Teaching Cooking

I have taught basic cooking to my seven children and to classes of elementary children. When my youngest daughter wanted to learn, I found that taking the recipes and making them into a step-by-step format made it easier for her, so here is a blog to hopefully make cooking easier for the beginner.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Pizza Dough

It has always been a favorite gathering food to have homemade pizza.


Pizza Dough
In a bowl put:
1 cup warm water
1 Tablespoon of 1 package of yeast
Let it sit for about 5 minutes to activate yeast. Then add:
1 Tablespoon sugar
¼ cup cooking oil
2 cups flour
¼ teaspoon salt
Mix well for several minutes until it is smooth. Gradually add 1 more cup of flour until it is very firm. (Use more if it is still too sticky, but only add ¼ cup at a time)
Knead on a flour board for 5 minutes (or in your bread mixer if that is what you are using. Let it rest for about 10 minutes. Press or roll it into your pizza pan to the desired thickness. (One hint that I have used is to push it from the middle out, if you are doing it all by hand.)
Sauce:
In a bowl add:
1 8 oz. tomato sauce
½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or ¾ tsp oregano, dash garlic powder, pinch of rosmary.
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
Mix it together. Spread a thin layer on top of pizza. Add your own toppings and cheese.
Bake 10-15 minutes in a 425 FÂș oven. It will look done when the edges of the pizza are light brown.

Broccoli Salad

This is a salad that is always a favorite at family gatherings. In the summer we usually have a ton of broccoli from our garden, so it is a great way to use it.



Broccoli Salad
Chop up:
2 medium bunches of broccoli
1 or 2 apples, don’t peal them (Optional)
1 cup raisins or craisins (optional)
¼ cup red onion
Combine all the items you just chopped up.
Blend for the dressing:
1 cup salad dressing
½ cup sugar
¼ cup vinegar or lemon juice (I usually us lemon juice because I like the flavor it adds)
After you have mixed the dressing, pour it over the chopped mixture. Let it sit in the frig for an hour or so (if you have time, if not just go on to the next step.)
When you are ready to serve it:
Cook ½ cup bacon until it is crispy. (I like to cut the bacon into ½ inch pieces before I cook it.) Wipe off excess grease. Let it cool.
Then add 1 cup shredded cheese and mix all the ingredients together.

No Bake Cheescake

I love this recipe for the smooth light texture and all the flavor. It has been a much requested birthday cake at our house.


No-Bake Cheese Cake


1-3 oz. pkg. lemon Jello (Can use other flavors)
1 c. boiling water
Dissolve Jello in water and set in the frig for about 1/2 hour, until it starts to set. Should still be runny.


2 Cups Graham Crackers
1/3 c. Margarine. or butter
Melt butter and mix with graham crackers. Press in bottom of pan.


1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese
1 c. sugar
1 8 oz. pkg. frozen whipped topping or 1 can evaporated milk, chilled and whipped.
Cream together the cheese and sugar. Add whipped topping or evaporated milk and the partially set Jello. Pour over the graham cracker crust chill for 3-4 hours before serving.

Makes 12-15 generous servings.

Creamy Aspargus Soup

Asparagus Soup

This is the recipe that my youngest daughter wanted to learn to make. She needed to make it while I was gone and so, putting it in Step-by-step form was how it worked best for her.

Creamy Asparagus Soup
Chop up:
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1-2 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 lb. Fresh asparagus, trimmed and coarsely chopped
Put ¼ cup butter in pan and as it melts, add chopped onion, celery and carrot. Saute for 4 minutes. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp flour over butter mixture and stir well.
Add:
4 cups water
1 (10.5 oz) can condensed chicken broth
4 tsp. Chicken bouillon powder
Bring to a boil.
Add: potatoes, asparagus. Simmer for 20 minutes. Puree soup in blender in smaller batches (it would be good to let it cool for a few minutes so it doesn’t break the blender). Return to pot and add Half and Half cream, soy sauce and black and white pepper and salt.
3/4 cup half-and-half
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. ground black and white pepper
salt to taste
Bring it to a boil and don’t burn it. Serve hot. Serves 6-8