Pizza Pretzels

I was looking for peanut free school lunch ideas when I found this recipe in a cookbook I've had for years. My taste testers gave it two thumbs up!! My daughter asked "can I have TWO of these in my lunch?" Success! I think they'd also be good with chopped up pizza toppings like green pepper, pepperoni, or mushroom. I'll try that next time. I'm going to individually freeze these and use them for lunches.

Pizza Pretzels
Makes 15

1 1/4 c. water
2 tbsp oil or margarine (I used olive oil)
3 c. flour (I did 2 c. white and 1 c. whole wheat)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano (I used ground and didn't measure. I needed to use more.)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp instant yeast

Add all ingredients to a bread machine and put on the dough setting. Or, if you know how to make dough, go ahead and do it "the old fashioned way". 

Cut dough into 15 pieces. Shape each piece into an 8 inch log by rolling. Twist into pretzel shapes (my daughter said mine looked more like bows. I got better by pretzel #15) and place on greased or parchment paper lined baking sheets. Brush with oil, cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. I let mine rise in my oven with the light on. 

Brush tops with pizza sauce (don't be afraid to be generous) and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400F for 10 to 12 minutes. 
 

Pizza Dough

It seems Jenni and I are both bread machine fiends. This is a basic pizza dough recipe I make in my bread machine.

Pizza Dough

Makes a 12" pizza (about 8 slices)

3/4 cup warm water

2 TBSP olive oil

2 cups whole wheat flour ( white or a combination of the two works well)

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. instant dry yeast

Add all ingredients to bread machine. Select the dough cycle and press start. Once done (about an hour and a half), roll out into greased pizza pan and top with your favourite pizza toppings. We like mushrooms, ham, and feta cheese. 

Bake in the center of a 350*F oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbly.  

Whole wheat bread in the bread machine

I've been making our bread for close to 3 years now, thanks to the bread machine my grandmother gave me for Christmas some 10+yrs ago. It sat on the shelf collecting dust for many years as the first few loaves I made were inedible. One day, I dug it out of storage & decided to give it a try again. I have a few favorites but this is our everyday bread recipe. I veganized it a while ago as I needed to accomodate A's vegan lifestyle.

2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 Tablespoon instant dry yeast
4 TBSP brown sugar or agave nectar
2 TSBP oil (I use Safflower or Coconut)
1.5 cups hot tap water

Combine the flours, salt & yeast in a medium bowl. Mix well to incorporate the yeast in the flours. Combine the sugar, oil & tap water in the bread machine pan. Slowly add the dry ingredients into bread pan. I like to use the bread machine on the dough setting, which is 1.5hrs on my machine, and then bake it in the oven on 350*F for 30 minutes in a ceramic bread pan.