Things to do with Pizza Dough

I have an absolute favorite pizza dough recipe (The Benefit of the Dough from Eat, Shrink and Be Merry).

I have been making it over and over again for the last several months, primarily for pizzas and flatbreads.

Well, last week I got a bit creative and tried 2 new (and simple!!) ways to eat this delicious dough.

The first of these was cheese straws:



(sorry about the horrible lack of focus)

To make these, I rolled out a half recipe of dough into a rough rectangle, and sprinkled with cheese. Then, I cut it into strips, twisted, and baked!! Couldn't be easier.



Next, I made a sweet roll. I just spread the other half recipe of rolled out dough with pumpkin butter (any jam would work too!!), rolled up a la cinnamon buns, sliced, and baked!



Both variations were delicious, easy, and definately not pizza!! Have you tried any awesome variations on a basic recipe recently?

A fun little DIY

I'm quickly discovering a fringe benefit of living in student family housing...

... People throw out a lot of furniture!!

Last week, I found these two old drawers.


I *immediately* decided that these should become a small shelf.

I removed the handles, and joined the two drawers together.


I cut some fabric to go in the back, glued it on, and decided to paint the whole thing brown.



True, I should have painted *before* adding the fabric, but I can always add in a new fabric backdrop later. Also, the pain isn't the greatest finish, but it has a mice kind of rustic vibe to it.

All in all, I'm happy with the results. Now I just need to fill it!

*sigh* Could I be worse at this??

This week, I have made 3 pillow covers, a curtain to hide the "under the sink" area in my bathroom, and an adorable tissue box cover.

...and failed to take photos of any of the process!!

That's ok, tomorrow is a new day, and I will try again!!

This week's creations...

... were all made in the kitchen.

I made granola bars, muffins, and flaxseed and onion crackers



(martha had them photographed much nicer that I ever could!)

Too Busy for Crafting??

Yes, that has been my situation recently!
I got a new job at the end of August, and it has taken me until now to start to feel settled into it!

A while back, designsponge had a gret DIY knot trivet tutorial. I instantly decided that they should actually be coasters, so I bought some thinner twine and got to work!

Here are the two versions I created:

Rustic and earthy:



Sleek and nautical:



These were fun, easy and fast, and I look forward to making them again!!

Fabric Basket Project

This project has been on the back burner for a little while now, but I'm bound and determined to get it finished up today!

I am moving in 11 days, and we agreed that this next place would get decorated properly. We have been planning furniture choices for a couple months, and decided to use an Expedit bookcase as our TV stand (on its side, of course).


So, I have been making fabric baskets to go inside the bottom row of shelves.



This is the lone one that I have completed. It was super easy to make. I just cut out 13inch squares (5 each for the inner fabric, outer fabric, and stiff interfacing), ironed the interfacing onto the outer fabric, attached a handle, and assembled into a basket! I may do a tutorial when I finish up the rest of them (today!!! I hope...)

Brie

Today's Martha Moment

So, I feel like a real Martha today... I made my own Homemade Rootbeer!!
It was easy, delicious, and moderately authentic-tasting.



Here's what I did:
1) Bring 1 cup water to a boil at medium high heat.
2) Add one cinnamon stick, and a 3 inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
3) Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes
4) Add 1 cup brown sugar and allow to dissove while stirring constantly
5) Remove from heat, allow to cool, and add 1 tsp vanilla
6) Chill. When ready to serve, add syrup to 2L of club soda
OR
Store in a glass jar in the fridge, and add syrup to taste to a glass of club soda far a single serving

I will definately be making this again, and trying other syrup varieties too!