Thank you and a homemade pizza

On May 28, 2017 By felisrecipesIn Bread and Pizza, Brunch, Uncategorized10 Comments

Thank you so much to all of you, my over 200 followers, for taking the time to stop by and following my blog.

Thank you for your comments but also for all your posts that inspire me daily.

This week, I had a couple of days off, so called a short vacation that I needed it so much. My mind and body were crying for some time off. When I was asked what my plans were, I said that I just wanted to relax. Now I believe we are all different and we relax in our own way. Usually, when I relax means, I want to be equally productive and physically active and just at the end of the day, lazy. 🙂 I really like exuberance and happiness I feel after a good and thoroughly house cleaning or after a five-kilometer ( or more ) walk.

I just wanted to share with you what a day off means to me. I woke up at 06:00 AM instead of 05:00 AM. I started as usual with coffee and getting the breakfast ready. Becuase there was no rush I decided to make a frittata with feta cheese and fresh dill.

Around 06:50 hubby and daughter left for work and college, so there were only my babies left in the house and me. After a few coffee sips, I put my furry boys in the crate on the balcony so they can enjoy the warm morning, so I started to clean the house. By 08:30 I finished two laundry loads and by 09:30 the cleaning was done. The cleaning included the windows as well. 😉

After a quick shower, I could finally enjoy the fresh scent of a clean house and my second cup of coffee while browsing the internet for lunch ideas. Homemade pizza was the winner. I decided for a Three Cheese Tuna- Crab Meat Pizza. I have to admit it turned out delicious. My daughter said: “I have no idea what you do or put on your pizza that makes it always the best pizza comparing with the takeout ones ;)”

Ingredients for the dough:

2 1/4 cups of whole-wheat flour ( I used 1/4 cup when kneading the dough )
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 a teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 teaspoon dry yeast
1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)
1 1/2 cups of warm water
the juice of one lemon

For the pizza topping:

sweet basil tomato sauce
100 gr mozzarella
100 gr feta cheese
50 gr of Parmigiano petals
1 large tuna in water ( no drain one )
1 can of crab meat ( well drained )
1/2 of a large organic white onion
green olives

Combine the flour, salt, turmeric and chia seeds if using.

Put the yeast in a cup of warm water. When it start to bubble, pour the mixture over the flour. Add the olive oil and lemon juice and mix all together. Once combined, knead by hand for about 5 to 10 minutes. The dough is ready when it feels soft, springy and elastic. Place the dough in a clean, oiled bowl, cover it and set it in a warm place.

In about an hour the dough should triple the size and be ready for the pizza. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Oil a work surface and roll the dough into a rectangle shape. Rol the dough in half and place it on the baking tray and start topping it.

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Using a ladle add the sauce and using the back of the spoon swirl it all over the top of the dough. Top it with tuna, crab meat, thin slices of onion and green olives. Crumble the feta cheese and sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmigiano petals.

Cook in the preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes.

It feels like I’ve been making pizza since I was young. I started by using the ready made dough, but once I learned to make the dough, it became so natural to have a homemade pizza a few times a month.

Some people might think that is time-consuming, but I like it because while the dough is getting ready, I have the time to prepare the topping. While the pizza is in the oven, I got ready and left to wait for my daughter so we could enjoy 3 kilometers walk back home. We kept hydrated with lemon infused water. It was a good exercise that made us hungry, so when we reached home, we were so eager to enjoy that pizza and watch our favorite show: The Bridge.

In the evening I didn’t do much but watched some videos on Youtube, planning my new knitting – crochet projects 🙂 when I did not play with my furry babies 😉

Banana Peanut Butter & Oats Muffins

On May 6, 2017 By felisrecipesIn Brunch, Cakes16 Comments

muffin post 2.jpg

I woke up with an undeniable urge to bake. As you might know from reading my previous posts, sometimes I make pancakes or crepes when the mood strikes me. And there’s also that odd batch of sweet and/or savory muffins that makes the cut as well.

Today, while the rest of the family slept I scoured the fridge to see what I could make for breakfast. There wasn’t a lot to pick from (we had yet to go grocery shopping, heh) but that didn’t stop me. I see an (almost) empty fridge as a challenge, not a defeat.

And so, here we are: Banana Peanut Butter & Oats Muffins. Not bad, if I do say so myself 😉

Ingredients:

1 cup old fashion oats
6 teaspoons of chocolate peanut butter powder
1 tsp baking soda
lemon juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/4 cup grape seeds oil
2 cups cashew milk
1 1/2 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup coconut sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners.

