Cinnasticks

Cinnasticks

These Cinnasticks are out of this world! With the slight crisp to the outside, the soft middle, melt in your mouth frosting goodness, you won't be able to stop at just one! I threw these together one night with the leftover Pizza dough we make, and we have been making these every since. 

Cinnasticks

3 Cups Flour

1 1/2 teaspoons Yeast

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 1/4 Salt

1 Tablespoon Sugar

1 1/3 Cups Warm Water

I mix the dough in a bread maker. To make it by hand, put the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and set aside for several minutes to react. When ready, add in the rest of the ingredients and stir with a spoon until the dough starts to form. Knead some in the bowl to get the rest of the ingredients into the ball of dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and continue to knead for 10-15 minutes until the dough is soft and springy. 

Spray a bowl with non stick cooking spray and put the dough back in to rise for about 45 minutes or until it is doubled in size. (I turn my oven on to 375 and set the dough on the cook top. The heat coming up is enough to help it rise well). 

Topping

About 6 Tablespoons Melted Butter 

1/2 Cup Sugar

2-3 teaspoons Cinnamon

When the dough is finished rising, melt butter in a bowl (about 6 Tablespoons) in the microwave. Pour the butter into a small cookie sheet. Pour the dough out onto the butter and wiggle and jiggle it gently until it resembles a rectangle. I suppose you can roll it out just a little, don't flatten them. You want them to be about 3/4 in thick. Flip the dough over once to coat the butter on the other side as well. 

In a separate bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Cut the sticks with a pizza cutter. You don't need to separate them out, they are just easier to remove if you give them a cut before you bake them. Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar on top until it looks well coated. You will most likely not use the whole amount of cinnamon and sugar. 

Bake at 375 for about 16 minutes. You want them to be golden brown but not over baked. In the meantime, make the frosting to go on top. I've considered having the frosting separate for dipping but it seems more magical spread all over the top. 

Frosting

3 Tablespoons Cream Cheese, soft

4 Tablespoons Butter, soft

About 2-4 Cups Powdered Sugar 

Splash of Vanilla

1-3 teaspoons hot water

This is a bit trickier to give you exact measurements, because I usually dump as I go. Beat the softened cream cheese and butter until it is smooth and creamy. Add in the powdered sugar and beat until it starts getting thick. My guess is it is closer to 3 cups, but start with 2. Add in a splash of vanilla and mix well. You don't want the frosting thick, or too thin. The hot cinnasticks will melt it so it spreads easily. Add in a teaspoon or 2 of hot water to thin the frosting if needed. (I always do this) When the cinnasticks are finished cooking, pour the frosting on top and serve when cooled enough to eat. 

This is the consistency of the frosting and the look of the baked Cinnasticks before the frosting goes on.

 Mmmmmmm!

Grilled Pizza Sandwiches

Lunch time just got a little easier, and tastier! Grilled Pizza Sandwiches are a grown up lunch that the kids love too! I am sure I am not the only one who makes these, but every time I make them for guests, they can't get enough of them. The secret to making this over the top, is the seasoning. 

Grilled Pizza Sandwiches

2 slices of Bread per sandwich

Pizza Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

Toppings (if desired)

Real Salted Butter, softened 

Lawry's Garlic Salt

Preheat your griddle over medium heat. Lay out your bread. Spread a spoonful of sauce on each slice of bread. Top with about 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese per sandwich. I usually only put the cheese on one slice. Top with your favorite toppings. Close the sandwich and spread on real Butter. Sprinkle on the Lawry's Garlic Salt. (It is worth having in your kitchen. We use this seasoning a lot!) Put the sandwich, butter side down, on the griddle. Spread butter on the other side and sprinkle more garlic salt on top.  Cook until the bread is golden brown, and flip and cook the other side. 

I normally use Bran Bread, but we had white for our guests this day.

 I like to use Classico Pizza Sauce

 Mozzarella Cheese on top

 Pepperoni is one of the best toppings!

This is the good stuff!

 Seriously! I have this every week. I have hooked several people. One friend comes over quite a bit for a Pizza Sandwich and a few board games. I love how fast and easy it is to make, how delicious it tastes and how it just hits the spot. Even better is the fact that the kids love it too! 

I made this for my Brothers and Sister in Law this particular day, and I had to keep them coming. We used the whole loaf of bread because they were so tasty. 

Enjoy!

