Mary's First Homemade Pizza

OMG I made pizza!!! It's actually pretty quick and simple! The toppings could vary but I used fresh pineapple, ham, yellow pepper, mushroom (store bought) pizza sauce and marble cheese.

Dough:
2 Cups of flour
1 Packet of quick rising yeast
3/4 Tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Cup warm water

Directions: Combin flour, yeast and salt then add olive oil and warm water (closer to hot). I mixed it with a fork until combined and added a little extra flour until dough was soft. Placed in an oiled bowl and let rest for 20-40 minutes. I then rolled out on a floured surfaced and baked for 10 minutes. Take out add toppings and bake for another 10-15 minutes at 350.

Everytime I make something homemade I wonder why I ever bought it before? So good!

Mediterranean Pizza Muffins

Weeknight pizza and beer? Sure! A little prep and you're good for quick and satisfying weeknight meals.

Toppings:

Cherry tomatoes
Sautéed mushroom and onions
Artichokes
Black Olives
Shredded marble cheese
Pizza sauce (store bought cheat but easy enough to make!)
(Roasted garlic would be nice...)

Directions:
Topped a whole wheat English muffin as desired bake at 350 for 10 minutes (on parchment paper - no mess) and enjoy with a cold one ;)

Directions:
Topped a whole wheat English muffin as desired bake at 350 for 10 minutes (on parchment paper - no mess) and enjoy with a cold one ;)

Potato & Cabbage Soup

The worlds most simple soup. Probably. I seem to be really into vegetable soups because it's too cold for salads yet!





Ingredients:
2-3 Potatoes diced
1/2 Head of cabbage chunked
3 Carrots diced
3 Stalks of celery diced
1 Large garlic clove minsed
1 Onion diced
1/2 Cup frozen corn
Chicken stock
1 Tsp Italian seasoning
Salt, Pepper & Olive oil










Directions:
Saute onions in salt, peper and olive oil until soft then add garlic, carrots and celery. Add desired amount of liquid and seasoning (amount of stock and seasoning depends on your taste as you go). Add cabbage then potatoes and finally corn. Let simmer until your desired texture.

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Yup. Flavourful. Comfort food. I roasted the garlic while cooking the chicken otherwise this magic may not have happened.

Ingredients: (use your own portions)
2 Potatoes
1/3 Head cauliflower
2 Cloves of garlic
Knob of butter
Splash of milk

Directions:
Boil cauliflower and potatoes together in water/ chicken stock. Drain, mash in butter, milk and garlic. Viola!

Market Vegetable and Bean Soup

A fresh comforting way to start off the year. Soup for days!!!

Ingredients:
1 Onion
2 Carrots
2 Stalks of celery
1 Clove of garlic
1/3 Cabbage
1/3 Cauliflower
1 Cup fresh green beans
1/2 Cup frozen corn
1 Can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 16oz Can diced tomatoes (drained)
1 Tbsp chicken stock powder (or to taste)
32oz Water
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

Directions:
Try to equally chop veggies. Start by sauteing diced onion in olive oil then add garlic carrots, celery with some salt and pepper. Add diced tomatoes, then the rest of the veg and water/chicken stock. I added the hardest to cook veggies first. Cook until your liking - this makes a big pot! Enjoy. Tip: Add additionally stock powder (or liquid) and seasoning to your liking (taste as you go).

Christmas Spice Cookies

White chocolate dried cranberry oatmeal spice cookies seemed too excessive for a title... but that's pretty bang on.

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup butter
2 Eggs
1 Tsp vanilla
1/2 Tsp cinnamon
1/4 Tsp nutmeg
1 Cup flour
1 1/2 Cup quick oats
1/2 Tsp baking soda
3/4 Cup white chippits
1/4 Cup dried cranberries











Directions:
Cream butter and sugar then add vanilla and eggs. Add spices then flour, oats and baking soda. Mix then add in the white chocolate and dried cranberries. Roll, gently press with a fork and bake on parchment paper for 8-10 minutes at 350 (depending on size). Merry Christmas!

Lentil Shepard's Pie

Comfort food with a conscience. And it's delicious!!

I'm going to level with you - I don't know exact measurements, and it made enough for a rectangle pan but I froze the rest of the filling for next time I crave this!




Ingredients:
1 Cup uncooked green lentils
1 Yellow onion diced
1 Large clove of garlic minced
2 Carrots diced
2 Sticks of celery sliced
4-6 White mushrooms diced
1/2 Cup frozen peas
1/2 Cup frozen corn kernels
4-6 Potatoes mashed
1 Tbsp italian seasoning
1 Cup chicken broth
1 Tsp paprika
Splash of milk and butter to mash into potatoes






Directions:
Cook the lentils in water and boil the potatoes in chicken stock/water. Once potatoes are boiled drain and mash with a splash of milk and a bit of butter (salt and pepper).
In a pan sauté the onions in olive oil, salt and pepper. Add garlic, carrots and celery then mushrooms. Add in chicken broth and italian seasoning then cook the raw veg until there's still a bite to it. Add corn, peas, cooked lentils and put in a dish. Make sure there is a bit of broth. Top with mash potatoes and sprinkle with paprika. Bake in the oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy! Then nap…