Guest Blogger: Tess!

Well, hello there Apple a Day.

I'm Tess - a short, spicy Italian who enjoys spicy Italian subs.
Convenient!

My dear friend Allison asked me to share my favorite recipe - and let me tell you, this is my MOST favorite (probably because it's the one I use the most - seriously like once a week). And I may or may not feel selfish when I make it and not want to share with anyone (don't tell). But what fun is it eating alone? None! I originally got it from a Ward cook-book, but I've modified it just a bit on my own.
So, here goes:


* I should mention that my Mother taught me to never cook without an apron on.
So do it.
'Cause Mamma says.
And you don't want to get pizza sauce on your nice white shirt - trust me.
I've learned.

Wheat pizza dough

Ingredients:

1 T. yeast
1 1/2 T. sugar
1 C. warm water
1 tsp. Salt
Basil
Oregano
Garlic Powder
3 C. wheat flour
oil or butter (I use oil)

Combine the first 7 ingredients and let sit for about 10 minutes, then mix again. Add to flour until desired consistency. Knead (not too sticky or stiff). Grease a bowl, pour in dough ball and cover, let rise until double. Punch down and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Roll out dough onto pizza pan until 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch thick (or how ever thin/thick you want it). Spread with melted butter (or oil), add garlic and salt if desired. Poke holes into dough with a fork and then bake for 10-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown at 375 degrees. Add desired toppings and bake again for about 5 minutes - because of course you want melted cheesy goodness on top.

Topping ideas:

basically anything.
But my preferences are. . .

tomato sauce
avocado
olives
tomatoes
onions
pepperoni
a tich of cilantro
garlic and more garlic (my family is Italian, can you blame me?)
and some more tomatoes
oh yeah and CHEESE.






Enjoy!!
Sincerely,
Tess
from tess {writes}

Guest Blogger: Emily!

Hello fellow readers! This is Emily from, "Boots N' Berries"! I am so flattered Allison asked me to guest blog and share a recipe with you! This pizza crust recipe originally came from my in-laws, except I've started using wheat flour instead of white! You can use whichever you prefer! Here's the recipe!

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

with whole wheat crust!

This recipe includes:

1. Pizza crust [this makes 2 pizza's- aka 2 cookie sheets]

-2 to 2 1/2 c. water [if you like thick crust use 2 1/2]

-1 Tbs yeast

-5 Tbs sugar

-1/2 tsp salt

-3 to 5 cups whole wheat flour [i cut the recipe in half and used 2 c. wheat flour and 1 cup white]

2. 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3. Alfredo sauce [pictured below- or personal preference]

4. Brocoli, red pepper, and yellow squash

5. Mozzarella cheese [about 2 1/2 cups]

To Put it Together:

1. First fry chicken in oil until well done. Shred chicken.

2. Dice the vegetables. [smaller is better]

To make the crust:

1. Use luke-warm water.

2. Add yeast. Let sit for 3ish minutes. Stir gently.

3. Add sugar and salt. Stir again.

4. Add flour 2 cups at a time until dough is the right consistency.

Next:

1. Roll the dough out.

2. Transfer dough to greased cookie sheet.

3. Stretch dough into corners.

Then:

1. Spread sauce onto dough. [i use about 2/3 of the bottle for one pizza]

2. Sprinkle a small amount of cheese onto sauce.

3. Bake for 10 minutes.

4. Take pizza out and layer vegetables first, then more cheese. [personal preference]

5. Bake for another 10 minutes.

and finally, Enjoy!!

Guest Blogger: Katy Ives!

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Hello An Apple A Day!

I am Katy Ives of Katy Confessional and Katy Ives Photography. Pleased to meet you!
I am writing here today because the beautiful Allison B. asked me to share one of my delicious recipes. Let me just say that this recipe is actually my sister-in-law Rachel's recipe, but I adapted it a little bit to meet the preferences of my husband and I, and also the contents of my pantry.

What I love about this recipe is that you make it in a CROCK POT! My favorite appliance! I come home after a long day of school and work, and....Voilà! Done! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Chicken Azteca

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen corn
1 (15 oz.) can black or red beans
1 can cream-of-chicken soup
1 cup chunky salsa, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated.
Hot cooked rice

Instructions:

1. Combine corn, beans, 1/2 cup salsa, cream of chicken soup, garlic, and cumin in a crock pot.
2. Arrange chicken breasts over top (these can still be frozen).
3. Pour remaining 1/2 cup salsa over the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 4-6 hours, or until chicken is tender.
5. Remove chicken; cut into bite-size pieces, and mix back into the mixture in the crock pot.
6. Spoon chicken mixture over hot rice and sprinkle with sharp cheddar cheese.
7. Eat and enjoy your low-stress meal!

(p.s. you don't have to feel guilty for eating this, it is pretty nutritionally awesome... Especially if you use fat free cream of chicken soup, brown rice, and go easy on the cheese.)

Adios Amigos!

Meet the Guest Bloggers!

Over the next few days, you'll be meeting

Katy, Emily, Tess, Andrew, and Julie

who will each be sharing a recipe and their
swell selves with An Apple a Day!

Enjoy!

Before the guest posting begins...

Print-your-own Valentines Day cards from Sarah Jane Studios!
Click the picture above to go to the etsy shop.

Explanation and apology.

Just because a person lives nearby or overhears a conversation I have with someone and expresses interest in me does not automatically mean we are immediately the closest of friends. And friendships go two ways- if one says they are not interested in the attention, it does not mean she is in the midst of lady-times, and it is disrespectful to doubt her feelings on the matter.

You may have noticed that any mention of my personal life on this blog is generally kept brief and vague, at least over the last couple of months, and that is the reason for it, and part of the reason for my general lack of social activity lately: I felt a violation of my privacy.

I don't like talking negative on this blog, and I just did that. Disgusting.

I'm sorry to those who expressed disappointment at my closing my personal blog, and I'm sorry for the stiffness that I feel comes through in this blog sometimes.

Look forward to some guests posting on here during the next couple of weeks, and hopefully I'll come back with a new excitement for blogging.

Confessions: My 5 Year Plan:

5 Year Relatively Ideal Plan:
(That is, if I am still single in 5 years. I'm not thinking beyond that right now):



Living in a modular dwelling, like the one above, MD 280: 280 square feet, 9 foot tall floor-to-ceiling glass, with full kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom right off the living room. And hey, it's small enough to fit in my parent's backyard in California, because heaven knows that's the only way I'll ever afford to live in California again.



I'd like to own a teardrop trailer, seen above. I've swooned over these vehicles ever since I saw one on the travel channel many, many years ago. It's just a bed in the main area, then a kitchen in the trunk! And it hooks onto your car! So I can adventure in the safety of my own home-like dwelling.

And in terms of career, if you were wondering, I wouldn't mind heading in the following vague direction:



I also wouldn't mind being able to say I've traveled to Norway.


Like that man did. (Image, of course, found on google images).

And if I do happen to get married in the next 5 years, just add a really good looking man into the picture. (Not like the picture above, but...)

Someone like the pie maker:


I've obviously been watching too much Pushing Daisies lately.

Have a wonderful weekend!