Pizza Roll on the BBQ

This could be my new favourite thing!!  

Just take your pizza dough, 
You could use the one from this recipe:

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.ca/2014/03/this-is-best-pizza-ever.html

and stretch it out to make a rectangle of about 8 X 12 inches.
You can make it longer or just use any extra dough to make a regular pizza for the grill like this.

Top your pizza roll as you would any pizza....sauce, veggies, pepperoni, mozzarella.  I didn't put too much stuff on this first attempt because I wasn't sure if too much filling would make it sloppy.  Leave a one inch border around the edge.

Roll it up and pinch the edge and the ends to seal.

Take a piece of foil and coat with olive oil.  Roll the pizza roll onto the foil and drizzle with some more olive oil.

Close up you foil pack and put it in the fridge until you want to BBQ it. 

Preheat the BBQ to about 500F.  I used a pizza stone, but you could probably put it right on the grill.  (Note:  a friend tried not using a pizza stone....wasn't so good.  Use a pizza stone!)

You shouldn't have flames coming up, but I just thought this shot looked way more interesting than the one without flames : - )

Bake your pizza roll for 15 minutes and flip it over baking another 15 minutes.

Cool 10 minutes, cut and enjoy.

If you've made the pizza to go on the grill simply leave the roll wrapped in foil for the 10 or 11 minutes it'll take for the pizza to bake.

Blueberry, Apple, Rhubarb, Lemon (ok let's call it Fruit) Crumble

I was going to make blueberry crumble but found that someone had used some of the berries I was planning on using.  So I substituted half the berries with other fruit.

Start by adding these ingredients to a saucepan.  Heat for a few minutes.

1 1/2 cups blueberries
1 1/4 cups apples, chopped
1/2 cup rhubarb, chopped
1/2 cup sugar
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup water

Next take 2 tbsps. cornstarch and mix it with 2 tbsps. cold water in a cup.  Take a tbsp. or 2 of the hot mixture and stir it in.  Now pour it into the saucepan stirring well as you pour. 

Simmer 10-15 minutes, uncovered, to thicken.  Cool.

In a large bowl mix:

2 1/2 cups oats
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
(you can also add 2 tbsps. ground flax)

Blend in using a pastry cutter or 2 knives,
3/4 cup margarine or butter

Have an 8 X 8 inch pan greased or lined with parchment.
Press well 2/3 of the oat mixture into the bottom of the pan.

Spread the fruit filling on top then sprinkle on the balance of the dry mixture.  Press lightly.

Bake at 350F for 30-35 mins.
Cool before cutting.

Serve plain or with whipped or ice cream.

Iced Coffee at Home

If you have leftover coffee, don't pour it down the drain, freeze it to make this iced coffee. Label it with the recipe so that you can whip it up in no time.

You'll need:

1/2 cup coffee, frozen
3/4 - 1 cup milk or almond milk
sugar to taste (I added 3 heaping tsps)

Blend and pour into glasses.  Sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on top,

and enjoy!

Refreshing Cucumber and Watermelon Salad

When you can't decide if you want a fruit or veggie salad, this is the one for you.  

Take:

2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
1 English cucumber, cubed
a couple of handfuls of iceberg lettuce
1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped

Whisk together:

the juice (approx 2 tbsps) and zest of 1 lemon
2 tbsps olive oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp honey
salt and pepper to taste

Toss all together and serve immediately.  If you want to make it ahead of time, set aside the lettuce and dressing until ready to serve.

Chocolate Tiramisu Trifle

If decadent is what you're looking for.....you found it!

Ingredients:

8 X 8 chocolate cake, cubed
1/2 tub (125 g) cream cheese
a box of instant vanilla pudding, 4 serving size
2 cups cold milk
1 cup Cool Whip topping
1/4 cup very strong coffee, cooled (I used a 1/4 cup boiling water with 2 heaping tsps of instant coffee, but espresso would be great too)
1 square semi-sweet chocolate, grated


Mix together the cream cheese and milk.  Gradually add the pudding mix.  Use the whisk attachment to fully incorporate the cream cheese.  It will be lumpy at first but keep going.
Carefully fold in the Cool Whip using a spatula.

Take a clear bowl to show off your masterpiece and put half the cake in the bottom.  Drizzle half the coffee over the cake and top with half the pudding mixture.  Repeat the layers, finishing with pudding.

Top it off with the grated chocolate and refrigerate at least 2 hours.  Overnight is even better.

This recipe serves 8. 

No-Sew T-Shirt Pillows

Have you got t-shirts hanging around that you'll never wear, but are a souvenir from something special?

Turn them into throw pillows.

I've seen a lot of square t-shirt pillows on Pinterest, but have never come across a round one.  

My daughter went to Ecuador on a community service trip with her high school through Kepri expeditions.  It was a very rewarding trip, however she won't wear the t-shirt again.  
Since the logo is round I decided to go with that shape.

Start by laying the t-shirt out on a flat surface, making sure there aren't any creases/folds on the back side as well as the front.  So find a round template......like a pizza pan!

Mine still wasn't as big as I needed.  So I pinned around a bit bigger. Then I marked where I was going to cut a little bigger than that.  Make sure before cutting that you have room to cut your circle out without going into the armpit/sleeve area.
Cut all the way around.

Once you have your two circles, keep them pinned together and cut strips at least 2 inches long and about 1 inch wide all around. Move up the pins if you need to.

Now start tying knots, the first half of the knot less tight than the second.  Leave an area opened so that you can get your hand in with the pillow stuffing.

I used polyester stuffing but you could use foam too.  When the pillow is stuffed to your liking knot up the remaining strips.  Start to finish it only took about 1 hour to make.

Here's an Ecuadorian recipe you make like to try.

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.ca/2014/04/pork-roast-ecuadorian.html

Lemon Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

A light and crispy cookie

Mix together:

1 cup flour
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda

and set aside.

Cream together in a mixer:

1/4 cup margarine
3/4 cup sugar

And add:

Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt

Then add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture.

And finally mix in:

1/3 cup shredded coconut
1 cup oatmeal

Roll heaping teaspoonfuls into a ball and lightly flatten.

Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in a 350F oven for 12 minutes.

Makes 3 dozen cookies