Homemade pizza dough FAIL

You know when you get a craving for something and then something happens to keep you from getting it in your tummy? I had all the ingredients for my Sunday homemade pizza sitting in my fridge ready to go, but I realized somehow the dough went bad. The oven was already pre-heated and my toppings were all ready cut. What the heck am I going to do now?
Why, make my own dough that’s what!

On a scale of 1-10, I’d say I’m about an 8 in the kitchen. I’m a pretty good cook and an even better baker. So I thought making my own dough shouldn’t be THAT hard. I’ve always been afraid to make my own dough for some reason, so there’s no better time than now.

I found this quick no rise recipe in my favorites (I think for some reason I got this from Polly but I’m not 100% sure) It seemed easy enough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in oil and warm water. Spread out on a large pizza pan. Top as desired.
2. Bake at 375 degrees C (190 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

This recipe sounds like it would be great if followed correctly. However, I thought it would be a good idea to use half regular flour with half whole wheat. This was mistake number one.
It didn’t say to knead or anything. So I didn’t. Mistake number 2.
And I don’t think one cup of water was enough (since whole wheat four absorbs more water than all purpose, but of course I didn’t know that until after the fact.) Mistake number 3.

As I was rolling everything out I realized I was in trouble. (No picture, the camera was charging at this point) It wasn’t a pretty sight—it wasn’t stretching, it was breaking apart instead. But I’m a fighter so dammit, this was going to work. I don’t like to waste food.

So I give to you, pizza dough fail pizza…with dough that ended up tasting more like bread than pizza crust.

Can you see how doughy like bread this looks? What a sad looking pizza I made.

Next time I’ll follow a real whole wheat pizza dough recipe. Anyone have an easy, no crazy dough utensils necessary whole wheat dough recipe? I honestly don’t want to deal with machines and waiting for things to rise (although I will wait the 20 minutes to rise if I have to.)

I ate two slices but it wasn’t really good. <Sigh.> I’ve learned my lesson: Don’t try to substitute anything while you’re making dough!!!

*Sidenote* Weird Al is one funny mutha...
“Can’t you see I’m white and nerdy? Look at me I’m white and nerdy….”

Sunday morning blues

Thank God for coffee and HEAB’s wonderful oatmeal in a PB jar concoction.

 

Being able to scrape up all the peanut butter from the sides of the jar is the best part!

I had a late night last night. I spent the entire day cleaning the new place-and boy did I clean. I scrubbed the bathtub so hard that I ended up with bloody knuckles. I used so much bleach that I made myself sick with the fumes and ended up on the couch at 7:30 feeling like poop. Then, at around 11:00, I got a phone call from my mother, in hysterics, from the hospital.
She’s OK, don’t worry. She slipped and fell in some mud and broke her ankle at a friend’s 30th birthday party, and no one was sober enough to transport her to and from the hospital (she went in an ambulance.) I’m 300 miles away, so all I could do was try calling people to help her. Since the people that were awake were drunk  and at the party, and my other friends who weren’t drunk were sleeping and have little kids, and there were NO taxis available (What??!!) she stayed in the hospital until someone was sober enough to bring her home in the morning. Soooo needless to say I didn’t have a great night last night.

Lovely.

She’s finally home and in her own bed and some of her friends have already come over to clean her house and cook her some food. We’re working on a plan to be sure she’s not alone for too long. Can our summer get any crazier?

On to the foot update:
I’m really happy to report that my foot feels great! I know I still need to take it easy so I plan to use the elliptical and weight train today, and then I will try to figure out a workout plan for the week that will include some more running (but not TOO much.)
I’m really excited to be able to add running back into my life—although I will admit that I was still able to stay in pretty good shape without it. I used the elliptical, lifted weights, and walked a lot while I was injured and was still able to maintain my strength and run my first 5K back with some decent speed. All the while without being in any pain, so I might have to use this as a wake up call. Do I want to give up running? No. But maybe 10Ks might have to become my new race distance. We’ll see how I do within the next few weeks. Remember, this is only a test.

I’m off. Enjoy your Sunday!

