Calzone

This calzone is for the whole family. The recipe makes two big calzones, and I never half the recipe because we love all the leftovers. This is a delicious food that I grew up on. It is one of our all time favorites.

Dough:

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour or bread flour

1 tablespoon dry yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 tablespoons cooking oil

Combine 2 cups of the flour, yeast, and the salt. Add water and cooking oil. Beat at low speed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping bowl. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make moderately stiff dough. On floured surface, knead til smooth; about 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn once. Cover; let rise till double in bulk (about 1 hour).

Sauce:

(I'll be honest. I usually use canned spaghetti sauce because it's so fast and we like it, but here's a delicious sauce recipe.)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic minced
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes

1 6-ounce can tomato paste

1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Heat and let sit while making or waiting for the dough.

To Make the Calzone:

Divide dough in half. Place each ball of dough on a greased baking sheet. Roll the ball into a long oval. Spread a little olive oil on one half of the dough. Then add a layer of sauce. Then add all the toppings you want on the half and finish off with a thick layer of mozzarella cheese. Fold the other half over the stuffed half. Crimp the edges together. Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Spread some sauce on top and bake for anotehr 5 to 10 minutes.

Macaroni Grill Bread

I got this recipe off the internet on RecipeZaar, and it is absolutely divine! It tastes just like Macaroni Grill's Bread. It may even be better. It is really easy to make too. I love to dip this bread in balsamic vinaigrette mixed with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and pepper. I'm drooling thinking about this bread right now!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary (3 teaspoons dried rosemary)

2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl or food processor and allow mixture to become bubbly.
2. Mix in 1 T butter, salt, and 2 cups of flour.
3. Add one tablespoon of the fresh chopped rosemary or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary.
4. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or in food processor about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
5. Add more flour if necessary.
6. Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with a towel.
7. Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled.
8. Punch down dough and divide in half.
9. Let dough rest about 5 minutes.
10. Spray baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray.
11. Shape the dough into 2 small rounded oval loaves.
12. Sprinkle remaining 1 Tablespoon of rosemary (1 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary) over the loaves and press lightly into the surface.
13. Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes.
14. Preheat oven to 375°F.
15. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned.
16. Carefully remove from oven, brush with remaining butter (and salt if desired).

Double Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe was created by my momma. It is fantastic!!! These cookies are rich and delicious!

1 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon hot water

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup nuts

12-ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, hot water, and vanilla. Beat. Add soda and salt. Then add flour, oatmeal, and cocoa powder. Add the nuts and chocolate chips. Add more flour if dough is too soft. Drop onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes at 375.

Pineapple Coconut Crunch Muffins

This is the winning muffin recipe from Mimi's Meaningful Muffin Contest.  Can I hear a - FABULOUS!!!  We LOVED these delectable muffins. This is the description of the muffins: "The combination of pineapple and coconut creates a delightful taste sensation in these tender tropical muffins. Crowned with a crunchy coconut and macadamia nut crumb topping, these flavor-packed gems inspire pleasant thoughts of dazzling sun-drenched beaches and gentle trade winds."  Ditto - 'nuf said. 

Pineapple Coconut Crunch Muffins

by: Linda Amendt

Ingredients:

Crumb Topping

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 tablespoons finely chopped, unsalted macadamia nuts

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Muffin Batter

1-1/3 cups flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut, chopped

2 large eggs

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

3 tablespoons unsweetened pineapple juice, reserved from canned pineapple

3/4 cup drained canned unsweetened crushed pineapple.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Line a 12-cup regular muffin pan with paper liners or grease with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Topping: In a small bowl, combine flour, coconut, sugar and macadamia nuts. Whisk together until well blended. Using a fork or clean fingers, work in the butter until evenly combined and mixture resembles coarse crumbs and starts to come together.

4. Muffins: In a large bowl, whisk eggs until lightly beaten. Gradually whisk in oil until well blended. Stir in pineapple juice.

5. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and stir just until combined. Fold in pineapple. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan, filling cups 2/3 full. Crumble topping over top of batter.

6. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Pizza Dough

This pizza is a stuffed crust barbecue chicken pizza that I made with this dough.

The reason why I love this pizza dough is because it is so fast and easy. You don't have to let it rise, and it still tastes good. My sister-in-law, Kassi, gave this recipe to me.

Dough:

3 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

2 Tablespoons yeast

7-9 cups of flour

Put first three ingredients into bowl. Add 1/2 the flour to make a paste. Sprinkle yeast over paste and mix in. Then add the rest of the flour. Knead on low speed of mixer for 8 minutes.

Roll into pizzas. Sprinkle with toppings. Bake 9-10 minutes at 500 degrees. Makes about 6 medium size pizzas. (I always half the recipe and usually make some cheesy sticks with some of the dough too.)