Easy Pizza Sauce

Easy Pizza Sauce:

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*1 clove garlic, mashed and minced

*1 tsp salt

*1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

*1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

*1/2 tsp sugar

*1/8 tsp pepper

*1/2 tsp oregano

*1 Tbsp olive oil

*dash red pepper, optional (I don't put this in b/c Hubby doesn't like spicy too much)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients. makes about 1 1/2 cups, enough for 2-3 pizzas

Great on Pizza Bread! Or a store bought pizza dough or your own homemade. My homemade pizza dough coming soon!

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Pizza Bread

I tried this last Friday and it was wonderful. Because Hubby is sick I'm making it again tonight since he loved it so much. And it's comfort food to him as well. Anything to get him feeling better!

I found this recipe from Cooking During Stolen Moments. It's a great blog with wonderful recipes, check it out!

Pizza Bread:

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*6-7 c white flour (I did about 6 1/2 c. I also think I'll try and do half whole wheat flour, half white flour next time)

*1 Tbsp yeast

*2 c milk

*1/2 c water

*1/4 c butter or margarine (I always use real butter, there's just something wonderful about it)

*1/4 c sugar

*1/2 tsp salt

*2 tsp Italian seasoning

*3/4 c pizza sauce (find my EASY homemade pizza sauce Here)

*20-25 slices pepperoni, cut into small pieces (I quartered them)

*2 c shredded Mozzarella cheese (I used 1 c shredded cheddar cheese and 1 c mozzarella cheese... next time I'll use probably another 1/2 c to 1 c more of cheese mixture)

*1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese (we don't keep this in the house usually so I didn't put any of this in/on it)

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/2 c flour with 1 Tbsp yeast and set aside.

2. Add milk, water, butter, sugar and salt to a small saucepan. Heat over medium until warm. Pour into large bowl with the flour and yeast. Stir or beat until well combined. Slowly work in remaining flour and Italian seasoning. Knead (by hand or with and electric mixer) until dough is smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes (I didn't do this but 1-2 minutes and it worked out just great). Cover and let dough rise for 1 hour in a lightly greased bowl.

3. Divide dough into 2-3 portions (I cut it into 3 as this made a whole lot and put in separate gallon size bags to freeze), depending on how big you want your loaves to be. Roll each ball of dough into a rectangle.

4. Spread about 1/4 c pizza sauce on each section of dough (if you want to make all 3 at once, I do 1) (and I use more than 1/4 c on each section, b/c 1/4 c isn't enough).

5. Sprinkle the diced pepperoni and cheeses on top of the pizza sauce.

6. Roll dough tightly, jelly-roll style, and pinch the seams shut.

7. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

8. Cut into 8-10 pieces, serve and enjoy!

So delicious!

Peach-Blueberry Cobbler

I bought a new cookbook the other day. I love cookbooks. My husband and I are eating better so the cookbook is Cooking Light. So when we went to my parents for dinner last week I wanted to make a cobbler. My friend had given me 6 white peaches from when she and her 5-year-old daughter went to an orchid for a new experience for the little one.

So I'm looking through my new cookbook and I come across this delicious sounding cobbler recipe, Peach-Blueberry Cobbler. I didn't even notice on the front cover that this was the recipe shown. Now I'm even more intrigued. I'm thinking it's going to be even more delicious now. So here is the wonderful (and easy) recipe.

Peach-Blueberry Cobbler

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Filling:

1/2 c granulated sugar

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp grated lemon rind

1/4 tsp salt

3 c chopped peeled peaches (about 2 pounds)

2 c fresh blueberries

1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

cooking spray

Topping:

1 1/3 c all-purpose flour (about 6 ounces)

1/3 granulated sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3 Tbsp chilled butter, cut into small pieces

2/3 c low-fat buttermilk (or skim milk and a splash of lemon juice or white vinegar)

1 1/2 Tbsp turbinado sugar (I didn't do this )

1. Preheat oven 400* F

2. For filling combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Add peaches, blueberries and juice. Spoon mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400*F for 15 minutes.

3. For topping, lightly spoon 1 1/3 c flour into dry measuring cups. Combine 1 1/3 flour, 1/3 c granulated sugar, baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt, stirring with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk, stir until just moist.

