Sunday, September 6, 2015

Blogger's Co-Op Sharing Is Caring Link Up 9/6 #SharingIsCaringLinkUp

 
 

WELCOME TO BLOGGER CO-OP "SHARING IS CARING" SUNDAY LINKUP


Welcome to the 7th week of the Sharing is Caring Sunday Linkup, brought to you by the Bloggers Co-Op! The Bloggers Co-Op is a group of bloggers who want to share and grow together; what better way to do so than by linking up with each other and other awesome bloggers?

Do you have a post from this past week you'd like to share/highlight? Go ahead and link it up here. In fact, you can link UP TO 3 of your favorite posts from this past week! All we ask is that you follow at least one host each week, link up NO MORE THAN 3 of your posts (family friendly only, please!), visit at least 2 posts for every post you link up, and spread the word! (The more people who know about the link up, the more people will be likely to see your posts!) See the rules below.

This link-up will be open all week long, so please feel free to drop by any day and add your post, plus check out other bloggers' posts!

This week's blogger highlight is Angie over at AngieWagg's Blog.

HOSTS:


Molly: A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**GOOGLE+

Nancy: Things That Make People Go Aww
TWITTER*FACEBOOK*PINTEREST*INSTAGRAM*GOOGLE+

Patricia: Tricia's Treasures 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Melinda: My So Called Balanced Life 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christy: Christy's Cozy Corners 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Angie: AngieWagg's Blog 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Ondria: Mommy's Block Party  
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Kelly: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Pam: PinkMama's Place 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

STEPS:

  1. Please follow at least *one host* each week! 
  2. You can share UP TO 3(!!!) of your favorite blog posts (family friendly only, please!)
  3. Please visit at least 2 others for every link you enter. 
  4. By linking up, you are giving us permission to share your post on our social media pages 
  5. Please spread the word about the LinkUp because the more people who see the link up-more people see your posts! 
  6. Please use the ‪#‎SharingIsCaringLinkUp‬ hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
Just add your link by clicking the link below, or just browse and share some of the other blog posts. Remember: Sharing is Caring!!!




Sunday, August 30, 2015

Bloggers Co-Op Sharing is Caring Link Up 8/30 #SharingIsCaringLinkUp

 
 

WELCOME TO BLOGGER CO-OP "SHARING IS CARING" SUNDAY LINKUP


Welcome to the 6th week of the Sharing is Caring Sunday Linkup, brought to you by the Bloggers Co-Op! The Bloggers Co-Op is a group of bloggers who want to share and grow together; what better way to do so than by linking up with each other and other awesome bloggers?

Do you have a post from this past week you'd like to share/highlight? Go ahead and link it up here. In fact, you can link UP TO 3 of your favorite posts from this past week! All we ask is that you follow at least one host each week, link up NO MORE THAN 3 of your posts (family friendly only, please!), visit at least 2 posts for every post you link up, and spread the word! (The more people who know about the link up, the more people will be likely to see your posts!) See the rules below.

This link-up will be open all week long, so please feel free to drop by any day and add your post, plus check out other bloggers' posts!

This week's blogger highlight is Christy over at Christy's Cozy Corners.

HOSTS:


Molly: A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**GOOGLE+

Nancy: Things That Make People Go Aww
TWITTER*FACEBOOK*PINTEREST*INSTAGRAM*GOOGLE+

Patricia: Tricia's Treasures 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Melinda: My So Called Balanced Life 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christy: Christy's Cozy Corners 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Angie: AngieWagg's Blog 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Ondria: Mommy's Block Party  
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Kelly: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Pam: PinkMama's Place 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

STEPS:

  1. Please follow at least *one host* each week! 
  2. You can share UP TO 3(!!!) of your favorite blog posts (family friendly only, please!)
  3. Please visit at least 2 others for every link you enter. 
  4. By linking up, you are giving us permission to share your post on our social media pages 
  5. Please spread the word about the LinkUp because the more people who see the link up-more people see your posts! 
  6. Please use the ‪#‎SharingIsCaringLinkUp‬ hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
Just add your link by clicking the link below, or just browse and share some of the other blog posts. Remember: Sharing is Caring!!!




Sunday, August 23, 2015

Bloggers Co-Op Sharing is Caring Link Up 8/23 #SharingIsCaringLinkUp

 
 

WELCOME TO BLOGGER CO-OP "SHARING IS CARING" SUNDAY LINKUP


Welcome to the 5th week of the Sharing is Caring Sunday Linkup, brought to you by the Bloggers Co-Op! The Bloggers Co-Op is a group of bloggers who want to share and grow together; what better way to do so than by linking up with each other and other awesome bloggers?

Do you have a post from this past week you'd like to share/highlight? Go ahead and link it up here. In fact, you can link UP TO 3 of your favorite posts from this past week! All we ask is that you follow at least one host each week, link up NO MORE THAN 3 of your posts (family friendly only, please!), visit at least 2 posts for every post you link up, and spread the word! (The more people who know about the link up, the more people will be likely to see your posts!) See the rules below.

