Mini Hawaiian Pizzas

Who doesn't like pizzas?  Hot, juicy, cheesey pizzas are best with a can of coke or a bottle of beer!  What about homemade pizzas?  Build your own fresh pizzas with whatever toppings you have in your pantry/fridge.  They are quite simple to make.  As always, it's more healthy when you cook your own food.  You know exactly what you put in it. 

Mini Hawaiian Pizzas
(12 Servings ~ 245 calories each)

Ingredients:
Basic White Bread Dough
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup pizza sauce or pasta sauce
6 pineapple slices from can, cut into pieces
3 slices of ham, cut into pieces
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup 2% milk reduced fat mozzarella shredded cheese
1/8 tsp dried oregano

Directions:

1. Prepare basic white bread dough with a bread machine, add garlic powder and dried basil along with other ingredients for bread dough. Put on dough cycle, press start.

2. After the dough cycle is completed, punch dough, then divde dough into 12 pieces and cover with plastic wrap, let it rest for 15 minutes.

3. On a slightly floured surface, roll the dough out flat, use a fork and poke the dough a few times, then spread a few drops of olive oil on top of the dough surface. 













4. Using a teaspoon, spread about 1 teaspoon of pizza sauce around the dough, sprinkle some Swiss and parmesan cheese, top with ham and pineapple pieces, then pour another teaspoon of pizza sauce on top, and sprinkle some mozzarella cheese and dried oregano (I love the stringy effect of melted mozzarella cheese!)

5. Place the dough on a baking sheet that is lined with baking paper, covered with plastic wrap, let it raise for 30-40 minutes.

6. Preheat oven to 375F, bake for about 15 minutes until cheese are all melted. 

Best to serve hot!  Yum!

Hot Dog Buns

Had a little get together lunch with my old co-workers last week.  One of them is moving to Japan for a few years.  I'm going to miss her!  I wanted to bake my friends something fresh, tasty and memoriable. 

Hot Dog Buns

(16 servings ~ 155 calories each)

Ingredients:

Basic white bread dough

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1 package (8 links) Hot dog links (beef, turkey, or chicken), cut each link in half

Directions:

1. Prepare basic white bread dough with a bread machine, add garlic powder and dried basil along with other ingredients for bread dough.  Put on dough cycle, press start.

2. After the dough cycle is completed, punch dough, then divde dough into 12 pieces and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rest for 15 minutes.

3.  Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface.  Roll each dough into a rope.

4. Wrap the dough around the hot dog link.

5. Place the dough on a baking sheet that is lined with baking paper, covered with plastic wrap, let it raise for 30-40 minutes or until doubled.

6. Preheat oven at 375F. Brush egg wash (1 egg yolk + 1 tbsp water) on dough. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. 

Chocolate Truffles

My friends invited us to their housewarming last weekend.  In addition to some store bought gifts, I made them some homemade chocolate truffles.  Homemade gifts with some personal touch.  These melt-in-your-mouth truffles are crowd pleasers.  Once you dress them up nicely, they can totally compete with the ones that they sell at the fancy chocolateries. 

Chocolate Truffles

(20 servings ~ 50 calories each)

adapted from Lindt

Ingredients:

For Ganache

¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream

5oz (150grams) Lindt milk, white or dark chocolate, chopped (I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips)

1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter, softened

Directions:

1. Place the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. Set aside.

2. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan until it just comes to a boil, add butter and stir until melted.

3. Pour the cream and butter mixture into the chocolate bowl, stir or whisk the mixture until the chocolate is completely melted.  Microwave the bowl to melt the chocolate completely as nessasary.

4. Put the ganache in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, ensuring that the plastic makes contact with the entire surface of the ganache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Refrigerate overnight or until the ganache is set (about 2-3 hours)

 

6. To form basic truffles

Use a teaspoon, roll the ganache in a ball and place on parchment paper. To avoid a big mess on your hands, use gloves!  And make sure you have some ice around to keep your hands cold as you roll the ganache in a ball.  The ganache melts easily. 

7. To finish the truffles

Roll truffles in unsweetened cocoa powder, powdered sugar, chocolate shavings, chopped chocolate, chopped toasted nuts or coconut.

Gummy bear chocolate :)

Chocolate Heaven!