Garlic/Basil Pizza Dough

One thing we love around here is PIZZA! And, since I became fairly proficient with a few bread recipes, I figured I could probably do the same with pizza dough, right?

I found a good basic crust recipe in a cookbook we picked up along the way, and I had a recipe from my sister-in-law… both were similar, and both were pretty good. But the crust was rather bland. So, I got creative and added a few pizza-ish herbs! Thus was born my Garlic-Basil Pizza Dough!

Ingredients

2 cups warm water (~110ºF)
2 packets of yeast (3 1/2 tsp)
4 Tbps Olive Oil (I use mild)
2 tsp garlic salt
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 tsp salt
5-6 Cups flour

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water, then add the rest of the ingredients. I generally do five cups of flour first, and then mix in the final cup (or less) till the dough is the perfect consistency. Put a little olive oil in the base of your mixing bowl, cover, and let the dough rise for around an hour in a warm place. I preheat the oven on the lowest temperature while making the dough, then turn it off and let it rise inside the oven.

This amount makes enough dough for two large cookie-sheet pizzas.

Enjoy!

Amazing Greek Dressing

Sometimes, simpler is better. Most of the recipes I use tend to end up there. It’s really strange, but for some reason, the recipes with fewer ingredients are the ones that taste the best!

This Greek Salad Dressing recipe is one such case! Was just used again last night with Chicken Souvlaki, and was more than well-received. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it, too!

(Recipe can be reduced, if desired)

Greek Dressing

21 oz Olive Oil (I use mild)
6 oz Vinegar (I use white)
4 tsp Oregano
3 tsp Garlic
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper

Combine ingredients in a dressing shaker, shake vigorously, and enjoy! You can enjoy right away, but if you let the dressing sit for a while it will allow the flavors to combine deliciously!