4. Remove dish from oven, drop dough onto peach mixture to form 8 rounds. Sprinkle dough evenly with turbinado sugar. Bake at 400*F for 25 minutes or until bubbly and golden.

Yield: 8 servings; 1/2 cup cobbler and 1 biscuit.

*Serve with homemade vanilla ice cream and you'll have your guests screaming for more.

Calories 259, Fat 4.9g, Protein 3.9g, Carb 52.1g, Fiber 2.4g, Chol 12mg, Iron 1.3mg, Sodium 230 mg, Calc 52mg

This recipe is also linked to The Grocery Cart Challenge.

This recipe is also linked to Blessed with Grace.

July Goals

So if you've notice my few blogs, I've made a change, a huge lifestyle change. And I'm excited! In the past 21 days I've lost a total of 6.8 pounds. That is the most weight I've lost, ever.

Sparkpeople.com is a lifesaver! If you're looking to lose weight the right way, no pills, no diets and no fads, then this site is for you. So check it out! I've decided to take after Erin Hetzel Mount on posting my goals and check-ups. I didn't do any June goals other than starting something and actually following through with it. Since I've accomplished that I'm now going to write down my goals and track my successes. I know that it will be a wonderful experience and it'll be something to look back on with great happiness. It'll be nice to look back on my notes and see my accomplishments. I don't want to get bogged down with what the scale says, that is setting myself up for disaster. That's why I only get on the scale on Wednesday, for my "Weigh-In Wednesday."

So here are my July 2009 goals:

1. Walk at least 4 times a week for at least 20 minutes, preferably 30 or more minutes (I have to build up to it).

2. Use the sparkpeople.com Nutrition Tracker to track what I eat 7 days a week.

3. Stay within calorie range (provided by sparkpeople) 6 out of 7 days days a week.

4. Do weight training 2 times a week.

5. Lose 5 pounds for the month of July.

6. Read 2 books outside of the Bible.

7. Read the Bible and write on what I've read and learned at least 5 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. (I've found a great devotional book that has wonderful ways to put what I've read to work in my life, along with reading a few verses. The book says if you read the verses outlined each day I will have read the Bible in one year.)

So those are my goals. I hope anyone reading this will check out sparkpeople.com and see what it's all about. It is FREE! This of course makes it even better for everyone trying to save money but looking to lose a some pounds. Enjoy!

I'm a twitterer!

I'm now on twitter. Come follow me...I'm ginnycow.

Daniel insisted that I finally sign up so he of course took it upon himself to sign me up, which is totally fine. It's a totally new experience, but so much easier than facebook and myspace. You can update your status without all the hoopla of getting on the internet on the computer, so I totally like that. I have better things to do than be on the internet all the time, even though I am now, when I should be in bed. But I can't sleep. Or rather I'm just not tired yet. 

So anyways, come join me at twitter. com. It's easy and fun!

Bye now.

What I've been hearing/seeing/reading... More on Beth Moore and my studies

I told you yesterday I'd write up on my favorites of the ten I listed. As you've probably read in my last few posts I'm struggling with who to call "friends." I'm at a crossroads in my life where I'm changing and the people around me are staying the same. I like what Emily said about friends and the age we're at now, "It's so weird that people our age can be in such different places in live: single and loving it, single and lonely, engaged, married, married with children, divorced, divorced with children, homeowners... I know exactly what you mean. " I agree with her totally. We are at an age where we're surrounded my people who are after different things. It's not like high school where you'll all just in high school, waiting to graduate and go to college or find a job.

So this "Ten Characteristics of the Crucified Life" stuck out with me. All of them did, but a select four really hit me with the things I'm struggling with at the moment.

1. Few will understand.

Few understand anyways but it is becoming harder by the days. I want certain things out of life, church, etc so I'm putting my best foot forward and doing them. But the people I once called "friends" (and still do to a point even though we barely talk) can't understand my motivations for doing certain things. I'm the same fun-loving, optimistic person I always was, I have just turned my focus away from them and turned it on God. I feel they don't care enough about what I'm trying to accomplish because they're immature and selfish. I'm moving on with life. People can jump on the train with me or get off.

3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.

