Yummy Pizza with Food Processor Crust

If you're anything like me, when you read the title of this, you thought that a Food Processor Crust sounds very odd.

Yes, it is a bit unusual, but I can honestly say that this is the BEST TASTING PIZZA CRUST ever and so simple to make! It's a great family project as you can make two larger pizzas or 4 individual sized and let the kids create their own pizza masterpieces.

Pizza Crust Instructions

One 1/4 ounce packet of yeast (abt 2 1/4 teaspoons if using jarred yeast)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 to 2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Combine 3/4 cup warm water (105° to 115°F), the yeast, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the chopping blade; let stand five minutes.

Add 1 3/4 cups of the flour, the salt, and oil; process until a soft dough forms. Add as much of the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, as necessary to make the dough manageable.

Shape the dough in a ball, place in an oiled bowl, turning so an oiled surface is up.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 35 minutes.

Use as directed in a recipe or refrigerate for use up to one day later. If refrigerated, bring to room temperature before using.

Makes about 4 individual sized pizza crusts or 2 large pizzas.

For two larger pizzas, split the dough in half and gently spread the dough on a slightly greased cookie sheet. For 4 individual pizzas, divide dough into 4 and spread out two on a cookie sheet.

Top with tomato sauce, then sprinkle on garlic powder, basil, oregano and then top with your favorite toppings (mine are below) and bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.

My Favorite Pizza Toppings:

My favorite pizzas are veggie pizzas with little or no cheese and include all of the following of my favorite toppings:

Sliced Plum Tomatoes
Green Bell Peppers
Red Bell Peppers
Sweet Yellow Onions
Artichoke Hearts
Mushrooms
Black Olives

Yum! I hope you enjoy this as much as our family does! Tell me what your favorite toppings are!

Sharing a Little of My Polish Heritage

One of my hobbies is genealogy and I've learned a lot about my ancestors in the last 10 years of research, solved some family questions, met some very distant cousins and learned even more about my heritage. The past several years my research focus has been on my Polish ancestors who immigrated to the US and settled in western Pennsylvania.

Yesterday afternoon, I was trying to figure out what we were going to have for dinner and something popped into my mind that I have not had since I was a child - Halupkis. Both my grandmother and my mom used to make these a lot when I was young and it's a meal that my Polish great grandparents would have made, too. When we were little, our family called them Pigs in a Blanket which is a much different version than the hotdog in a crescent roll.

Making them and eating them last night brought back a lot of memories and took me back to envisioning my ancestors making them, too. So, I thought I would share this delicious Polish recipe with you.

Halupki (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)

4-6 servings

1 head cabbage
1 1/4 lbs ground meat
salt and pepper
1 egg
1 teaspoon parsley
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove chopped garlic
1 cup cooked rice
2 cans tomato soup
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 3/4 cups water

In a large pot (I used an 8qt size), boil the head of cabbage 10-15 minutes. Carefully remove the leaves from the head after the cabbage has been boiled.

In a medium bowl, mix the meat, salt and pepper, egg, parsley, garlic, onion and rice together.

Place a spoonful of the meat mixture into a blanched cabbage leaf (use more meat mixture if the leaf is large) and roll the cabbage leaves to enclose the meat mixture.

In a 5-quart dutch oven, place some leaves of cabbage on bottom of pan.

Add cabbage rolls on top with the seams face down.

Mix tomato soup, sugar, vinegar, and water together.

Pour over cabbage rolls, cover and cook on medium heat for 1 1/2 hours.

Enjoy!

Family Fun! Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss

We've heard about some pretty fun upcoming events and we just wanted to pass them along to you! The first one is more for little ones, but the second one would be great for some of the older kids. Enjoy!

Sing Along - Wednesday, July 23, 10am and 11am: Anna Moo will be performing at Pottery Barn Kids in St. Johns Town Center. Come and sing along and have some fun!

Kite Workshop - Saturday, July 26, 10am: Fort Clinch State Park is hosting a Kite Workshop on July 26. The program will begin with a short introduction to the history and basics of kite flying. Attendees will then have the opportunity to create their own kite and fly it on the beach. All activities are included with paid admission to the park, of $5 per vehicle. Call the park to sign up as participation is limited. 904-277-7274.

