Home-grown

Mmmm!  I love home-grown veggies!  My container garden has been through a lot (including a move to a new state), but it has survived.  I have ONE pepper and lots of tomatoes.  I also have three tiny cucumbers!  My yellow squash has flowered at least three times, but not squash yet.  My zucchini died...as did my radishes and green onion.  My carrots have lots of green leaves showing, but I'm too scared to pull any up yet.  Here are some pictures:

Cucumbers (3 little ones)

Sweet Pepper (only 1)

Tomatoes (multiple cherry and regular-sized ones)

Basil (also in the container: cilantro, parsley, and oregano)

The tomatoes are DELICIOUS!  I can't wait for the green ones to turn red...they're not producing fast enough for me.  Hehe.  :)

Chicken Basil Pizza

Over a year and a half ago, Ryan bought a bread machine.  Since he bought it, we had only used it three times.  So today we decided to use it for the 4th time and make some pizza crust with it.  The pizza we made turned out amazing!  Here it is:

Chicken Basil Pizza

Crust--made in a bread machine:

• 1 c. plus 2 T water
• 2 T olive oil
• 2 c. whole wheat flour
• 1 c. all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 t. dried Italian herbs
• 1 t. sugar
• 1 t. sea salt
• 2-1/2 t active dry yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan in the oder listed.  Select the dough cycle on bread machine, and start machine.

Move oven rack to lowest position.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease two cookie sheets.  Divide dough in half.  Pat each half into a 12" circle on cookie sheet with floured fingers.  Bake dough for 10 minutes.

While dough is baking make chicken and sauce.

Chicken:
Heat 1 T olive oil in skillet.  Season chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper.  Cook chicken in skillet until done.

Sauce:

• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 T fresh oregano
• 1 T fresh basil
• 1/2 t. crushed red pepper
• 1 t. Italian seasoning
• 1 bay leaf
• Sea salt and pepper to taste

Mix all sauce ingredients together in a skillet or small sauce pan.  Heat through.

Build the Pizza:
When dough is done baking, take it out of oven.  Spread olive oil on the crust.  Then spread the sauce.  Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese.  Top with your favorite toppings, or use ours:

• Sliced tomatoes
• Diced red, yellow, or orange peppers
• Diced onions
• Sliced black olives
• Chicken
• Fresh basil
• Fresh mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Sea Salt
• Pepper

Place the pizza directly on the oven rack.  Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes.  Enjoy with a glass of wine.