Whisk together: flour, oats, sugar and peanut butter powder. Make a hole and add the two eggs, milk, vanilla extract and grape seeds oil. sprinkle the baking powder and add over the lemon juice. Stir until the flour mixture is moistened – do not overmix.

Using a medium size ice-cream scoop, pour the batter into the muffin cups. Each cup will get 2 ice-cream scoops.

Bake until muffin top springs back when lightly pressed, it should take no longer than 20 minutes. Leave to cool for 5 minutes in the pan then move the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.

And, if you’d prefer a bit more sweetness you can top the muffins with a teaspoon of Nutella. Yum! 😊

Bon Appetit! ❤

Makes: 12 muffins; preparation: 10 – 15 minutes; baking 15 – 20 minutes.

muffin post 1

The Versatile Blogger Award

On April 16, 2017 By felisrecipesIn Uncategorized15 Comments

I know my last post was about a nomination and here I am again posting about a new nomination. This time Jessica from DaringtoJess thought about me. I am very humble and accept her nomination. Please check out her blog. I promise you won’t regret it. She is a wonderful, talented and inspiring young person.

Here are the Rules

Display the award.
Thank the person who gave this award (and include a link to their blog.)
Share seven things about yourself.
Nominate bloggers.

The seven things about me

This is my favorite part of any nomination. Trying to say something new every time. LOL

I studying piano when I was younger for about 7 years and I performed in the City Concert Hall once 😉
My father thought me how to swim. I can make 30 lapse at once on my own speed LOL
I had to give up cheese. I haven’t had any in six months. Do I miss it ? A lot ! I cannot eat vegan cheese either. 😦
At work my colleagues are calling me : Miss Good 😉 I am wondering why ? LOL
I saved all the plants from one of my colleague from my office when she was on sick leave for about one year but I successfully kill all of mine. 😦
I love to walk. My record is 15 km a day. I made it only twice.
Recently I discovered I have gluten intolerance. 😦

The Nominees Are ( not in a particular order but these are blogs that I just love visiting almost daily 😉 )

Congratulation to all the nominees and I really hope you will enjoy this nomination.

I hope that all of you that celebrated Easter had a happy one and lots of delicious food and family and friends around the table 🙂

And I am going to end my post with a picture from my sister-in-law’s garden from back home: Romania, where spring has arrived and green is marked by colorful flowers

toporasi _ zoe 2

The Blog-aholic Award

On March 19, 2017 By felisrecipesIn Uncategorized11 Comments

This year, it seemed as though there would be no end in sight to this Winter season (just this past week we got another 10 cm of snow in Toronto) and it’s left me feeling drained, mentally. At first I thought I was stressed out because of my hat projects. But even after I finished the hats I couldn’t find my usual energy and happy-go-lucky attitude. Finally, I realized that my overall increase in stress had more to do with work rather than the long Canadian Winters, like I first thought. We’ve had a lot of changes throughout the department and that, for me, means a lot more work. And stress. It’s really a never-ending cycle; you know how it is, I’m sure.

Anyway, why am I saying this? I guess it’s because I wanted to explained my sudden (but short-lived) absence lately. However, simply because I’ve not had enough energy to post something new, that doesn’t mean I stopped conversing with YOU, the bloggers out there, followers or not. Your posts helped me get past this state and kept me sane. 😛

During my hiatus, I was nominated for the Blog-Aholic Award by Carol through the “Cooking from the time Challenged” You can find her wonderful blog here. I feel immensely honored that she took the time to think of me, and Carol, once again, thank you! 🙂

And just like this,though Carol I was able to find the founder of this award, Esme “The Recipe Hunter (Cook and Enjoy), who said it wonderfully:”blogging is creating. Connecting, Sharing and Inspiring other. So this is actually what this award is about: Share and Inspire others! 🙂

Here are the rules of the award:

Put the above award logo/image on your blog
List the rules
Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog (it can be to the post in which they nominated you or any other post or you can even link to their “About” page)
Mention the creator The Recipe Hunter (Cook & Enjoy) of this award and please provide a link or pinback
Write a post to show your award
Share a link to your best post(s)
Share 3 interesting and different facts about yourself
Nominate 5-10 fellow bloggers, or more if you wish. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

Now I should share 3 interesting and different facts about yourself. I am not sure if they are interesting but they are true fact about me:

I love chocolate. No, this is not true. I am addicted to chocolate. LOL
Playing with my two cats is my new cardio 😉
I cannot go to sleep if there are still dishes in the sink to be done.

The most loved post is Frittata ❤

And here are the nominees:

I really hope all the nominees are willing to ” share and inspire others ” and participate in this award recognition. Good luck !