Pesto Pizza Crust

I am having a serious problem! Every time I do food posts, I get a massive craving. It is stronger than when I am pregnant. I seriously have to change dinner plans tonight, just to make this. Anyway, I found this recipe years ago. I can't remember the source, something of which I am seriously kicking myself for not saving at the time. I try my best to site where I find things, but half of my recipes, I don't remember. I know the original recipe was a Copycat Pizza Hut or a Secret Pizza Hut Recipe. Something like that.  

Pesto Pizza Crust

6 cups flour

3 teaspoons yeast (1 Tbsp)

1/2 teaspoons onion powder

1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

4 Tablespoons Pesto (or olive oil)

2 1/2 teaspoons salt 

4 teaspoons sugar

2 2/3 cups warm water

I have only ever used a bread maker to make this pizza crust. I put in all dry ingredients, and then the liquid on top and put it on the dough setting. I've explained how my bread maker works to a friend and she used it in a kitchen aid or bosch and it turned out the same. With that you want to use a dough paddle. Put all ingredients into the mixer, except the yeast. My maker slowly pulses the ingredients for 3 minutes. Then it starts mixing on a low setting for 2 minutes. Drop in the yeast and continue to mix on a low setting for 8 minutes until all the ingredients are combined and a ball of dough forms. Then in rests for 25 minutes with a little heat added. It mixes on low for 4 minutes and then it rises for 15 more minutes with warm heat. Once my bread maker is done, I let it sit another 10-15 minutes before I start rolling it out. 

If you don't have a bread maker or a mixer, you can do this by hand. Put the yeast and warm water in a large bowl, stir well and let sit for a few minutes. Add in the sugar, salt, garlic and onion powder, pesto (or olive oil), and baking powder. Stir well and then add in the flour and stir until the dough forms. At this point I start pushing the dough ball around in the bowl to gather up all the flour. Once the flour is combined well, dump it onto a flat surface and continue to knead the dough for about 10 minutes. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and put the dough back in to rise for about an hour. I preheat my oven and set the bowl on the back of the oven. I know some people put it in the microwave with a bowl of warm water next to it. 

Once the dough is risen, it is time to start rolling it out. Preheat your oven to 425-450. Depending on the pan you are using, this can make 4 pizzas, so divide it into 3-4 sections. I pinch my dough off. When I cut it with a pizza cutter, I don't get a circle. You can sprinkle flour to roll it, but I don't like floury dough, so I spray my counter with cooking spray to roll it out. Just spray the counter and the top of the dough, and you are good to go. See my videos below to see how I roll it out. 

Once it is on the pan, use a fork to poke holes in the crust, to prevent it from bubbling. Prebake the crust for about 8 minutes. It might need more time. You don't want it crispy(like what my cheese pizza turned out like), just cooked through. 

Take it out of the oven. Now here comes the fun part, We love even more flavor! Spread a thin layer of butter on top of the crust. I use salted, since mine is soft and ready to go. Once that is done, lightly sprinkle Lawry's Garlic Salt on top. Then, using a spatula, flip the pizza over. This buttery garlic side will be the first thing that hits your tongue when you take a bite. 

This is the good stuff. 

Now I am the queen of using what I have. If you don't have Pesto, I always use the 4 Tbsp olive oil and then I add in minced garlic (probably about 1 Tbsp) and dried basil (maybe 2 tsp) 

If you wanted to make Pesto for the crust, 

Pesto

1 1/2 cups packed fresh basil leaves

2 cloves garlic

1/3 cup Real grated parmesan cheese (not the powder)

1/4 cup olive oil

 2 Tbsp Pine Nuts

Blend in a food processor. Use the 4 Tbsp of the pesto in the crust. Refrigerate the rest. 

 Once you've flipped the crust, top it as desired. Sauce, cheese, toppings. Put it back in the oven and bake until done. About 10 minutes or so. 

 This crust was slightly over baked in the prebake stage. 

 This is a Kevin and Natali favorite. Don't diss till you've tried, unless you hate pineapple, then I guess you can skip. Going back to ham is so bland. 

See the video below for the braided pizza. 

See how dry that crust looks. Just spread that butter and sprinkle the garlic salt, and BAM! Perfection. 

You'll bake the braid pizza for about 15 minutes. I honestly never check the time since I only have 2 racks and I am making 4 pizzas. I just peek in and see if it looks done. 

Sorry I angled it wrong. I couldn't tell till after I was done making it.