First run back

Through all the moving and climbing up and down three flights of stairs, (only to haul everything back down again two days later…ugh!) my foot went through a major test that I honestly expected it to fail. I was so worried that after carrying heavy boxes up and down the stairs that I would be in pain for a while, but surprisingly (and thankfully) I was not. I gave myself a full day of recovery, moved some stuff down yesterday and felt so good today that I decided it was time to give running a chance.

And boy did I need it. Moving is stressful!

I laced up my Nike Air Pegasus (my favs) and set out for a 5K run. Knowing that it had been more than 6 weeks that I’ve been able to run, I figured a 5K would be the perfect distance—not too long, but not too short. Like Goldilocks….juuuuuust right.

I started out slow just to be sure I’d have the stamina to get me there. Honestly, since I never stopped working out, the 10 minute mile pace I started out running felt way too slow for me. So I turned it up—and ended up running my first run back since the injury in 27:57—8 minute, 50 second miles. Did I just run my first run back from being injured in sub 9 minute miles? Yes. Yes I did. And I feel awesome.

I paid attention to my foot the entire time and would not have been afraid to stop if I felt I was aggravating it. I ended my run on a sprint, then slowed it down for a five minute cool down, then I walked for five more minutes just to be sure everything was working. As soon as I came home I iced it and honestly, I really feel great. It’s definitely something that will take some time to heal completely (it’s not pain, it’s not tender, but there’s still something there that reminds me I’m not exactly 100%) but it’s good enough to slowly start adding some mileage. Tomorrow will be another test…if the foot hurts or aches at all tomorrow, I will go back to strictly using the elliptical for another few weeks, but I’m really hoping I won’t need to.

On a food note, I accidentally bumped into those Mary’s Gone Crackers that I’ve been reading about. I have to say that I think these will definitely be my replacement for my saltine crack-er addiction.

Check out these stats:

Now I just have to stop eating my graham crackers and Nutella…well, maybe not the Nutella…
I actually tried to eat Nutella on a slice of toasted cinnamon raisin Ezekiel Bread figuring it’s much more natural than the graham cracker, but it was too sweet for my taste. I really need to knock the graham cracker kick though because I just looked at the ingredients and wow are they full of crap. Now if I could just find some Mary’s Gone Crackers graham cracker replacement…

The joys of moving

Wondering where I’ve been?

At least Marley could get some sleep.
We’ve spent the last two nights sleeping on the third floor studio in the house of our new apartment. We have way more stuff than showed in the pictures but they are spread out between all three floors of this house. Long story short, we had to leave our last apartment, which was absolutely beautiful and lovely, because our landlords refused to let us live there on a month-to-month basis while we figured out job situations. After a year of keeping their condo neat and clean, paying our rent on time every month, dealing heating bills of $450 in November, $500 in December and $550 January and February, (not to mention Dennis and the 6 weeks he spent in the hospital and 8 weeks he spent recovering…since that’s a completely different story) and a broken heater in the back bathroom that caused us to lose 2 months of its use, we were told we had to move somewhere else. That’s OK though, you see, because I believe everything happens for a reason. We don’t know what that is yet but we will sooner or later.  Selfishness and greed only gets you so far in life my friends, and my landlords will be reaping what the sew at some point.

And I’ve also found that my fool proof steel cut oats recipe has failed me. I had to use this microwave to make breakfast in this temporary situation:

It’s probably 25 years old and nothing I told you guys to do for the perfect bowl of oats worked. 50% power on here barely warmed my bowl. I guess I learned my lesson there too—every microwave (and bowl) is different. But for the most part it has worked on nearly every newer modeled microwave I’ve used, so that’s a plus right?

We will be moving out of the studio this evening and will be very glad to sleep in our own bed, have a hot shower, and unpack what we can so I can cook again. I’m very grateful to have a roof over my head, but I also can’t wait to get back into a place of my own.

Until the next move….

The best way to cook steel cut oats

Last week there was a sale on organic oatmeal at our local supermarket – 2 for $5. Sweet! I eat oatmeal every morning this is PERFECT!
Well, that’s until I opened the container and realized they were steel cut oats. UGH!
I was so upset because they look different, and I was obviously going to have to cook them different. Why didn’t I read the damn box??

