Quick Easy Homemade Pizza

I found this homemade crust recipe and really like that I don't have to let it rise til double, punch down and rise again. Plus, it's really good!
Tonight I substituted about 1/2 c of whole wheat flour to it.

1 c warm water
1 T yeast
1/2 t salt
1/3 t sugar
1 1/2 T oil
2 1/2-3 c flour
1-2 c shredded Mozzarella
1/4 c shredded Parm.
1 c your favorite sauce
Toppings of your choice
Preheat oven to 350.
Stir yeast in warm water until dissolved. Add salt, sugar, and oil. Stir in flour slowly. Form dough into ball and knead on coutertop 5 min (or in stand mixer about 2 min). When you press your finger into the dough it should spring back...then you know you've kneaded enough. I briefly knead by hand on a floured surface. Form into ball and let rest on counter covered by a towel 10-15 min. Press dough out onto pizza pan or stone and let rise in 350 oven 5-10 min. Take out of oven and turn the heat up to 425. Top with sauce, toppings, and cheese. Bake at 425 for 20-25 min.

Mom's Spaghetti Sauce

I make this and freeze it.

2 16oz cans tomato sauce
2 16oz cans Italian diced tomatoes
1 12oz can tomato paste
1/4 c spaghetti seasoning
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1/3 c sugar
1 c chopped onion
1 lb. hamburger or sausage, fried and drained, optional
2 med. fresh tomatoes, diced
1 8oz package of mushrooms (I finely chop so the kids don't complain) I added this ingredient

Saute garlic and onion in 1 t olive oil. Add all other ingredients except fresh tomatoes and simmer 1 hour or more. Add fresh diced tomatoes and simmer 5 min more.

Coney Island Chili Dog

The kids loved these! They said it was the best meal I have made so far. I served Mac and cheese and mixed veggies. Quick and easy and very kid friendly. I almost served them plain hot dogs but decided I would just serve them up and not say anything. They questioned what was on it at first and I just told them it was hamburger, ketchup and cheese.


1 pound lean ground beef
1 (8oz) can of tomato sauce
1/2 c ketchup
3 T Wahoo! chili seasoning
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1T. Onion Onion
8 beef hot dogs
8 hot dog buns
Shredded Cheddar, to serve
Chopped white onion, to serve (optional)

Sear a package of hot dogs in a hot skillet. When browned remove to a covered plate to keep warm.
In the skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef stirring constantly to break up all the clumps into fine pieces.
Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, Wahoo! chili seasoning, water, Worcestershire, mustard and Onion Onion. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, add hot dogs, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Place hot dogs in buns, top with chili, cheddar cheese, and chopped white onion.

Beef Stew

If I make stew...this is what I make 99.9% of the time! I love that you serve it over mashed potatoes instead of adding cubes of potatoes into the stew. I hope you enjoy it too!

Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 1/2 cups halved mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
2 cups diagonally cut carrot
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped onion
1 1/2 cups sliced celery
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon or other dry red wine
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 (14.5-ounce) cans no-salt-added stewed tomatoes, undrained
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef; cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove from pan. Add mushrooms and next 4 ingredients (mushrooms through garlic) to pan; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Return beef to pan. Stir in water and next 6 ingredients (water through bay leaves); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour. Stir in olives, and cook for 30 minutes or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaves. Stir in vinegar. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve over mashed potatoes ( I make my favorite buttermilk mashed potatoes....I will try and get recipe up soon).

Spaghetti Casserole

Super Easy!
This is a great one 2 make in 2 pans and freeze one for later or take them to people who need dinners. They freeze great!

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
26 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
½ lb grated or shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz. spaghetti, cooked
8 oz. cream cheese and 1 cup sour cream combined
1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Combine meat, spaghetti sauce, and cheddar cheese. Heat until melted. Combine spaghetti and cream cheese mixture. Layer spaghetti then meat sauce in a greased 13x9 pan (or 2 8x8 pans). Repeat layers. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 min. Top with mozzarella and heat until cheese has melted.

Pizza Burgers

Quick easy meal that the kids love!

Broiled Pizza Burgers


1 lb. ground beef
½ c. chopped onion
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tsp. Italian seasonings
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. onion salt
2 c. shredded cheddar
4 hamburger buns, split


Cook beef and onion and drain. Sprinkle with cornstarch. Stir in tomatoes and seasonings. Cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes (or until slightly thick) and add 1 ½ c. shredded cheddar. Cook and stir until cheese melts.
Place hamburger buns cut side up on baking sheet. Divide meat mixture onto each bun half and top with remaining cheese. Broil 4 minutes or until cheese is melted.