Yummy

Superbowl is tomorrow, and if you live where I do, you can't miss that fact-it's being held here. Well, here-ish. In Glendale, not far from Phoenix. Nonetheless, it's coming up fast, and if you don't want to go to a superbowl party, but instead want to watch the new commercials and knit and relax, here are two wonderful recipes that can last all day and make everyone happy.

Penny's Peerless Pizza
1 cup warm water
1 pkg yeast
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1 can diced tomatoes (preferably the ones with italian seasoning)
1/2 bag fresh spinach (the washed kind in the bagged salad section)
5 cloves garlic (or more or less to taste, or you may omit if you're boring)
Additional toppings, if desired
2 cups mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese, if desired

Dissolve the yeast in the water, let stand for 5 minutes. Add oil, sugar, salt & flour, mix until just combined (this is where a Kitchen Aid mixer with a dough hook comes in handy). Let stand, covered, in a warm place for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel garlic cloves by laying them on a cutting board, covering each with the flat blade of a chef's knife (the blade should be pointing toward a wall, not the ceiling or floor), and smacking the knife blade with your hand (now you see why the blade is sideways!). Pick up the clove, remove the skin that has come off in one piece now, and repeat until all are peeled. Roughly chop the garlic (I love garlic and use a lot).

Remove the dough from the bowl and spread onto two baking sheets. Add 1/2 the can of diced tomatoes to each crust, spread evenly. Spread 1/2 the spinach (or as much as desired) onto each crust. Divide garlic in half, and sprinkle on each pizza. If you're adding other toppings, hey, this would be a good time to put them on. Top each pizza with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese (or, if you live in my house, until it looks like it'll turn out really gooey). Sprinkle parmesan on top of the mozzarella.

Bake each pizza at 375 for 20 minutes or so, depending on how thick your pizzas are. Cheese will be happy and bubbly, maybe a little golden or brown at the edges, when the pizza is done.

Cut pizzas, serve, and nap. :)


Penny's Weird Midwestern Chili and Scrumptions Southwestern Cornbread

2 Tbs Olive oil
1 small (or 1/2 regular) yellow onion, chopped
1 pound ground turkey
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Salt (optional)
Pepper
1 can great northern beans (the white ones)
1 can black beans (a twist I learned after I moved to Phoenix)
1 can kidney beans
1 can whole kernel sweet corn (frozen corn is excellent, too)
1 can Campbell's Cream of Potato Soup (told ya it was weird)
3 Tbs Cumin
1 large can tomato juice (the big one that we used to get Hi-C in, that you open with the pointy church-key thingy)
2 Beef bullion cubes, if you're in the mood for beefy goodness
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Chopped Onions

Add the oil to a skillet, and cook onion in it until a little brown. Add the ground turkey, seasoning it with garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper to taste. Add just a little salt, if using. Brown the mixture.

Put the ground turkey mixture into a crock pot. I always rinse off bean goop, so I put the beans and corn into a colander and rinse the whole works. Drain, add to crock pot. Add the potato soup, undiluted. Add the cumin, the can (or as much as will fit) of tomato juice, and the bullion cubes, if using. Cook on low 4-6 hours, or until you feel like eating. You can't really hurt chili. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped onion, and Scrumtious Southwest Corn Bread (see recipe below).

Scrumptious Southwest Cornbread

Cooking spray
1 Batch cornbread batter
1 cup plus a handful shredded low-fat cheese (your favorite)
1 can cream-style corn
1 small (pretty tiny) can of chopped green chiles
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Make a batch of cornbread batter however you like to-use a mix, buy the cornmeal and follow the directions-whatever you like to do.

Add to the batter the shredded cheese, can of cream-style corn, the can of chiles, and the cayenne pepper.

Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 baking pan with cooking spray. Scrape the batter into the sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle the handful of shredded cheese on top. Bake at 375 until sides pull away and the top is golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Cut into squares, serve with chili.

Hopefully these yummy dishes will add some fun, and some spice, to your life. Enjoy!