Pizza Dough

This recipe comes from my brother Sticks, but I have added a couple of ingredients.

3 Cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp. (or one package) yeast
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 c warm water
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 c cornmeal

Grease the pizza pan lightly.
Put the yeast, sugar, and 1/2 of warm water in a small bowl. Allow the yeast to activate. If the yeast does not start to grow and bubble, it probably is too old. Do not use it if it doesn't activate.

In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt.
Make an indentation in the flour mixture. Pour in the yeast mixture, and the 1 Cup warm water. Stir together until dough follows the spoon. Knead (using a little more flour if needed) until the dough is elastic and smooth. Allow to rise until double in size.

This next step is what I learned on television, and I really like the addition.
To roll out the dough, dust the rolling surface with cornmeal. It's okay if the cornmeal gets in to the dough, it adds a nice texture. For crispier crust, roll out thinner. For thicker crust, you can roll it to a thicker size, and allow it to rise a little more.

Place in greased pizza pan and spread with your fingers until the dough evenly covers the pan. A round pizza pan works best. Top with your favorite toppings, and bake at 350 degrees until under side of dough is lightly browned.

French Bread

from Mrs. Dick Nobis

First of all let me say that I don't usually use this recipe as a French bread recipe. To me, it doesn't taste like what I think of French bread. But I love this to use this recipe to make bread sticks.

Combine the following:

Mixture 1

1/2 C warm water

2 pkg (or 5 tsp) dry yeast

1/2 tsp sugar

Let sit for a few minutes to make sure the yeast is active. It will begin to bubble and grow. If it doesn't grow, the yeast might be too old.

Combine and mix the following:

Mixture 2

2 C. hot water

3 tablespoons sugar

3 C. all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon salt

1/3 C shortening or vegetable oil (I use vegetable oil for convenience)

When yeast mixture is active, add mixture 1 to mixture 2.

Add 3 more cups of flour. Let sit 10 minutes and then stir down. Repeat 6 more times.

LOAVES:

Mold in to loaves. Put on greased cookie sheet and brush top with beaten egg whites that have been combined with a small amount of water. Let rise until double, about 1/2 hour. Bake 325 degrees until golden brown.

BREAD STICKS:

For bread sticks, take a ball of dough and form in to long snake like form. Fold in half and twist the ends around each other. You could also just form it in to long shapes.

Brush the top of the bread with melted butter. Sprinkle the tops with Season Salt, or Parmesan cheese. (or both!) Bake 325 degrees on greased cooked sheet for about 1/2 hour, or until golden brown.

Baking Powder Biscuits

Baking Powder Biscuits

2 C flour

1/2 tsp salt

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

2 tsp sugar

2/3 C milk

1/2 C shortening. (I use either margarine, or butter flavored Crisco)

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, cream of tartar, and sugar. Cut in shortening until course like meal. (Use two knifes to cut it in). Add milk all at once and stir with fork until dough follows in a form around the bowl. Pat and roll to 1/2 inch thickness. (If it won't hold together, add a little more milk. Instead of rolling it out, I just form it in to biscuits in my hand. I make them thicker than 1/2 inch) Bake on ungreased pan. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.