Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Mama Makes A Calzone!

That's Amore!

Mama
Makes
a
Big Pizza Pie!


Oh Yea Baby!
This
is
GOOD STUFF!
Grandpa
would be proud!
Do you want the recipe my friends?
Did I hear a YES?
Well Here You Go!





  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F.)
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour plus more if necessary
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 
  • 1/2 teaspoon of sugar

In a bowl, combine yeast with water, olive oil, salt, sugar and stir well. Let it sit about 5 minutes, add half of the flour and mix well with a spoon. Add all remaining flour except 1/2 cup and mix well using your hands. Bring dough to a lightly floured table and knead  for about 5 minutes, adding remaining flour as needed to form a smooth dough. Dough should not be sticky. Work more flour in if sticky. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, usually about 1 hour.
Divide the dough evenly into 4 balls. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. Let sit for 15 minutes, then transfer to a lightly floured table and roll out into 4  8-inch circles. Place filling of choice in the center of one side of each circle, then fold dough over filling to meet edges of filled side. Crimp edges with a fork , then cut a small slit in the top of the calzone to allow steam to release while baking. Cook in a preheated 475 degree oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until well-browned.  Enjoy!

Sauce (Gravy)
I make my sauce from scratch.  That is another post in itself!  So use your favorite sauce and ingredients for your own personalized calzone!  My family loves Italian sausage and mushrooms so that is what I filled these with!  The possibilities are endless!  
Spinach, Mushrooms, Onions, Peppers, Tomatoes, Basil, All Varieties of Cheeses, Pepperoni, Chicken, and the list goes on and on!
So I did a layer of mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, sauce and sausage.  Then more cheese of course!  My son ate the leftovers for breakfast COLD!
ENJOY!
Ciao BELLA!



Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sweet Cuppycake Sam


I LOVE this!
Watch his eyebrows at the end of the song!
Bless his baby heart!





Mission Statement:
"Changing lives through compassion."
Youtube Star Cuppycake Sam encourages us to have hope, and to not to judge others.






Sam Allred resides in Alaska with his parents and siblings. Sam enjoys reading, Lego robotics, and cooking. Sadly, Sam suffers from a rare kidney condition - for which he takes steroids. The steroids have stunted his growth and complicated his weight.
Sam is currently working to help support children with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Sam’s non-profit; Kindness for Kids mission statement shares his vision “Changing lives through compassion” Team up with Sam at www.kindnessforkids.org. Or www.cuppycakesam.com
Together we can change the world!
Go HERE
to purchase Sam's
New Book!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Mama Elise and Mama Lisa are Cooking Up a Storm!


So Mama Elise made this for
Mama Lisa and Mama Christine.
It was real yummy and they liked
it very very much!
So Mama Lisa 
SNATCHED
the recipe and cooked it
right up!
Mama Lisa loves this chicken so much
 that she created a shrine for it!
She says it smells as if you
are walking the streets of Greece!
Yes she did!

Chicken Marbella
10 chicken breasts, skinned or 1 whole chicken cup up
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 bottle of capers with juice
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup dried apricots or prunes
1/2 cup green olives (pitted)
8 bay leaves

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white wine

Mix all ingredients except topping and marinate overnight. When ready to bake pour the brown sugar and wine on the chicken.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

I can't wait to try this!

Monday, April 12, 2010

This Will Make Mama Perky and Happy!


Needing a little
Pick Me Up
today!
So I am posting up
these beautiful flower photos
I took at
last September
Hope You like!
My favorite part of the Garden 
was this enormous display
of annuals!  It was a wall of the
most gorgeous flowers I have ever seen!
The wall was 7 feet tall and at least 100 feet in length!
It went on forever!
Can't you just picture a beautiful bride
walking this path to meet her groom!
SIGH!!!
Looking across the lawn at 
part of the wall of flowers!
Close Up View!












NOW 
Mama Is Perky
and
Chipper!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Granny's Icebox Cookies

My Granny always had
a stash of homemade cookies
for us to enjoy!
She always had a variety to choose
from at any given time!
Her Icebox cookies were
sometimes stored in the
deep freezer awaiting visitors.
They were even yummy cold!
The lucky cookie of the week
was proudly stored in her 
round Tupperware container.
I now have that container!
I baked these cookies this weekend and
loaded them into the famous container.
My daughter walked by lifted the lid 
and squealed!  "Oh it smells just like Granny's house!"
I was giddy all over!
I had already discovered this
 but was thrilled
that she discovered the same treasure!
This spurred what I call a "memory blast" 
where we each began spilling
 out one memory after
the other about our Granny!
My grandmother and her Great Grandmother!
How blessed my children were to know
their Great Grandmothers!
So we spent the rest of the weekend
walking by the cookies, lifting the lid to 
take a whiff of that wonderful smell!
Sometimes not even grabbing a cookie!
A smell that took us back to the kitchen
of a magical woman who loved us totally
and completely without conditions.
A woman who opened her 
home and her heart
to all who entered through her doors.
What is most amazing to me is 
that my daughter
was 5 when she passed away, 
yet this memory, from this smell
took her immediately back to that kitchen!
Back to that feeling of love!
How Sweet Is That!
It is true that
love knows no boundaries
and
not even death can separate that.

