Godfather's Pizza

This is a recipe that my Mom made when I was growing up - and one of Jordan's favorite meals so I thought I would share! I made my own dough - but you can always use the dough out of the can or - I have also used the frozen bread dough in the freezer section of the grocery - just let it rise and it is ready to go.

Dough: (In my bread machine)
1 1/2 cups of beer (you can use water if no beer)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp shortening
4 1/2 cups Bread Flour
2 tsp yeast
1 tsp Italian dried herbs

I placed everything in my bread machine and selected the dough/pasta setting.

It took my machine about 2 hours. Next I divided the dough into 2 portions (I froze the 1/2 I didn't use) and placed the other half in a greased bowl - covered it with a damp towel.

Wait for the dough to double in size - then it will be ready to shape.

Godfather's Pizza
Ingredients:
Sausage
Pepperonis
Mushrooms
Onions
Garlic
Mozzarella cheese
Black olives
*I don't measure anything... sorry!*

Instructions:
Brown sausage with the onions and garlic - then add the mushrooms, black olives, and pepperonis

After sausage is cooked through - add the mozzarella cheese until it is gooey

Add this mixture to the dough - I shaped my dough into a rectangle and put the meat mixture onto 1/2 of the dough (leave enough room to place the remaining dough over top of the meat mixture)

Seal all the edged by folding the dough over and pinching the edges together - Yikes I really need new cookie sheets!

Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes
We use marinara sauce for dipping since there is no sauce inside - Enjoy!

This is the bread machine I own - and I love it!

Making Pillows

Alright so I though that this blog could be a sewing for dummies, which I am - I usually have to call my Mom multiple times when making something to make sure I'm doing it right! So this is how you make a simple pillow.

What you will need:
Fabric (I got 3/4 a yard of each of the prints and 1 1/4 yards of the plain gray - I'm making a total of 4 pillows)
Measuring tape
Pins
Thread
Stuffing or batting
Sewing machine (You could sew by hand - but would take a long time)
Marking Pencil
Scissors



How to:
I am the worlds worst cutter - I cannot cut a straight line to save my life! So here's a tip my mom gave me. Take the measuring tape and measure every couple of inches how long you want your pillow and mark with the the pencil. So I wanted my pillow to be about 17-18 inches so I marked 18 inches vertically and horizontally with my fabric pencil so it would make it nice and easy to connect the dots and cut a straight line


Next you will want to cut out your fabric(s)


Lay the 2 pieces of fabric so that the fabric side you want to show facing each other So one on top of the other - the pillow will be inside out when you sew it


Next you will sew a 1/2inch seem on 3 of the 4 sides



On the 4th side only sew about 1/2 way into the pillow - so you can leave room to stuff your pillow


Turn the pillow right side out

Stuff your pillow (I had old pillows that I ripped open and used the stuffing out of there) - be sure to stuff them very well in the corners

Next there are multiple things you can do to stitch the pillow closed
I hand stitched mine (It does take a while - and be sure to pin it first it will help - and this was my first time to hand stick - so it's not great)

You can also just use your sewing machine to close up the stitch (This will not give it a very finished look)
Also you could use Heat N' Bond - that iron on quick hem material (I don't know how secure this will make your pillow)

Finished Product! 4 Pillows only cost me $20 pretty good deal!

Pillows

I went to my local fabric store today (we really need more places here in Tyler) and all their nice fabric was 50% off. I am in need of new couch pillows - so I got a few different fabrics to make some pillows. I will re-post on step by step instructions on how I make the pillows but, I was just so excited about this cute fabric I had to share it! Stay tuned for the pillow instructions.

Laundry Detergent

There are many things I do around the house to try and save money. One being I cloth diaper, second I try and make a lot of my own cleaning supplies, and thirdly I make my own laundry detergent! I made some today - so I thought I would share.
Ingredients:
1 box Borax $2.98
1 box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda $2.77
2 bars Fels-Naptha $0.97 each (I have also used Zote)
Optional: Essential Oil (Whatever scent you would like)
Total: Less than $8.00 and this will probably last 2-3 month (You only use about 2 Tablespoons when doing a full load)

Steps:
Grate the soap
Measure out 4 cups of borax & 4 cups washing soda in a large bowl
Add the soap shavings to the bowl & mix together
Next I put the mixture in my food processor to combine everything well (This step takes me forever because I have a TINY food processor)
Add to a container and place by your washing machine

I have been using this detergent for the past year and I absolutely love it! Gentle enough for Jasper's skin - and really keeps all our clothes very clean. Here are a few pictures of the steps.


Here are all the items on Amazon.com I can get all of them for less at my local Wal-Mart but just wanted to share the links!

Really a Whole Year?!?

I cannot believe I have not blogged since last February! Since I am now an official full time stay at home mommy to my precious little boy - I hope to keep up more with my blogging.
So much has happened since I last blogged - but I will just skip to what all Jasper is up to these days. He's ALL OVER THE PLACE! He walks, he runs, he climbs, he eats dirt and rocks - he's all boy that's for sure. I am so thankful every single day that I am his mommy. Jasper is just now starting to teethe - he is currently working on his front 2 (E & F - dental people). Besides being extra clingy to me - such a happy little guy.
He definitely has his daddy wrapped around his finger. Jordan is such a wonderful daddy - and loves his little boy so much. Our very favorite thing to do every night is to go into his room and look at him sleeping. We are enjoying parenthood so much - and hope to get alot more family time in now that I will be at home. I am most looking forward to finding a Church home! Jordan will finally be able to take more Sundays off now - so we will be able to go to church as a family.
Here are some recent pictures of Jasper. I will also be trying a couple of new recipes tomorrow (Granola Bars & Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups) if they turn out good I will be sure to post!