This link-up will be open all week long, so please feel free to drop by any day and add your post, plus check out other bloggers' posts!

This week's blogger highlight is Melinda over at My So Called Balanced Life.

HOSTS:


Molly: A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**GOOGLE+

Nancy: Things That Make People Go Aww
TWITTER*FACEBOOK*PINTEREST*INSTAGRAM*GOOGLE+

Patricia: Tricia's Treasures 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Melinda: My So Called Balanced Life 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christy: Christy's Cozy Corners 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Angie: AngieWagg's Blog 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Ondria: Mommy's Block Party  
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Kelly: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Pam: PinkMama's Place 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

STEPS:

  1. Please follow at least *one host* each week! 
  2. You can share UP TO 3(!!!) of your favorite blog posts (family friendly only, please!)
  3. Please visit at least 2 others for every link you enter. 
  4. By linking up, you are giving us permission to share your post on our social media pages 
  5. Please spread the word about the LinkUp because the more people who see the link up-more people see your posts! 
  6. Please use the ‪#‎SharingIsCaringLinkUp‬ hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
Just add your link by clicking the link below, or just browse and share some of the other blog posts. Remember: Sharing is Caring!!!





Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Homemade Pizza with Savory Crust


I love pizza. Not as much as I love Chinese food and dessert, but it’s definitely one of my top favorite foods. What I don’t appreciate about pizza, though, is how unhealthy and greasy it is. I typically blot off some of the grease with a napkin, but even at that there’s still a lot. So to keep myself from feeling totally guilty, I like to make homemade pizzas. It might not be enough to reclassify pizza has “healthy food,” but I feel like making homemade pizza takes some of the unhealthy components out of it (plus, you know what exactly is going in your pizza, and who is handling it).

It’s definitely a lot harder to make a pizza crust from scratch rather than buying a pre-made one or a pizza kit, but this pizza crust isn’t really that hard. It’s very flavorful, too! Not to mention, when I do all of the work, I kinda feel like I deserve the pizza.

The dough needs to rise in a warm place for about an hour, so I like to have my oven preheated to the temperature 400 degrees for that long and have the bowl with the dough sit on top of it. So go ahead and preheat your oven to 400 degrees. If you aren’t interested in doing that, just have a warm, dry place ready for your dough, and preheat the oven around the time you’re going to bake the pizza.


First, combine 1 Tbsp olive oil, ½ Tbsp stevia* (the granulated kind), 1 tsp salt, and 1 Tbsp active dry yeast in a large mixing bowl. You can also add seasonings to your crust by adding them in at this step (I typically do ½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp basil, and ½ tsp garlic and herb).


When the ingredients have combined, pour in 1 cup of warm water and stir until the yeast has dissolved.

Once the yeast has dissolved, add the flour. I do a mixture of all-purpose and whole wheat flour, by combining 1 cup of whole wheat with the wet ingredients, followed by mixing in 1 cup of all-purpose flour, and then ¼ cup of whole-wheat and ¼ cup of all-purpose. You do not want a dry dough. You want the dough to be slightly wet (especially if using whole wheat – you want it to feel kind of tacky) but not so much that it sticks to your fingers. If the dough is sticking to your fingers, add in another ¼ cup of flour.

Once your dough is formed, plop it onto a floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes. Put it back into the bowl, cover, and set the bowl in a warm, dry area and let the dough rise for about an hour. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s doubled in size.


When the dough is ready, grease a round pizza pan (12”-13”) with about a tsp or so of olive oil. Plop the dough onto the greased pan and carefully work it out so that it fills the pan. Top with your favorite toppings (I do the classic – pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni) and bake in your preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 18 minutes, give or take a minute (when the crust is slightly golden brown).


Serve and enjoy!

*If you don’t have granulated stevia, you can substitute your preferred granulated sweetener. However, stevia is 4 times as sweet as sugar, so, if you use sugar, you will use 2 Tbsp.

Homemade Pizza With Savory Crust


Ingredients


1 Tbsp olive oil
½ Tbsp granulated stevia*
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp active dry yeast
½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp basil, and ½ tsp garlic and herb (if desired)
1 cup warm water
2 ½ - 2 ¾ cups of flour (all-purpose, whole wheat, or a mixture of both; I typically do half whole wheat and half all-purpose)
Extra flour for dusting
1-2 tsp Olive oil for greasing pan
Desired toppings

*If you don’t have granulated stevia, you can substitute your preferred granulated sweetener. However, stevia is 4 times as sweet as sugar, so, if you use sugar, you will use 2 Tbsp.

Directions


The dough needs to rise in a warm place for about an hour, so I like to have my oven preheated to the temperature 400 degrees for that long and have the bowl with the dough sit on top of it. So go ahead and preheat your oven to 400 degrees. If you aren’t interested in doing that, just have a warm, dry place ready for your dough, and preheat the oven around the time you’re going to bake the pizza.

