Yummy Garlic Knots

I really wanted to make pizza today, but I didn't have all the ingredients, and I'm still housebound so I couldn't run out and buy some. So, I thought of what else I could make with pizza dough...

And decided on garlic knots. It wasn't until I had mixed the yeast with the flour and sugar that I realized that I didn't actually have garlic. I only had garlic powder, but it was still delicious.

For the Dough
1 package active dry yeast (0.25 oz)
1 tsp white sugar
1 c warm water (110 degrees F)
2 1/2 c bread flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt

1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2) Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 min.
3) Beat in flour, salt, and oil. When smooth, let rest for 5 min.
4) Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface to form a sheet. Cut into 3/4 inch strips. Cut strips in half and tie into knot. Place on greased pan.
5) Bake until golden brown, 10-15 min. Remove knots from oven and place in big bowl.

Garlic Topping
1/3 c olive oil
6 tbsp minced garlic
5 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp salt

Drizzle olive oil on top of the knots while they're still hot. Sprinkle with other toppings, toss, and devour.

Notes: The olive oil taste was too strong for me. I used part olive oil and part butter. I think next time, I'll use all butter. I also really love the taste of garlic, so I scooped some of the leftovers and just plunked them on top of the knots. Delicious, but now I have fire breath!

xoxo,
lemonie

cupcake pops!

I've been a long admirer of Bakerella's cupcake pops. I think they're insanely cute! I tried making them over the summer, but with the heat and all, everything melted instantly. It was really gross!

So now that it's winter and I have some free time, I decided to attempt again. I made the red velvet cake and frosting from scratch and I think...I put in too much frosting! Mine looked much more moist than hers, and it was really hard making the right shape. Then I overmelted the chocolate so it wasn't very smooth when I tried to dip the bottoms. =( The tops were much easier though!

Visit Bakerella's page for the recipe.

xoxo,
lemonie

Snowballs!

Nearly ten years ago, my parents bought a minivan. It was the only car big enough to trek our 6 member family back and forth between home and anywhere. When I went away for high school and my brother to college, my parents used to stop by and have picnics. All the chairs would go down and we'd set up a small table in the back...and have a dinner inside the minivan! We'd even cook in there. Well, the minivan has finally kicked the bucket. So, with only one car...taking it to work takes priority, leaving me in the kitchen!

We didn't have a white Christmas here...all the snow we had melted! I went in to the kitchen and made it snow with snowball cookies.




I got my first Kitchen Aid for my birthday this year!










Snowballs

2 sticks butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour

Cream together butter and sugar. Mix in water and vanilla before adding flour.

Mine looked powdery after I did that...








And then roll into balls. I had trouble rolling them because it was so powdery. I had to make the circle shape by hand.



I popped these into the oven, which had been preheated to 325 degrees. I also realized that I wasn't sure how long to put them in for...so I put them in for about 12 minutes.

When they came out, I let them cool off, before rolling them around in some powdered sugar.


When I make real snowballs, they're never quite this round. I usually pack them too hard and they end up misshapen.

But these are easy to roll into balls. And fun to eat. And messy like real snowballs.


My brother and sister-in-law came to visit for Christmas and they brought their dogs, Peenoo (which means soap) and Hercules.

Peenoo really wanted to eat some snowballs.



Hercules was too sleepy to care. =)


xoxo,
lemonie