Well I’m happy to report that after giving them a try, I love them. And I actually think they’re slightly better than rolled oats. They’re more filling too. One serving with my regular toppings of 1 scoop of PB, 1 Tbsp. flax and one banana keeps me full for around 5 hours. 5 HOURS?! Yes. Not that I like to go that long without eating but I’ve gotten caught running around and realizing I went that long beyond lunchtime and was absolutely fine. That never happens with me.

I also found that it takes less to fill me up for the rest of the day too. My lunches and dinners are much smaller because I’m still slightly satisfied from my breakfast. Who can complain about that?

Okay, so let me take a step back to talk about the main difference between rolled oats and steel cut oats. It’s the cut. Rolled oats are rolled out, flattened, and slightly steamed or cooked a little for a faster cooking time. Since rolled oats are rolled out, the texture is much different than steel cut oats, which are the whole, raw oat cut into smaller chunks.

They almost look like bird seed or cut up corn kernels.
Vs. Rolled oats

You all know what a regular bowl of oatmeal looks and tastes like. Steel cut oats have much crunchier, nuttier flavor and texture.
I’ve read in many places that some people think steel cut oats have more soluble fiber even though the containers both say they have the same amount. But I do feel that because the steel cut oats are not pre-cooked to advance the cooking process, more water is allowed to be absorbed into the small kernels, ultimately leaving you feel fuller longer.
And yes, with more absorption means a longer cooking time. This is the negative that people find with steel cut oats; they are a pain in the ass to cook. I went through many-a-dry bowls of this oatmeal before I figured out how to make it work. Warning: I am a microwave person. I know many people don’t like to use them, but they help me save time and dishes. If you don’t like to use a microwave, these oats will take up to 20 minutes to cook. That’s not including the time it takes for them to cool down and thicken up enough for you to eat.

This is how I make steel cut oats in under 10 minutes, all in the same time that my coffee is brewing:

• 1 serving rolled oats (1/4 cup)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk * The extra liquid is very important to cooking these properly!! Otherwise they will be way too dry and you’ll have to add it in the end anyway.*
• sprinkle cinnamon

Place the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and cook on medium power for 5 1/2 minutes. Cooking on medium power is the key here people. If you put it on high, the oats bubble over and overflow. This has happened to me so many times and I can’t tell you how much I hate losing half, if not all of my breakfast--especially when I’m at work. I found cooking it on high is too much heat for any kind of oatmeal making, so using medium heat allows them to cook more thoroughly without any fear of overflow.

While the oats are microwaving, I clean out my coffee carafe, measure out and grind my coffee (I will never go back to pre-ground beans again) and start making my coffee. By this time, the oats are just about finishing up round 1 of cooking.
When the oats are done, take them out and stir them. Stir them well. Place back in the microwave for another 3 1/2 minutes on medium power.
During this time, my coffee is just about done. I pour my coffee into my mug, mix with milk and agave nectar, and bring to the table (or my desk.)
When the microwave beeps to tell you round 2 of cooking is complete, they will look watery but they need to look like that. Not so watery that they look like they haven’t cooked at all, but watery enough to give some time for the oats to continue absorbing the liquid. Oatmeal always thickens after it’s done cooking! Give the bowl a good stir and add whatever ingredients you wish. I add one small banana, 1 tbsp. whole flax seeds, and 1 large tsp. crunchy PB. I stir again really well and then I get the perfect consistency.

I like them to be a bit more creamy so if you like yours a little thicker, just cook them for another minute on the second time around, and next time add 1/4 cup less liquid.

