Long Time No See and Pizza Hut Pizza Dough

Wow! I haven’t posted since January 10th! Miss me? ;)

Long time no see huh? I thought I should post to inform you guys that no, I have not fallen off the face of the earth or been eaten by human eating zombie dolphins. Or something like that.

I’ve had a bunch of different stuff going on at the same time in my personal life that has made it impossible for me to update regularly. Long story short lets just say that life has not been nice. And I will be accepting your prayers. ;) Heres hoping that things will get better soon! (On a side note! My horoscope said that I’ve been going through a lot the past few months, but that there are new great changes coming for the better! So fingers crossed ;))

Anywho, enough about me. How have you all been? I have soooo many things I need to do food blog related wise. I was in the midst of a ‘blog renovation’ before life started sucking, so I will definitely be trying to get back to that! I also need to go check out a bunch of food blogs for all those posts I’ve missed!

Now, on to the yumminess! Growing up, making pizza was a standard in my house. On weekends my mom would ‘wing it’ and make some dough, and we would slather on some ketchup and sprinkle on some cheese and veggies. Now that I’m more of a, what would you call it….food snob? This simply wont do! I have been searching for a good pizza dough for a while now, and a little while ago I stumbled on this beauty. Pizza Hut crust clone? Yes please! I’ve got to say I was pleasantly surprised! The crust was puuuurfect … I promise you best pizza dough you will ever taste. If its not, I want YOUR recipe!

What I love about this is you can toss in the ingredients into the bread maker and have it do all the work. Do you work all day? Toss in your ingredients into the dough maker, and set your timer so that when you get home you have ready made fresh dough. Spread your pizza sauce on top and sprinkle on your toppings and you have prepped dinner in 5 minutes!

Now what do I mean when I say this crust is awesome? My definition of a perfect crust is to have a nice ‘sound’ when you tap it…nice and crunchy on the outside and soft hot bread on the inside. Mmmm…..pizza crust….

Copy Cat Pizza Hut Dough Crust

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups water
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cornmeal ( I used semolina)
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Directions:
1. Add ingredients (except for cornmeal (or semolina)) to machine bread pan in order as per manufacturer's instructions. Set to "Dough" cycle.

2. Lightly grease your pan and sprinkle with cornmeal.

3. When the dough cycle is complete, roll out dough and place in pan. Let rest in pans for 10-15 minutes. Add toppings of your choice.

4. Bake at 350°F until done (approximately 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of toppings).

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New Years Resolutions

****Check out my most recent giveaway HERE and stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon!! **

Happy New Year!

Were you one of those awesome (loser) people like myself who went around saying happy 1-1-11 on January 1^st, 2011? And then stopping to try to explain to everyone that yes, today is indeed the  1^st day of the 1^st month of 2011. I don’t know why people would roll their eyes at me. 

I thought I was a hoot!

 

On the topic of New Years, has anyone made any new years resolutions? Last year I did, and thankfully I can say that I at least have made a step in the right direction. My posting has gone up to about 20 more posts than the year before, and my hits more than quadrupled! :D  But of course, there are many more things I have planned in store for the upcoming year. The only problem is, I do not intend on making them into a new years resolution.

  

Why? Because I know better. I’m not the type of person to make myself a solid new years resolution and ever truly pull through with it 100%. I see them more as ‘guidelines’ than actual ‘have to’ tasks. I could vow to hit the gym at least 3 times a week, or change my diet and cut out all sugar, reduce stress, and never ever procrastinate again. But then again, I’m not naïve. I’m the kind of person who makes a new years resolution at 11:55pm that “I will never eat chocolate again.” And then at 12:03 I’ll bite into a chocolate bar and go “ops! Oh well. Maybe next year” *evil smirk* 

So I’ve decided to make some ‘general goals’ for the year. Basically working on the same ones from last year but taking it further. So, while I’m not going to promise to go vegan and healthy, I will start off this year with this delicious and healthy smoothie. Baby steps people. Baby steps.

So what New Years Resolutions have you made? :)

Berry Citrus Smoothie 

(Adapted from here)

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups fresh berries
• 3/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup orange juice
•  Milk (as needed)
• 1-2 tablespoons Flax Seed
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place berries, yogurt, orange juice, Flax Seed, honey and vanilla in a blender and blend until smooth. If its too thick pour in a little bit of milk at a time to get the consistency that you like.

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Food Network Giveaway!

Did you not get what you wanted for Christmas?

Sure, you told everyone around you that you wanted 'nothing', but was their something worst than nothing?(I'm looking at you Snuggies) Sure, you left **highly suggestive little reminders** (read circling magazines in red sharpies and casually forgetting them on your coworkers desk, and sneaky post-its of wish lists all over your friends and classmates stuff) yet no one really got the hint?

Well never Fret! We have a giveaway! And you can use this money to buy yourself whatever you want from the Food Network store!!!

Whats amazing about the site is that it is literally any foodies dream store. Like a child in a candy store. They have everything imaginable from pots and pans to spices to cupcake liners! They even have specialty products from famous chefs such as Paula Deen Cookware.

 How about a 12 piece non-stick cookware set? 

Or maybe this cute apron set? I. want. one. 

Or maybe you're like me and love to bake goodies and the idea of putting them in cute little packages like this one make you swoon?

The best part about the site is that there is a reviews button (so you know just how good the product is) along with extra details and a personalized video from Paula Deen herself! How neat is that?

So. You Hooked? Good. So here are the rules :)

$30 Giveaway to use ANYWHERE on the Food Network site

To enter you need to be a Follower. Right over there on the right. Because if you cant publicly be my friend then I can't give you free stuff ;)

* Post a comment telling me what you would buy from the Food Network Store if you won (cant be the above three) 

Want more chances to win? Post a separate comment for each (3 extra chances!):

* Tweet the following: "Check out @ediblemoments Giveaway for the Food Network! (http://twitthis.com/2qxzgz )" then come back here and tell me you did 

* Follow me on twitter @ediblemoments

* Like me on Facebook 

CONTEST ENDS FEBRUARY 1st! 

And thats it! Thats all! Please remember to leave contact info for me in case you win! :)

P.S. Make sure to come back soon, as there are more giveaways coming up in the next short while ;)

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