Dollar A Day Meals

                                                                    MAIN MEAL RECIPE

Pantry Pizza

dollaradaymeals.com

This recipe makes one 16" pizza with a thick crust  OR  two 12" pizzas  with  medium-thin  crust  (making 2 mediums will take more cheese than listed in recipe). Sauce recipe makes enough for either choice (if making two 12" pizzas,  just use half of the sauce on each pizza).

If using sausage, cook and crumble 1/4 lb. now;  can add some minced onions.

For pepperoni: take baggie out of freezer, thaw while preparing sauce/dough.

Sauce; stir together, cover, set aside: 

1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce      2 tsp. italian seasonings

1 tsp.  garlic salt                     pinch or two of crushed red pepper

Dough (put in a gallon freezer zip-loc bag for easy mixing):

1 tsp. sugar

1 T. dry yeast

1 tsp. sea salt

2 c. unbleached flour + 1 c. whole wheat flour  [can switch this, and use 1 c. unbleached + 2 c. w. w. flour  or do 1 and 1/2 c. each flour]

Add:

1 T. vegetable oil

1 c. + 2 T. warm water

Seal bag.  Squish/knead bag until dough is a smooth ball,  (6 to 8 minutes).  Let dough raise in the sealed gallon bag for 30 minutes. 

Generously grease (using shortening or oil) a 16-inch pizza pan or an 11x15x1 pan for one large pizza (OR two 12-inch pizza pans for 2 medium pizzas).  Heat oven to 475º.

Form pizza crust in chosen/greased pan  (oil or grease hands first, this keeps a ‘barrier’ on dough for holding the sauce).  Press dough evenly until to all edges (half-way up sides if using a pan with 1" sides). Spoon sauce onto dough. Using  back of spoon, swirl/spread sauce evenly over all.  

If using cooked sausage/onions, add it on top of sauce now.  

Sprinkle 1 and 1/2 c. grated mozzarella evenly over sauce. Sprinkle   2 - 3 T. dry parmesan evenly over mozzarella.  

If using pepperoni: place it in single layer on top of cheeses now. 

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes  ON LOWEST OVEN RACK.   Check bottom of  crust, if not golden browned, leave pizza in for another minute or two [when cheese is lightly  browned, and edges look cooked: the bottom is usually done].  Remove pizza from oven.   Allow  to  cool  for  a  few minutes.  Cut  into  8  even  pieces/slices.   One meal  per person  is 2 slices.  Pizza can be cooled,  wrapped in saran or put in freezer bags, chilled/frozen. Thawed  pizza  will  re-heat  well  in a  microwave  (30 seconds per slice).     

NOTE: We have made very good cheese pizza using this crust, the sauce, and only using 3/4 cup dry parmesan for the cheese.           

                                               ©Janet Marie Huff / dollaradaymeals.com

Three-Bean Salad

dollaradaymeals.com

This salad had very good reviews when made as a sample for a class recently...

2 c. well-drained/cooked/cooled pinto beans     Dressing:

1/4 c. well-drained, cooked/cooled lentils         1/3 c. vegetable oil

1 and 1/4 c. well-drained green beans              about 2/3 c. cider vinegar

about 3 c. finely shredded cabbage                  1/4 to 1/2 c. sugar

1 to 2 stalks celery and tops, diced                   sea salt and pepper

1/4 to 1/2 c. finely diced onions                        1 clove garlic, minced

Heat  vinegar  and  sugar  just until sugar is dissolved;  remove from heat.  Add  oil,  salt and pepper;  allow  to  cool  until  just  warmish.  Meanwhile in a large bowl: mix the pinto beans, lentils, green beans, cabbage, celery, onions.  Add dressing, stir well.  Chill. Makes 4 to 6 generous servings.                                                                                                            ©Janet Marie Huff / dollaradaymeals.com