Things Jasmine Will Eat, Part 2

mmmm Pizza.  Who doesn't like pizza?  Especially when you can top it any which way you see fit?  This recipe would be great with a tomato based sauce, but we use store bought pesto because (a) Jasmine generally doesn't like tomato based sauce (b) it's cheaper than making it yourself and (c) I'm too lazy/strapped for time to make homemade pesto. 


Homemade Pesto Pizza

For the Dough (adapted from Martha Stewart)
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt (preferably coarse)


Pour water into the bowl of an electric mixer, add sugar and yeast and stir until dissolved.  Let stand about 5 minutes - until the yeast is foamy.  Add oil, flour, salt and mix until combined.  Then switch over to a dough hook and mix for about 5 minutes.  Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead a few times.

Put a little olive oil in a big bowl, toss the dough in there, roll it around so it's covered in oil, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise for at least 3 hours. Go outside and play :)

Later that day

Roll your dough out onto a cookie sheet.  We divide ours into 4 sections so that everyone can top their own.  Recruit expert pizza toppers to assist you topping pizza.  Spread pesto to your liking and then get creative!  Chicken is great with pesto.  I like my pizza with chicken, black olives, artichoke hearts, feta, mozzarella, and parmigiana cheeses.  It's all about whatever floats your boat.  If you're going to add meat you'll obviously want to cook it prior to putting on your pizza! 

Bake at 450 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.  It really depends on how much topping you have on your pizza.  For example - Jasmine prefers a paper thin layer of pesto and approximately 3 shreds of cheese.  It will burn if left in the oven for as long as my fully loaded pizza so make sure to keep an eye on things. (yes, this lesson was learned from experience.)


Eat, enjoy!

Kids Kamping.

Just a few pictures from our camping adventure at Vigilante Campground last weekend!

UP!

We had our first combined climbing/camping trip last weekend.  At Sheep Mountain, which isn't far from home . . . but it was a great excuse to sleep outside, and a introduction for Sis Dog to the wonderful world of camping. 

The first wall we attempted was . . . well, it was occupied.  The tenants were less than thrilled that we were visiting, so we quickly packed up and moved on.

And then it was on to me showing everyone how it's done!  If by "it" you mean looking like a fish out of water and having complete come aparts and emotional breakdowns.  Fortunately I had my trusty safety net with me, both literally and figuratively!  It really does add an entirely different level of trust to your relationship when you can literally put your life in someone else's hands. 

Especially when later, you look back at pictures and can't help but notice the mischevious grin.

Speaking of mischevous, Sis.

Sis very, very much enjoyed climbing.  She split her time between racing up and down and around and under boulders, resting, and looking for new climbing opportunities.

Mike actually got to climb this go around, which was different than last year, when he pretty much belayed the entire time, every time.  Maybe someday he will have one of us newbies trained up enough that he'll be able to get more than two routes in :)

We were super darn lucky to have had a gorgeous weekend to get outside, before a week of rain and flooding.

At one point I could no longer cram my feet into the 2 sizes too small shoes, so I had to costume change into one0and-a-half size too small shoes.  I would not call the transition graceful - see above reference to complete emotional breakdowns.  But we got it taken care of - crisis averted. 

I'm super lucky to have such a patient boyfriend, who is willing and able to teach me a new hobby and talk me through my mini crises.  

A great end to a great day this time around was steaks and beer with some fabulous people, followed by a room with a view.

And a lazy Sunday morning to finish out the weekend.  Fire, hammock, leftovers.