Family Fun - 16th Annual World of Nations Celebration

If you've never had the opportunity to attend the World of Nations Celebration at Metro Park in Jacksonville, you're missing out on a fantastic celebration! There are so many cultural things to experience, it's almost like a mini-Epcot right here in our back yard. The kids will have a lot of fun when they get their passport stamped at all the different "nations"! There are so many fun activities, great food, and it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend, so why not get out there and experience it for yourself! You won't be disappointed! Our family is going to plan to visit, and I encourage your family to check it out too! Here are the details...

Saturday May 3 and Sunday May 4 at Metropolitan Park (across from the Jaguars Stadium)

Discover the rich cultural traditions of nations and regions around the world at the World of Nations Celebration. Experience the cuisine, artistry and customs from lands near and far. Activities include Parade of Flags, Passport to the World, World of Kids Playland, and more. Prices: One day ticket $5; Two day ticket $7. Children 3 and under admitted free.

Family Fun - Celebrate Earth Day at the Jacksonville Landing

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend? Stop by the Jacksonville Landing this Saturday, April 19th, from 10am – 4pm, and join kids and families all across Jacksonville in celebrating Earth Day with an Ecology Fair!

There will be more than 100 booths of learning and family fun! There will be children’s games and activities, music, face painting, prizes, educational information and two stages of live entertainment. Children’s activities include craft projects with recycled and reused materials and live animal encounters. For the adults, learn what you can to help the environment.

And best of all? Entrance and all activities are FREE!

Hope to see you there!

Fun for the Kids! Our Feathered Friends Wee Workshop

The adventures that they have for our kiddos at the area parks are so much fun! Our family has had the opportunity to attend a few of them at the Tillie K Fowler Regional Park (formerly the Westside Regional Park) across from the main entrance of NAS Jax on Roosevelt Blvd. With it being spring break week for the kids in Duval and Clay, this is a great way to get the kids out of the house and have fun with nature! This one is for the WEE Explorers under 7 years old! Sounds fun!

WEE WORKSHOP: OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS…BIRDS!
10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2
Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park
7000 Roosevelt Blvd.
Calling all wee nature explorers (7 years and under) and their adult companions to join in on a search for our feathered friends…birds! Learn what makes birds special and different from other animals. Participants will decorate “binoculars,” which they will learn to use and can take home with them after the program.

Family Fun - Kids Kampus at Metropolitan Park

If you haven't yet checked out the Kid Kampus at Metropolitan Park in downtown Jacksonville, you definitely need to! The Kid Kampus is a "ten-acre recreational facility with bright, colorful, climbing, digging and sliding equipment with an educational twist." And the best part is it is FREE!!!

Set right on the St. John's River across from the Jaguars stadium, children can ride their tricycles or training wheel bikes on the roads of a miniature downtown Jacksonville, complete with miniature Jacksonville landmarks. If you don't have one of those kind of bikes, you can easily rent one for no cost! But don't try to bring in a bike for an older child (ones that are not tricycles or with training wheels) as they won't allow them for the safety of the younger kids.

Kids can also play in the sand pits, or on the large playground with lots of places to climb and play. There are plenty of benches for parents to sit and watch the kids and restrooms are right there, too. There is also a picnic pavillion and jogging trail. During the summer months, the Splash Park (May - Sept) will be open, as well.

Spring/Summer Hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-8pm; Sun, 10am-8pm. Fall/Winter Hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm; Sun, 10am-6pm. (Hours subject to change due to holidays, special events and inclement weather.)

For more information, call 904-630-KIDS or visit www.coj.net

Fun for Kids - Tunnelz N' Tumblez

We were invited to a birthday party last weekend and discovered a fun place for kids to play that is not nearly as hectic as Chuck E Cheese (and much cleaner, too). It's called Tunnelz N' Tumblez and is located on Sunbeam Road in Jacksonville. They have a
a great climbing and sliding area, a really cool 9-hole indoor pirate themed miniature golf with the walls painted with phosphorescent paint and lit with black light, a laser tag area for the older kids, and a snack bar which you can order pizza and more.

This seems to be for children about two years of age or older. Parents ARE able to climb in the tunnels, too!

For more information and directions, visit their website at: www.tunnelzntumblez.com/

P.S. If you live in St. Augustine, there's a location in the St. Augustine South area!

Fun for Kids and Families

Mikkean Photography is all about family and children and we want to share with you some family and kid friendly activities and places that you might enjoy in and around the Orange Park, Flemming Island, Jacksonville and St. Augustine area! We will only recommend those of which we have first hand experience with and recommend! If you have a recommendation that you'd like us to check out, please drop us a line and let us know!