all purpose dough

it's so great...the recipe in written on the inside of my cupboard

i know i have been to prone wax poetic about my go to pizza dough recipe before, but i am back to talk about it's magical powers.  recently, i have discovered that with some slight changes in prep...i can use the dough to make homemade naan or pita bread.  i try to quadruple the recipe when i prep it so that i can use one batch immediately and refrigerate/freeze the other three batches for later use.  i have a standard size food processor and i can make two batches at a time in mine.   also, my husband prefers plain white but i have successfully subbed in whole wheat flour for up to half the flour called for in the recipe.  enjoy, i hope this encourages more of you to make your own doughs.
.....
all purpose dough {makes one batch}
2 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2/3 c. very warm water
1 2/3 c. flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon olive oil
combine yeast, sugar, and water.  let proof for ten minutes or until it is nice and foamy.  meanwhile, quickly mix flour and salt in food processor with a couple of pulses.  pour yeast water and mix until a ball forms.  drizzle olive oil and pulse for a few more seconds.  turn dough ball out into a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel. proceed, as directed, below...
.....
pizza: simply let dough rest to room temp.  roll out on a floured surface.  cook on a stone or oiled cookie sheet dusted with cornmeal.  bake crust with toppings at about 425 degrees for 15-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

pita: let dough rest at room temp.  separate dough into 4 pieces.  roll out each piece on a  floured surface.  carefully, place each piece on a lightly oiled baking sheet.  cover with a towel and let rise for about 30 minutes to 1 hour or until puffy (this will make your "pockets").  bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until lightly golden.

naan: let dough rest at room temp.  separate into 2 - 4 pieces and roll out each piece on a floured surface. cover with a towel and let rise for about 20 minutes.   meanwhile, heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet or dutch oven.  when oil is bubbly and hot, carefully fry each piece of dough on both sides.  takes about 3 minutes for each piece. drain on paper towels and serve.

to freeze or refrigerate:  let dough rest and rise once.  store in a lightly oiled, freezer bag.  good up to a week or so in the fridge.  good for up to 3-4 months in the freezer. 

{garden}REVOLUTION:: one

where: stella's burger joint in bellevue ne
awesomeness: see that barrel in the middle? tubes split up and run through the raised beds in a square foot garden style grid.  it created a grid for planting and watering (soaker hose style).  awesome.

.....
have you noticed a revolution happening, friends?  there's a gardening revolution happening.  look around.  raised beds popping up, overfilled with greens and tomato plants.  pots on balconies filled with herbs.  blue barrels growing herbs, peas, and greens.  people are taking back their yards, balconies, and windows....they are growing food.  i'm keeping my eyes peeled and snapping photos.  every week, i'll feature the photos. want to see your garden here? invite me over! want to start a garden? email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com.

things i love this week

whew.  it's the weekend.  this week was a hard, long one for me.  for no reason, in particular.  it just was...so i am glad to welcome the weekend.  this week if full of small town days {springfield + elkhorn} and opportunities to have fun.  i am pledging to let loose and have fun this week.  remember that it is the big dig gig/plant swap at the union for contemporary arts today.
here's what i love this week....

• exactly how i feel about gardening.  couldn't of said it better myself.
• cora wore one dress.  for a whole month.
• this hat.  i got one like it for $8 at bomgaars.  we're in love with each other.
• summer arts festival
• diamonds in the rough on fresh juice
• cuppow
• coupons for mason jars
• the new book....dinner a love story is available!
• giant turnips held by my sweet boy

....
here are this week's posts in case you missed them...
take a look see of our garden
the only potato salad recipe you'll ever need
next week's dinners are on us
....
hope your  weekend is full of adventure, good food, and joy!

