Pizza ~ Everyone's Favorite

The Basic Foods class includes a unit in Homemade yeast dough...

We make dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls and of course, everyone's favorite, Homemade Pizza.

Pizza Crust

1 cup warm water

1 pkg. yeast

2 1/2 to 3 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray pizza pan. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in flour, salt, and oil. Knead on counter, until dough forms a ball. Cover with a clean dish towel and let raise 5 minutes. Roll out dough on counter and place on pizza pan. Bake 8 minutes on bottom rack. Take out and add toppings. Bake additinal 10-12 minutes.

This crust is so easy to make and is so delicious. It turns out nearly every time. It is a favorite with our students.

Christmas Pediatric Cancer Fundraiser

My friend Marey is hosting a Holiday fundraiser to help 2 families who are in a most difficult situation of trying to save their childrens' lives. For Austin who received a tranplant Dec. 5 at Duke; and for Ivan, a 17 year old boy with 5 siblings. His bone marrow transplant from his younger brother was on Nov. 5, 2008, and he is doing well right now. He will most likely remain hospitalized throughout the holidays.

Here are pics of the items that have been donated. Please stop over to Marey's blog by clicking on her link above, or look for her in my sidebar. Any size donation will be appreciated. You can donate online with your credit card (she has a button to click) or you can send her money through snail mail (her address is posted).

There are handmade items and gently used Designer items that have been donated by her blog friends...

The fundraising drive ends on December 10th...so you have just 4 days to head over to check out her blog and be eligible for the drawing.

Anyone who makes a donation will have their name entered in the drawing and have a chance to receive a prize! 100% of the money goes to two families who have children in transplant for relapsed leukemia.

Take the Host & Hostess a Gift

When you go to a party during the Holidays, a bottle of wine is an appropriate gift for the host and hostess...and don't these necklaces make the bottle look festive?! These were our best sellers at Winterfest. They are handmade by my husband, and no two are like. You can buy one with a shape that frames your label and with bead colors that coordinate...and if they don't drink wine...bring them some Bread Dipping Oil, or fancy olive oil...

Things in my House Thursday IX

These Santas are standing behind my couch...which is actually in full view when you come into our foyer. I have made dozens of these over the years. The Santa on the right is new and will be listed in my Etsy shop.

Recycled Plastic Bottles

These hand knit scarves are made with NatureSpun, a high quality, soft Polyester fiber made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. So...who thinks of this stuff?!
I listed them in my Etsy shop tonight...or, if you're interested in them, you can contact me through this blog. Either way, the scarves are long, soft, and made from your plastic beverage bottles!!

The Family Matriarchs

My mom is 88 years old. She lives in her own apartment and keeps busy with activities at the Senior Center, Eastern Star, Ladies Aid, Community Concerts, and Senior Citizens Club. My Mother in Law is 79 years old. She also lives in her own home, sells Avon, and stays busy with her church committees, Senior activities, concerts, plays, and card club. They are both amazing women. We were lucky to have them together this Thanksgiving holiday.

Cyber Monday~Shop till you Drop

These are two of my favorites from my Tins and Treasures Etsy Shop. This Santa has a fur beard and a hand stitched face...his cheeks are gently blushed. What I like the best are the belts...no two are the same. I collect them from family and I also buy them at a second hand store. There are lentils in his bottom to help him sit on his perch.

This Santa has a fantastic beard. His face is hand stitched, as well. He can hang from a peg or doorknob. He's a bit more lean and his middle is cinched with a leather shoelace!

I hope everyone understands that in yesterday's post...those were not the items I won...but some new items from the bloggers that have sent me giveaway prizes throughout the fall. Please scroll down and check out their shops too!