Guide to: The Perfect Pizza Crust

I've been on a quest to learn how to make a good pizza crust. I think I finally discovered some of the secrets I'm willing to share.

Pizza Crust

1 cup (8 oz.) warm water (110 degrees)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 1/4 cup bread flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 package (2 1/3 tsp) Rapid Rise Active Dry Yeast
corn meal

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.
Dissolve yeast in warm water (110 degrees) and let sit while you gather other ingredients.
Add 2 cups of the flour, salt, olive oil and sugar to mixing bowl.
Slowly add water and yeast mixture using paddle attachment on mixer.
Switch to dough hook and knead at medium speed for about 2-3 minutes while slowly adding a little bit of the rest of the 1/4 cup of flour until it's the right consistency. The dough will still be a little wet looking but not shiny wet.
Let dough rest for 5 minutes.
Pour about 1/8 - 1/4 cup of corn meal into the middle of a 14 inch round pizza pan. Place the dough ball on top and turn to cover with corn meal. (DO NOT grease or oil the pan!)
Press dough into pan creating a crust on the edges by making it a little more thick than the middle.
Prick with a fork.
Place in pre-heated oven for 5 minutes.
Add desired toppings.
Place back in oven for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.
Serves 3-4.

-Kat

Guide to: Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Do you ever end up with green or gray yolks when you make hard boiled eggs? I'm going to share with you the way to get a perfect yellow yolk every time.

Start with cold eggs and place them in a pot of cold water. Bring the water to a boil and put the lid on the pot. Turn the heat off and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes. Then, run the eggs under cold water until they have cooled down.



Once cooled, the eggs are ready to be peeled and enjoyed!!



Tip: If you are having trouble peeling the shell from the egg, just peel it under cold running water and it will slide right off.

Guide to: Creating a Budget Bento Lunch

My pre-school aged daughter doesn't like to eat sandwiches. So, I have to be creative when it comes to packing her lunches. I'm inspired by the bento style lunches as found on the blog "Another Lunch", but quite honestly, I don't have the time or the money to invest in such "cuteness"!!
So for my version of a Bento Box Lunch, I used a trusted old Tupperware divided plate. A small star shaped cookie cutter from the R & M Star Shaped Cookie Cutter Set was the perfect tool to cut through two slices of ham at a time. Then I arranged them on top of pieces of pepperoni.



 

-Kat 

Guide to: Creating Black Frosting

Have you ever tried to make black tinted frosting? I know it doesn't look very appetizing, but how else would you make a Mickey Mouse cake??

In any case, my secret to creating black frosting is to start out with chocolate and then add a bunch of Wilton's black icing gel. To make things simple , I like to use the boxed mixes and tub frosting for my cup cakes.

 Hollywood "Walk of Fame" Star Cupcakes - all ready for the party!!