This pretty much goes along with number 1. It's happening all around me, it's inevitable. I feel I've always been on a different road than most of the people around me but I've been a little more tolerant of behaviors, until recently. I've felt I've been on a different road because I did things differently with my life than most of the people around me. I went away to school for four years, that made me grow up. I'm not saying I'm better than these people for going away, I'm better for me. I see things differently now because of the decisions I made earlier in life. I'm fortunate enough to have parents who love me and were financially able to pay for me to go away to school, I know there are people who aren't. But this and other things have put me on a different life path. I feel I truly see what is important in life. I'm not so much focued on myself now. I am looking out for others who want and need a change in their lives.

4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.

I know the only way to truly worship God and know Him more is the quiet time I spend with Him daily. I've gotten into a routine with that. I come home from doing whatever between 8 and 8:30 and have my quiet time for almost an hour. It really depends on what I'm reading and writing. The Beth Moore stuff I'm doing takes about an hour, other studies don't take as long. I hear people all the time saying, "I just don't have time to do those studies." My answer now is yes you do, you just choose not to. You have to be disciplined. Leave your friends, you see them all the time anyways and go home. Sit at a desk or somewhere where you aren't laying down and you have the possibility of falling asleep. I tried that excuse too, but now I see it as that, an excuse. Yes, some days and weeks are busier than others, stuff happens, stuff comes up, but don't get down on yourself, pick back up when it slows down.

5. You will be constantly on the witness stand.

I don't like being on trial for what I believe. I believe what I believe. If some don't like it, it's not my problem. I'm not going to let people get me down. I'm going to stand firm in my beliefs and do my best. I'm going to study and pray and watch my speech and actions all the time because I know people are ALWAYS watching. That's how I view it anyways. I've made an effort to do these things because I know they are important in my growth.

So there are my select few that are with me right now. Can you relate to any of these items, listed here or in yesterday's blog? Let me know if you need further explanation, I can at least tell you what Beth Moore says on the topics.

Tuesdays Study

1. Few will understand
2. You must abandon your own will and your own agenda.
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.
5. You will constantly on the witness stand.
6. You must go "outside the camp."
7. There will be times when your dignity is forfeited.
8. You must forego your rights.
9. You must accept that death is painful.
10. Because He was forsaken, you never will be.

These are what Beth Moore calls, Ten Characteristics of the Crucified Life.

I've joined a women's bible study at church and we're studying Beth Moore's, Living Beyond Yourself. It's simply amazing. Those are the best words I can use to describe it. We've only had one class (second session tomorrow) and one week of homework. Women in there said it would change our lives, we would be different, better, closer to God than we've ever felt. It's amazing to me that I can feel a change already. I do feel closer to Him. It's hard to explain but I do feel different. And the funny thing is, it has only been one week. How can it happen so quickly? I'm so excited about pursuing God more than ever. I want to be in His word everyday. I love it! I've never felt so good before.
The ten items that I have listed were a part of homework in week one. There are small paragraphs explaining what each item meant. 1,3,4 and 5 were my favorites. Below I've listed the ones I like and what the book says about each thing. Tomorrow I'll write about why these four stick out in my mind at this time in my life.
1. Few will understand..."If you seriously decide to live a life crucified to self and alive in Christ, you will discover that few will understand. More importantly, those who misunderstand will most likely be the ones you have to relate to the most. Galatians 2:20 describes a radical change that many find confrontational."
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few..."I am not suggesting or encouraging spiritual elitism; nothing could be further from God's will. I am, however, suggesting that there may be few who choose to walk this same road with you. Those with whom you can pray deeply and agonize spiritually are unique, indeed! Be thankful for them!"
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required..."Not even your intimate spiritual companions are invited to attend some meetings with God! He reserves the right to meet with you One-on-one. The best preparation you will ever receive for your most agonizing trials will be when you are the only student attending class. In the midst of your deepest difficulties, have you ever looked around and thought, Where is everybody? Sometimes God reserves the right to withhold others and to pull you aside with Him so that you can experience what David in 1 Samuel 30:6; "David found strength in the Lord his God."
5. You will constantly be on the witness stand..."Matthew describes Jesus' trial. Peter challenges us to be prepared to give an answer. There will never be a time when we are not subject to the observation of others. We will be held under the strictest scrutiny of the non-believers and believers alike, continually called to the witness stand."

Until tomorrow,
Ginny