Pizza of Amazingness

Yesterday I asked B what he wanted for dinner. He said Pizza, but it was a sports night, so we just didn't have time. I promised him pizza today.
K asked that it be all homemade (their mom usually does bobali crust and squeeze sauce.)
About 3:00 I started looking for pizza dough recipes. I immediately went to Our Best Bites because I <3 those girls.

For the kid's pizza I made the sauce found here, and Kelly literally scraped the pot out and licked the spoon afterwards. It was AMAZING.

And for the Crust I did this one. It was so, so , so good. So good. (Can I say that one more time?) So good.

The kids had traditional Pepperoni/cheese (red onions, green peppers). I had a 'specialty' pizza and pulled out some shredded rotisserie chicken, put the peppers, onions, some mushrooms AND some of this:

Throw on some cheese and follow the directions found here on Our Best Bites Pizza 101.

Compliments came from all around-- even J who ate his half cold out of the fridge. 

Family Pizza nights will never ever be the same!

Muffin tins: one of the world's best inventions.

Last night was the Air Force Birthday Ball. My boss being active duty AF, she and her husband went. Somehow, I got voluntold to have a pizza/ice cream party at our house with all the neighborhood kids. There were 4-5 little boys, and one little girl running wild around the house last night.
Wednesday, when I did the shopping, I picked up 3 cartons of ice cream; chocolate, vanilla and cookie dough. Yesterday, as I prepared for the party, I remembered seeing this on Pinterest:

source

I thought it was brilliant and worth a try. So I scooped 4 of each flavor into a lined muffin tin. I popped it in the freezer and several hours later when it was time for ice cream I just pulled out the muffin tin and told the kids they could have two scoops of different flavors. 

I popped the balls of ice cream into the plastic bowls (you don't think I'm crazy enough to want to do all those dishes, do you?) And the kids decorated to their heart's contents (whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate syrup... the goods). 

My bosses even came home and were impressed with my ingenuity. (Thank you pinterest!)  

The upshot is: next time you have a party with lots of *super patient* children, give this a try. Brilliant I tell you. Brilliant.  

Fruit Pizza

Fruit pizza is one of our family's favorite desserts and I like to use it as my go-to dessert when we have company. There isn't any specific measurements I use, but after eye-balling it this past weekend this is what I came up with:

1 1/2 rolls sugar cookie dough (yes, you can make the dough, this is just WAY faster)
2 lbs strawberries
2 bananas
3 kiwis
1/2 package cream cheese (4 oz)
1/2 tub whipped cream
1 yoplait yogurt (I prefer peach or lemon)

First, set out your cream cheese and cookie dough for about 30 min so that they are soft enough to work with.
Roll out your cookie dough onto a cookie sheet until it covers the entire thing. Bake as directed BUT keep an eye on it. You may have to adjust to cooking time but it takes about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool.
In a medium sized bowl combine your cream cheese, whipped cream, and yogurt. Once the cookie has cooled, spread it evenly across the entire cookie.
I like to wait until the end to cut my fruit so that it all stays nice looking. Cut your strawberries horizontally (so they make circles) and layer those first. Then cut and layer on your bananas, followed by your cut up kiwis. I personally like to add berries on top, but most of my family doesn't like that. It does add nice coloring to add raspberries and blueberries.
Slice and enjoy!

My Ward's Cooking Group

My ward is... different. Or rather I am different. Remember the song from Sesame Street, one of these things is not like the others? I am that one thing. While 55% of my ward is children under the age of 6, 40% of the ward is their parents. Young, married, in the military, 2-4 children. The other 5% are the older generation of our ward, you know, the ones in their 40's whose kids are in youth programs. The upshot is that besides the gospel, we really have very little in common.

Then, this wonderful woman in my ward came up with the idea of having a cooking group once a month for us to get together, eat and exchange recipes! Everyone has food in common. In a stroke of brilliance, they put the recipes on a blog. Each month has a different theme:

• September = Salads
• October = Soups
• November = Thanksgiving Sides
• December = Cookie Exchange
• January = Breakfast
• February = Freezer Meals
• March = Italian
• April = Food Storage Meals
• May = Mexican/South American
• June = Chocolate

So, I'll make delicious food and post the recipes that I do, but I'll also let you know what was especially delicious! You should check it out:

http://fortmeadereliefsocietycooks.blogspot.com/ 

The layout makes me really happy too-- I almost thought about stealing it for this blog...