Icebox Cookies
Displayed in Granny's
"Fancy China"



As a child I remember gazing at this china!
It was off limits and stored it a cabinet
in the dining room.  When you opened
the cabinet it had a distinct smell.
You just knew it was protecting 
something special inside!
My Aunt B gave me a place setting
that I now safely store away.
Thanks Aunt B! 

Icebox Cookies
2 cups of brown sugar
1 cup of shortening (I use Crisco Butter Flavored)
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup of chopped nuts
1 Tbs of water to dissolve 1 tsp of baking soda
1 Tbs Cream of Tartar
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
Cream shortening, add sugar, beaten eggs and vanilla.  Sift flour, salt, and cream of tartar, add to mixture.  Add soda with water and fold in nuts.  Mix together well and separate dough in half.  Take the first half and roll into a log on wax paper.  Wrap up the log in the wax paper and store in the "Icebox".  Repeat the same with the remaining dough.  Chill well.  Slice and bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  Transfer to a wire rack and cool.  Store in an OLD, ROUND TUPPERWARE container!

Go HERE for MORE RECIPES!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Mama Is Queen For The Day!

Calling 
All
Mamas!
I officially
declare
you
QUEEN
FOR
THE
DAY!
Here You Go!
Here is your crown!
Put it on
and
prance around!

Go Ahead!
BE
THE
QUEEN
TODAY!


The Graphics Fairy

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Panini Maker!

I love my Panini Maker!
So do my kids!
So I took the  leftover
ham from Easter.
I grabbed some yummy
potato bread from the pantry.
I snatched some Muenster
cheese, mayo and honey mustard 
from the fridge.
This
Is
What 
WAS 
Created
YUMMMM!

Make a rich dressing by missing the 
mayo and the honey mustard together.
Slap it on both sides of the bread.
Layer ham and cheese on top of that!
Drop it on a Panini Grill 
lathered with olive oil.
Grill until cheese oozes out
and it smells divine!
EAT!
LEFTOVER

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Two Bunnies And A Friend!



Aunt B is going 
to
PEE
in her pants again!
Another FUNNY
animal photo from
the Graphics Fairy!
Mama Karen says these are real
animals dressed up and that the photographer
worked very hard to get these pictures!
SO Funny!
They do look like they are on a mission!
Don't they?

Mama Holli is Proud as a Peacock!

OH YES!
Mama 
is
PROUD
of 
HERSELF
TODAY!
LOOK WHAT
POPPED
OUT
OF
HER
OVEN!
Klobasnek
pronounced "Klobasneeky"
My Granny always had a table
full of these when we came to town!
Better known as 
Pig In A Blanket

SOOOOO GOOD!
It only took me about
4 Hours to make these!
The dough has to rise 
not once
but twice!
Look at what 
is
inside!
Did I say these
were GOOD?
Well they are!
This is the first time I have
made these by myself!
So I am A Proud Mama!
I will post the recipe once I tweek it a little!
Excuse me while I go have a little snack!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Easter Eggs


Mama Holli made these sugar eggs
about 12 years ago.
I made one for each of my babies!
Can you believe they have
lasted this long?
I store them in ziploc bags
and bring them out for
Holy Week.
I just love them
and
so do my kids!








A Peek Inside!
More Easter Images!





Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Do You Want To See What Mama Is Cooking Tonight?


CHICKEN!
Sorry!
That was mean!
I just could not stop myself!
Too many chickens around
for Easter!
Cluck Cluck Here
and
 a 
Cluck Cluck There!
Here a Cluck
There a Cluck
Everybody Cluck Cluck!


Potato Chip 
Chicken Tenders
A favorite
 at
 Mama Holli's House!
Go Back to this post
HERE to get the recipe.
MMMM
MMMM
GOOD




Monday, March 29, 2010

Chirp Chirp Chirp!


The Wires Are So 
Still and High

The Wires are so still and high
We never hear the words go by,
Yet messages fly far and near-
I wonder if the birds can hear.
And when they perch on wires and sing
I wonder if they're listening.
And telling out to earth and sky
A lovely word is going by!
Author
Annette Wynne

I love flipping through old Children's books.
The words and illustrations
are so simple and pure.
  Reflecting a time that was more
simple and pure as well.
This little bird was chirping
to me as I walked one afternoon!
Birds are not the only
ones who like to
CHIRP!
Mamas Love
CHIRPING!
We
CHIRP
A
LOT!
Chirp On The Phone!
Chirp While Ironing!

Chirping 
is
GOOD!
Mama
NEEDS
CHIRPING!
CHIRP
CHIRP
Now we CHIRP
ONLINE!
CHIRP
CHIRP
CHIRP




Thank you Graphics Fairy
for
THE ADORABLE
CHIRPING CHICKS!