocolate chips (If you must do semi-sweet... go ahead)

1. Mix white and brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Stir in 1 bag MILK chocolate chips. (Can refrigerate for 2hrs or until firm) I don't do this and they turn out awesome.

2. Preheat oven 375. Shape balls, flatten with fork dipped in sugar in a criss-cross pattern. Bake for 8min. Do not overcook. The will be lightly brown around edges and pretty pale in the middle. Cool on wire rack.

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker's New Cookbook

Chinese Stir fry Green Beans

Chinese Stir fry Green Beans
Printable Version

1 t minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil(or whatever you have)
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
black pepper
1 1/2 lb fresh green beans

Snip off tips of long fresh green beans
wash beans under running water
Boil a pot of water when boiling hard put in beans
wait 5-30 seconds for water to begin to boil again then empty beans into a colander.

Heat oil in skillet carefully place beans and garlic in oil. Stir fry about 3 minutes for al dente or longer for desired crispness. Add soy sauce and stir fry 1 minute. Add sugar and stir fry 30 seconds.

Blake and Kindra's Salsa

Printable Version

28 oz can of diced tomatoes(cheaper brand is best)
1 T minced garlic or 2-3 cloves diced
1T garlic powder
2T oregano
1-3 jalapeno peppers diced (start with 1 then add to taste)
1 t salt
dash pepper
1 t sugar(use less if you add diced carrots)
1 large sweet onion diced (vandalia)
1 t cilantro(optional)

Mix and eat. No preservatives so don't keep it in refrigerator for too long.

Berry Trifle

This a dessert that Karen (my mother in law) made. I took this picture when I made it on Father's day. As you can see, Chase's head is right at the top of the trifle. I thought it was hilarious and had to use that picture. Hehe. Delicious dessert! Perfect for summer... or anytime!




Berry Trifle
Printable Version

3 cups cold milk
2 small packages of White Chocolate instant pudding mix
1 prepared angel food cake cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries (approx 1lb sliced)
3 cups fresh raspberries (approx 2(6oz)small containers)
1 pint of blueberries
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 whole strawberries, quartered (to put on top)

1)In large bowl whisk pudding mix and milk for about two minutes until thickened.
2)Place a third of the cake cubes in trifle bowl or transparent glass bowl.
3)Top with a third of the pudding.
4)Then put on one cup of the strawberries (place so they show through the sides of dish)
5)Then put 1/3 raspberries and sprinkle 1/3 of blueberries
6)Then put one third of the whipped topping
7)Repeat layers (steps 2-6)
8)Put the last three strawberries on top.
9)Cover and chill in the refrigerator until time to serve.

Adapted slightly from Taste of Home