A Girl And Her Grill

It's hot here in Texas right now and I don't like to be hot (and still dream about moving to the Pacific Northwest). So, in order to keep things nice and cool inside my house I cook outside so I don't have to turn the oven on. I absolutely love to grill. I'm not saying I'm a pro at it but I have fun when I do it. My first grill I purchased several years ago. Unfortunately...it got a little rusty which I am not certain is the safest to grill on. I am still on vacation..my last day...so to help cope with that I decided it was time to move on. Out with the old and in with the new...Infrared Grill is where its at! 

Mr. Lucas LOVES when I purchase things that take hours to put together...I am sure you sense my sarcasm here right? But, no matter what project I have him piecing together he always does it for me willingly and does a mighty fine job I might add! I'm a lucky gal.

I present, my new infrared grill! 

I have been very interested in grilling pizzas. Now, I have the proper grilling equipment so that is exactly what I did. 

I made whole wheat pizza dough in the bread oven. It is a very simple recipe and the bread machine does all the work. 

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe:

1 1/3 cups water

2 tablespoons olive oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup all purpose flour

3 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons yeast

finely chopped garlic (as much as you want)

Put all the ingredients in that order making sure to put the liquids in first. When you add the yeast make a "well" with your finger in the center of the flour (making sure not to breakthrough to the liquid) and add the yeast in the well. It mixes better that way. Then, put your machine on the proper dough setting.

Once my dough was done I divided it into 3 parts and rolled out to make individual sized pizzas. You can make one big pizza or several small ones.

 

 I coated the dough with an olive oil and garlic salt mixture.

 

Place on the grill. I cooked 2 minutes per side. Infrared grills cook a few minutes faster so if you have charcoal or a regular propane grill you may need to cook longer. You don't want the dough to be fully cooked at this point because you need to put your toppings on then place back on the grill for a few more minutes to complete cooking.

You have to be quick when cooking the dough/pizza so its good to go ahead and have all your toppings outside with you. Once the dough is almost done, take it off the grill and add your toppings. I made a mozzarella, garlic pesto pizza; veggie pizza (I sauteed the veggies prior to cooking the dough) with goat cheese, and pepperoni herb pizza. If you want sausage or anything else that needs cooking, do that prior so you can have it ready to go. I also had my citronella candle burning to keep those pesky mosquitoes away! 

There you go, that's it! The pizzas are so much fun to make, super easy, and super yummy! It is amazing how different the dough tastes when its grilled. It has a great flavor!

 

Cheers!

In The Moment

 I am hot and so is she. She looks miserable.

So hot and miserable that she is digging her claws into the bed.

Oh yes, hot and miserable but not toooo hot and miserable to get up and sniff the camera. 

Cheers! 

Happy Fathers Day!

I have spent the day trying to get back in the groove of reality. It is so darn hot here, so that has been hard to adjust to. I wish I were sitting on the deck sipping sangria! But no, I am sitting in my house with all the fans in the house on and the air conditioner going at full throttle. So, to help refresh myself and for a nice little pick me up, I made Sassy Water!

My sister, unfortunately, left her recipe behind after she visited. Well, unfortunate for her but lucky for me! It is super simple to make and is from the Flat Belly Diet.

Sassy Water:

2 liters water (8 1/2 c)

1 tsp. freshly grated ginger root

1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 medium lemon, thinly sliced

12 mint leaves

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Chill in fridge and let flavors blend overnight.

Drink one entire recipe of refreshing Sassy Water every day!

I also made up a bit of Sangria

too! Tis the season!

So, after I had my Sangria in hand, I made cookies for my Daddy for Father's Day. It is awfully hard to get my Dad stuff because he has everything he needs and when he does actually need something, he just goes and gets it. So, I figured Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies would do the trick!

This was almost as easy to make as the Sassy Water. I just took a Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookie mix, chopped up some walnuts, and added dried cranberries! My very own Semi-Homemade.

Cheers!

When It Is Blazing Hot....What Do You Do??

It is 104 degrees outside and it is 5:15pm. You would think that the temperature would be dropping but, not. It is just maintaining at that blazing hot level. It is so hot my citron candle sitting outside is melting. So, what do you do when it is blazing hot??? Well, I change the A/C filter and spin some yarn!

I did a little roving shopping the other day and happened across this Etsy seller. I was impressed with her roving and with her prices. So, in keeping with the Sangria theme I have going on this summer, I purchased "Sangria on the Huron". It is 6 oz of Merino wool. The colors are so pretty and this picture just really does not do it justice.

This may sound weird and possibly something only another spinner could understand but, I love the way roving smells. Every time I get new roving I take a big whiff. It smells just like a little sheep that has been playing in a field. I can't explain it really but, it makes me happy to sniff roving! Ha!


O.k., back on track here. I am feeling a bit crafty this weekend...as usual. So, I think I am going to do a bit of sewing and spinning (surprise surprise). I may even post a few new things to My Etsy!

I hope everyone is able to kick back, sit in front of the fan, and sip on a bit of Sangria this weekend!

Cheers!