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Best Ever Pizza Dough

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

In our family, we have pizza every Friday night. We spread out a blanket on the floor and have a pizza picnic while we watch a movie.

I used to buy pizza from a delicious, local pizza parlor. Until one time when I spent $30.00 on 2 pizzas, drinks, and chips. $30.00! I couldn’t believe it!!

We had received a bread machine for our wedding almost 12 years ago. I dug it out, modified a recipe that came with it, and my creation was an instant success. We like the taste of this pizza better than the take out, and I like it even more because of it’s affordability!

Here’s my modified version of the crust. Feel free to experiment with it and have fun!

1 1/3 c water
2 tbs olive oil
1 tsp or more of fresh, minced garlic
3/4 tsp salt
2 c whole wheat flour
2 c white flour
2 tsp yeast
Sometimes I add parsley flakes and basil.
I’ve been know to add a bit of parmesean cheese, too.
Sometimes I add more whole wheat and less white flour. Depends on my mood!

I put it all in the bread machine. It mixes and rises in 1 1/2 hours. If you don’t have a bread machine, I’m sure a cookbook would tell you how to mix and rise dough. I’ve never done it without the machine, but if you have to, it’ll be worth the effort.

The dough either makes one really thick crust, or 2 thinner ones, which is what I usually do, as we like leftovers for the next day.
I put cornmeal down on the pizza stone and roll out the crust. This is so it doesn’t stick, and it adds a nice crunchy texture.

Add sauce, cheese, toppings. I used shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella. I also use turkey pepperoni instead of regular. Less fat, and much more flavor.

Cook at 500 degrees for 15-20 min.

Frugal notes:

I often put bacon, hamburger, onions, green and red peppers on my side of the pizza. Whenever I use these items in a recipe, I save a bit for my pizza toppings and freeze them. I don’t miss the small amounts in the recipe I’m making.
On pizza night, I just pull out my container, take the frozen veggies and/or meat and add them to my side of the top before cooking.
I enjoy the frugality of not having to purchase a variety of toppings just for my side of the pizza, and the convenience of having choices all prepared and ready to use.
Since we make this every week, I buy my shredded cheeses in bulk. Those small bags of pizza cheese cost a fortune! I just buy a huge bag of mozzarella cheese, and a large bag of white American cheese. I just grab some cheese from each bag and toss it on the pizza.
Some day, I am going to buy the cheese in large blocks, which is even more affordable, and shred it myself.
Cheese keeps a long time in the refrigerator, I’ve never had it go bad on me. I’ve also successfully frozen the cheese if you are worried about it.

Let me know if you try it and how it turns out!!

Posted in Recipes | No Responses »

Homemade and All Natural Fabric Softener

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Fabric softeners are really expensive. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are also not good for your dryer, your clothes, or your health.

They leave a coating your clothes, which makes them soft. This coating makes your laundry, such as towels and wash clothes less absorbent. It also contains many harmful chemicals that can irritate your skin and lungs.

Here is a site that discusses the dangers of commercial fabric softeners.
For a really scary look at the health risks of dryer sheets, read this article. If you’re like me, you’ll throw yours away immediately and begin using simple, natural solutions to softening your clothes.

Dryer sheets also coat your lint screen and dryer hose, making the dryer more susceptible to fire and increased wear and tear. To check your lint screen for this dangerous buildup, simply remove it and run water through it. If the water beads up, you have a waxy buildup. Take a scrub brush to gently clean it.

“Make” your own fabric softener!
I have begun using white distilled vinegar in a Downy Ball. Yes. Vinegar. It rinses the clothes fabulously clean, and DOES NOT leave your laundry smelling like pickles! Try adding drops of some essential oil to your Downy Ball if you would like a lightly scented load of laundry. I’m currently using Grapefruit.

According to this site, using 1/4 cup (or the amount called for on your Downy Ball) of white distilled vinegar to the final rinse will:

dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents, making the fabric cleaner, fluffier, and more absorbent.
prevent yellowing
bring out the bright colors (use 1/2 cup for this)
act as a fabric softener
attack mold and mildew

Another popular alternative to commercial fabric softeners is to use 1/2 cup of baking soda in the laundry. Add it right in with your detergent (hopefully home made!). It’s environmentally friendly, better for your health, and much more cost effective.

What about static?
Personally, I don’t have much static in my clothes. And what little I do have I can tolerate quite well. To eliminate this static without using the harsh, expensive chemicals found in fabric softeners/ dryer sheets, simply ball up a sheet of aluminum foil and toss it in the dryer. This can be reused and reused. And, if you’re like me, you can often get aluminum foil for free - making this the best!

I’d love to hear from you! Tell me how you are re-vamping your laundry to be more cost effective, healthier, and environmentally friendly!

Posted in Household | No Responses »

I’ve Begun My “Green Homemaking” Journey - Homemade Laundry Soap

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

One of the first areas of homemaking that I am trying to change is how I do the laundry. For about a year, I’ve been only washing our laundry in cold water. I first started using Tide Coldwater for this. I had great results. But it was ridiculously expensive. Then I switched to whatever brand was on sale at the time. Again, with good results. Now, I am taking it a step further and making my own laundry soap with all natural ingredients. I will admit - my first and primary reason for doing this began as an easy way to save some money. However, as I researched different “recipes” for making the detergent, I realized that I am also doing something very positive for the environment and my family’s health at the same time. Which is now more important to me than the money being saved!

Here is the recipe I use for making my laundry detergent:

1 bar Fels Naptha soap, shredded. Find this in the laundry Isle of Hannaford. Walmart doesn’t carry it. I chop it up and put it in my Magic Bullet. Or you could use a cheese grater. The idea is small, uniform pieces.
1 Cup Washing Soda. Again, find this in the laundry aisle of Hannaford. It’s made by Arm and Hammer.
1 Cub Borax. This is also in the laundry aisle of Hannaford. This is a fun product to own - you can do some fun science experiments with this, as well as use it for a very good, overall cleaner in you house.

Mix together and put in a covered container. Use 2 TBS for a full load of laundry.

Here is a site that lists lots of variations on home made laundry detergent, as well as lots of other home made cleaners. Check it out and get started!