GSW {garden say what}: menu threeeee!

romaine salad with greek yogurt taztziki

holy smokes.  it is june and the gardens and markets are offering a bit more then just greens and herbs in our part of the world.  but, man oh man, i cannot wait for peppers. and tomatoes, eggplants, green beans, cukes, squash, melon, and pole beans.  so this week's menu is based off what is available, but also a little wishful thinking with what is on sale in the grocery store.  i am also experimenting with the format of the menu presentation this week. let me know your thoughts.  hope this menu helps a little with your planning next week.

menu...
1. stirfry chicken and broccoli rice
{andrea makes this for her family and they love it.  hendrix was there last week and loved it which is amazing since he normally avoids meat.  she reserves the marinade, cooks broccoli in oil in another pan, and adds the marinade to the broccoli when it is almost done.  then she mixes the chicken and rice together and serves on rice}

2. bacon wrapped chicken tenders on romaine with red peppers and tzatziki sauce for dressing
{just make the recipe as directed and use leftover tzatziki sauce from this week's greek burgers, otherwise, it is just as great with a mustardy vinagrette}

3. tacos (your choice of filling - we'll be doing pork because i have some frozen in the fridge) with black beans, rice, mango, and cilantro {this meal is especially easy if you throw some meat and taco seasoning in the crockpot in the morning...even easier if you go vegetarian and fill the tacos with beans + rice or use frozen leftovers}

4. personal pan pizza night: swiss chard with egg, chard & shrooms, chard & sausage
{swiss chard, eggs, cheese, mushroom, olive oil and italian sausage are the building blocks.  let the diners make their own pizza by splitting dough up and rolling out for each diner}

5. homemade sloppy joes with turnip chips and fresh fruit

sweet treat...
homemade pudding pops!
make popsicles with your favorite pudding mix {prepared} and fresh berries.  prepare pudding according to package directions, fill molds 3/4 full, add berries and freeze.  we love lemon pudding  pops with blueberries around these parts.

cool drink...
mint ginger slush

my new favorite potato salad

potato salad, carrots, tzatziki sauce, feta, greek burgers, pita, spinach salad



i love potato salad.  until recently, my favorite was a bleu cheese bacon potato salad.  i also loved one with green beans and arugula.  then a few days ago i had some leftover red potatoes in the fridge....this is what i came up with.  so far, i have served it with broiled salmon one night, at a lunch picnic in the park and greek burgers another night.  this morning, i ate it slightly warmed with a poached egg.  i like it best room temp or slightly warmed, but it is great cold too.

dill, tarragon, and lemon potato salad
6 red potatoes, boiled (or baked) and cut into bite size pieces
3 garlic cloves, minced
juice from one lemon
salt, to taste
2 sprigs of dill, minced
2 sprigs of tarragon, minced
combine until potatoes are just coated.  add a drizzle of a olive oil if it seems to dry.  keeps up to three days in the fridge.

a walk in our gardens

after a much needed rain, i took some pictures of happy seedlings and ready to provide plants. these were shot in our back garden, as well as, our herb garden outside the front door. aren't you impressed with how i weeded and cleaned up for you? *wink* anyway, enjoy.

cherokee trail {black beans} pole beans

butternut squash

cucumbers

cabbage

it's hard to see but under those greens is a ginormous turnip.  softball size.

swiss chard + onions

butter crunch that needs eating + romaine

golden beets

potatoes in tires

strawberries

hendrix's pepper garden

sage, oregano, tarragon

baby chard pot

baby rosemary plant

back porch + tool storage

things i love this week

i will be installing a pallet herb garden and tomatoes at my brother's place today.  this is his family's first foray into edible gardening.  i really enjoy doing these sort of projects with first time gardeners.  although, it is getting late in the season, don't forget that clementine's can help you with your fall garden later this season or help get you started next year.  email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com.
.....
this week has been such a great week of discovery....here are some of the things & people i love this week.

• the new blog for parents wanting to feed their babies well: fueling super heros
• local abundance supports a general economy...go to the plant exchange, BIG DIG GIG, at the union for contemporary art.
• mark bittman's tedX talk. word, mark. word.
• oh darling a {mom + baby} boutique is carrying original and unique refinished furniture.  check them out not only for prego clothes and baby gifts but to decorate your home!
• speaking of homes and parents....best family + design blog i have found in a long time.  dos family.
• june is operation sandbox building and tire swing hanging time.  i am using this one for inspiration.
• meal planning via the garden and farmer's markets
• lemonade stand at olive us tv
• this blog post sums up why i heart the HMC so much.

....
here are this week's blog posts in case you missed them:
spring photos around the farm
preserve spring through canning, freezer cooking, jams, and more
meal plan using spring's bounty