It is important to know that the first round of cooking is just a prep. If you don’t take them out to stir, you will be waiting on them forever. I’ve tried just putting them in for 8 minutes to cook all in one step and I still had to stir and put it back in for another few minutes. If you don’t do it in two steps, it will not work! (as least it never has for me) And for some people who say they don’t have time, I found that you can do other stuff in between: i.e. make coffee, or on days that I’m rushing, finish getting dressed, put on my makeup, etc. If you don’t have 10 minutes to make breakfast, you can do like I do and wait until you get to work to make them. Most work places (most) have microwaves available. So when you get to work, put the stuff in the micro while you’re starting up your computer and getting settled in. (however some bosses would rather your breakfast be done before your workday begins. When I had this type of boss, I got to work 10 minutes early. I didn’t even miss that time in the morning. It’s all worth it to me for a good, hearty breakfast.)

I also know there are people out there who just don’t like to eat breakfast. I’m not a nutritionist so I can’t tell you that you need to change that dirty little not-habit, but this is a good post for you too just in case you feel hungry enough to try.

I still will eat a bowl of rolled oats if I want to do a cold breakfast (overnight oats) but I still don’t seem to stay full and as satisfied from rolled oats as I do from the steel oats.

Have a safe and healthy Saturday folks! Enjoy your weekend!

A little confession

It’s been just over five weeks since my 15K (click to review my race here) and exactly five weeks since I realized something was wrong with my foot. After taking a full week off from everything to recover and four full weeks of just walking and using the elliptical trainer, I decided it was time to try a short run.

Now don’t worry—I am smart and I know what I can and can’t handle. I’ve been working very hard at keeping my cardio up so I don’t have to start from scratch again, but obviously the foot is what I need to focus on. I walked for 5 minutes to warm up, ran for 10 and walked for 5. I told myself that if at any time while on the treadmill I started to hurt, I would get off immediately.

That 10 minutes of running was awesome. I felt great and I didn’t feel any pain or pressure at all, and it just flew by. Although I wanted to keep going, I stopped myself and then used the elliptical machine for the rest of my cardio session. However, on my way home from the gym I started to feel guilty.

“Should I have done that? What was I thinking? Ugh what if I just aggravated it again? I’ll have no one to blame but myself!”

I came home and iced it for 20 minutes (using frozen peas, mind you) and I will admit, it hurt a little, but I figured the real test would be how I felt today. I feel great. Not enough to go running again, but enough to know that I can slowly start incorporating it back into my workouts.

Training for the Team Challenge 1/2 marathon for Chrons and Colitis starts next month, so I will only allow myself to increase my runs by 10% twice a week. I don’t want to push it, so I figure if I run slow, short runs to start, I can gauge how I feel when the training starts. If I don’t think I can handle it, I’ll pull out and plan to walk the race instead. If I’ve learned anything in this last 5 weeks it’s to appreciate my body for what it can do. If this is a sign that I shouldn’t be running long distances anymore, then so be it, but if I don’t try to slowly get myself back into the game I will never know. Hence the name of the blog, my competitive nature will not let me give up without a fight! (although in my older age I realize I might have to give in much sooner than before. <sigh>)

Also I wanted to comment on this:
A got an email from Active.com yesterday that blew me away. It was a marketing campaign for MGD 64. They’re trying to get people with active lifestyles to promote MGD 64 by showing other fit peeps how they can incorporate it into their active lifestyles. Read about it here.

First of all, if I want to have a beer, I’m going to have a BEER. None of this 64 calorie crap. Give me the good stuff. Since I know how to drink in moderation, one GOOD beer isn’t going to do any damage. This is just promoting crappy low carb/low cal beer so you can drink more of it. If any of you have not read HEAB’s post on refueling, I suggest you check it out. We need to remember that exercising and being healthy is about balance and joy, not about working your ass off so you can eat and drink shit. Plain and simple. What’s the point?

It’s HOT up in here

Some of you may have already seen this picture but I thought it was worth sharing again. It’s oppressively hot and humid outside and when it’s this hot, Marley is NOT a happy guy. He has to hang out in the bathroom because it’s the coolest spot in the house. Poor guy. (Don’t worry, no kitties are suffering in our apt. We put the AC on in the office and have all congregated in there for now.  The kitties are much happier, and so are we.)
I was hoping to go for a walk around the river later but I’m assuming it’s going to be MUCH later than expected.
Stay cool everyone!