A Need to Knead

Some days, no matter what it looks like outside or what you feel like inside, you just need a break from it all.  We have had a great day thus far...a happy baby at 6am (ok, 7am would have been much nicer...), a great breakfast, I drank an entire cup of joe as opposed to my normal third, and Eli and I had a swim date with a dear friend and her two little girls.  It has been great!

As Eli snoozed, I have been prepping for dinner--BBQ chicken pizza.  We love pizza and typically have it a couple of Friday's a month but lately we have been ordering out more than in.  I found a recipe and in typical fashion altered it a bit to fit what I had in my pantry.  I had no idea that as I worked that dough that tension would release in my back and shoulders! I found myself saying a few prayers, breathing more easily and even closing my eyes as I turned the dough over and over. Giada's recipe said to work the dough about 10-12 minutes and I'm telling you, I didn't short change it at all.  I got every second out of that dough before I let it rest back in its oiled bowl.

Who knew that I could find such joy and relief in preparing dinner...I think the Italians are on to something; it isn't just the wine that can have so many health benefits, simply working the dough has done wonders for my mood today :)

Cin, Cin, and bon appetit!

Pizza Dough (Makes 3)

1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 t sugar
2 1/4 t active yeast (or 1 packet)

3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 t kosher salt
olive oil

stir the sugar and then the yeast into the warm water and let it sit while you prepare the flour.

In a large bowl stir the flour and salt together with a wisk.  Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.  I actually took my rings off half way through this process and started combining with my hands.  If the dough is too dry, add water a teaspoon at a time.  If it is too wet, add flour a Tbsp at a time.

Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured surface and with floured hands knead it for 10-12 minutes.  Enjoy every second.  Let your mind rest and just relax!! Once the dough is nice and elasticky (that is so a word) rinse out your dough bowl, dry it, drizzle in a little olive oil to coat the sides and bottom and place your dough in it.  Cover it with a damp dish towel and let it rest in your oven, undisturbed for about 2 hours.  Gently deflate it and separate the dough into three balls and place them each into an oiled bowl.  Let them rise again for about another hour.  You can refrigerate for a day, wrap in plastic then foil and freeze, or make 3 pizza's.  We made two...carmalized onion, bbq chicken and a summer squash with spanish olives and 3 cheeses...both were better than imagined! Have fun and make your pizza your way!