Upside-Down Pizza

I have been wanting to post this recipe for a while because it is so good and I don't want to lose it. I made it a while ago and took a picture because it looked delicious. It was and is now going to become a staple at my house. You will not want to order pizza from take out again after you have this pizza!

Recipe adapted from allrecipies.com

Ingredients

Sauce
1 (26oz) jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I like the chunky Ragu or Prego for this)
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage

Dough
1 1/2 cups water
4 1/4 white bread flour
1/1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp yeast

Topping
1/2 stick butter
1 clove garlic

Directions

1. Put all ingredients for the dough in your bread machine.
2. Start on dough cycle and come back when dough is done.
3. When you are ready to make the pizza preheat oven to 375*.
4. Brown ground beef and sausage in a skillet.
5. Add spaghetti sauce.
6. In a 2 quart baking dish add the spaghetti sauce mixture.
7. Top with cheese.
8. On a flat lightly floured surface roll dough out to the size a little bigger then the baking dish.
9. Put dough over the top of the sauce.
10. Roll dough edges under to seal the sauce in and make it look nice.
11. Melt butter and add crushed garlic.
12. Brush butter mixture on top of dough.
13. Bake 20 minutes.
14. Let stand 10 Minutes.

Jo's Tips:
You can buy refrigerated pizza dough instead of making bread. It won't be as good though, just easier. You can add whatever toppings you want. Sometimes I like to add only veggies.
You can buy a used bread machine at DI for less then $15. And if you do get a bread machine or already own one I would suggest buying, The Cooks Encyclopedia of Bread Machine Baking by Jennie Shapter because you will love what you can do with it!

Buttermilk Pancakes
Yesterday while at the grocery store I saw saw something crazy!!!! They had shake and pour pancake batter! Apparently you add milk or whatever liquid it requires and shake. then you pour the batter to make the pancakes! I can not believe someone would pay money for THAT! I don't know maybe it is just me but is is sooooo easy to make your own pancake batter I just don't understand why people buy mixes. This recipe from the Better Homes and Garden cookbook and has been a staple in our family for years. It is so easy my husband even makes it occasionally. I don't know, I make my own syrup too so maybe I'm just weird.

Ingredients

1 c flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs beaten
1 cup Buttermilk
1 Tbsp oil

Directions

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a large batter bowl and mix together.
2. Add remaining wet ingredients and mix with an electric hand mixer. (not for too long)
3. Pour onto a hot skillet and make the pancakes. (we all know how to do this part)


Jo's tips: If you don't have buttermilk you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the milk. Or just use plain milk (they are not buttermilk pancakes though!) I add the real buttermilk on special occasions because I don't always have it on hand, but it is so good when you use the real thing.

Overnight Danish Twists*

I first had these at a family get together.
My sister in law brought them.
They were so good I ate about 5 of them!
*this is a Betty Crocker recipe!

Twists

2 Tbsp dry active yeast
1/2 cup warm water
4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp salt
1 cup (two sticks) cold butter
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 jar (10oz) of your favorite jam or preserves

Powdered Sugar Glaze

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 to 3 Tbsp milk

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let sit for 10 min. Stir in granulated sugar, and salt. Cut in butter,using a pastry blender or crisscrossing two knives, until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Separate eggs; refrigerate whites for brushing pastry. Stir yolks and 1 cup milk into flour mixture until soft dough forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours for proper rising, but no longer then 24 hours.
2. Lightly grease two to three cookie sheets. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Divide dough into three equal parts. Roll 1 part dough into 9x7-inch rectangle on lightly floured surface. Cut crosswise into nine 1-inch strips. For each twist, pinch ends of strip together to form ring, stretching strip slightly. Twist to form figure 8. Place at least 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining 2 parts dough.
3. Beat egg whites; brush over dough. Let rise uncovered at room temperature about 25 min. or until puffy and loops fill in.
4. Heat oven 350*. Make an indentation in the center of each loop. Fill with 1/2 tsp-1 tsp jam. Brush dough again with egg whites. Bake about 15 min. or until light golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
5. In a small bowl, mix all powdered sugar glaze ingredients, with a hand held electric mixer, until smooth and thin. Drizzle over warm twists.

Jo's tips: I made these twists to long the first time I made them, so when they rose in the 8 form, the holes did not fill in. I just lightly pressed the sides to cover the hole, so that my filling didn't fall out. I also used my home canned apple pie filling. Yumm! And for an extra treat I added four Tbsp cream cheese to the glaze before mixing. I also put the glaze in a small plastic bag and cut to tip off to drizzle.