PIZZA DOUGH

I like using this recipe for a pizza dough that I posted ten years ago vegetarian pizza. It is easy to make and makes a large enough pizza to feed at least four people. The dough recipe is still as good back then as it is now. I tend to roll it out with my fingers or a small pastry roller onto a large cookie sheet, 16'' by 11". If you like a very thin pizza, you could use a slightly larger pan. What you have to think about is planning ahead and making the dough a few hours before you want to eat so that it can rise.

For the pizza I made today, I used toppings that were in the fridge. There are no rules for choosing toppings. It is all about what your food preferences are and what is available. The amount you stack and the quantity of each item is up to you. Some people like a simple pizza while others like a pizza thickly packed with toppings. I don't like much tomato sauce on my pizza and sometimes using fresh tomatoes is a better option for me. I used the following items for this pizza.

PIZZA TOPPINGS

4 large slices of ham and chicken deli meat, chopped

6 mushrooms, thinly sliced

1 red pepper, chopped

10 multi coloured cherry tomatoes, sliced

2-3 handfuls of fresh spinach

goat cheese

shredded mozzarella 

sprinkle of Italian seasoning

 

SLOW COOKER CHILI

 

 

I got the inspiration to make chili today based on a few things: the weather has turned, it is chilly and cloudy; I wanted to use the pound of lean ground beef in the freezer; tomatoes from the garden are ripening; and, it is always convenient to have a small container or two in the freezer for when you have to make a quick meal. 

I like chili that has different textures and that includes some meat, beans and vegetables. There are zillions of ways to make chili and chili will differ depending on the region you live in. This chili uses taco spice seasoning but you could use other seasoning instead like cumin, paprika, allspice, Tabasco, oregano and chili powder.  

The chili was cooked in a slow cooker. You can cook it instead on the stove, on low heat, for several hours. Another option is to cook it in the oven at 275 or 300 degrees F for several hours, similar to cooking a stew in the oven.

Browned ground beef set aside in a dish.