First, combine olive oil, stevia, salt, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. If desired, you can also add seasonings to your crust by adding them in at this step (I typically do ½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp basil, and ½ tsp garlic and herb). When the ingredients have combined, pour in the water and stir until the yeast has dissolved.

Once the yeast has dissolved, add the flour. I do a mixture of all-purpose and whole wheat flour, by combining 1 cup of whole wheat with the wet ingredients, followed by mixing in 1 cup of all-purpose flour, and then ¼ cup of whole-wheat and ¼ cup of all-purpose. You do not want a dry dough. You want the dough to be slightly wet (especially if using whole wheat – you want it to feel kind of tacky) but not so much that it sticks to your fingers. If the dough is sticking to your fingers, add in another ¼ cup of flour.

Once your dough is formed, plop it onto a floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes. Put it back into the bowl, cover, and set the bowl in a warm, dry area and let the dough rise for about an hour. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s doubled in size.

When the dough is ready, grease a round pizza pan or stone (12”-13”) with about 1 tsp or so of olive oil. Plop the dough onto the greased pan and carefully work it out so that it fills the pan. Top with your favorite toppings (I do the classic – pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni) and bake in your preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 18 minutes, give or take a minute (when the crust is slightly golden brown).

Serve and enjoy!

I’ve also made a buffalo ranch chicken pizza with this crust recipe, and it is delicious! What are your favorite types of pizzas?

Molly 

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Bloggers Co-Op Sharing is Caring Link Up 8/17 #SharingIsCaringLinkUp

 
 

WELCOME TO BLOGGER CO-OP "SHARING IS CARING" SUNDAY LINKUP


Welcome to week 4 of the Sharing is Caring Sunday Linkup, brought to you by the Bloggers Co-Op! The Bloggers Co-Op is a group of bloggers who want to share and grow together; what better way to do so than by linking up with each other and other awesome bloggers?

Do you have a post from this past week you'd like to share/highlight? Go ahead and link it up here. In fact, you can link UP TO 3 of your favorite posts from this past week! All we ask is that you follow at least one host each week, link up NO MORE THAN 3 of your posts (family friendly only, please!), visit at least 2 posts for every post you link up, and spread the word! (The more people who know about the link up, the more people will be likely to see your posts!) See the rules below.

This link-up will be open all week long, so please feel free to drop by any day and add your post, plus check out other bloggers' posts!

This week's blogger highlight is Patricia over at Tricia's Treasures.

HOSTS:


Molly: A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**GOOGLE+

Nancy: Things That Make People Go Aww
TWITTER*FACEBOOK*PINTEREST*INSTAGRAM*GOOGLE+

Patricia: Tricia's Treasures 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Melinda: My So Called Balanced Life 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christy: Christy's Cozy Corners 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Angie: AngieWagg's Blog 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Ondria: Mommy's Block Party  
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Kelly: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Pam: PinkMama's Place 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christina: Momknowsbest2.com 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Maria: Adventures of the Mommy Homemaker
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

STEPS:

  1. Please follow at least *one host* each week! 
  2. You can share UP TO 3(!!!) of your favorite blog posts (family friendly only, please!)
  3. Please visit at least 2 others for every link you enter. 
  4. By linking up, you are giving us permission to share your post on our social media pages 
  5. Please spread the word about the LinkUp because the more people who see the link up-more people see your posts! 
  6. Please use the ‪#‎SharingIsCaringLinkUp‬ hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
Just add your link by clicking the link below, or just browse and share some of the other blog posts. Remember: Sharing is Caring!!!





Friday, August 14, 2015

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Me



I found some posts from some bloggers listing 10 things readers (and bloggers alike!) probably didn't know about them. I thought it was a fun idea, and a good way to let readers know a little bit more about the blogger they're reading posts from. So I decided to get in on the fun!

The rules are simple: I will answer 10 questions you didn't know about me, and I will come up with a list of 10 questions for 10 bloggers (who I will tag in the post) to answer. Then those bloggers, if they accept the tag, will answer the 10 questions on their own post, come up with another list of 10 questions for 10 other bloggers (who they will tag). The list will go on and on! (Theoretically, of course.)

So, with no further ado...

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Me:


1. What is your favorite summer activity?

Swimming has always been one of my favorite things to do. Since I live in Ohio, swimming outside is only really a smart idea June-August, give or take a few weeks.

2. What’s your favorite book?

DON'T LAUGH. Twilight is my favorite book (although I haven't read it in a few years). I read it when I was 15 and the fact the Bella thought she was plain and didn't really fit in really resonated with me. I loved the idea of mixing fantasy with reality, which I hadn't experienced before then; this book is what really made me want to become an author.

3. What’s your favorite thing to shop for?

Books. I can go clothes shopping and end up bringing home books. It never fails.

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Oh geez. Will a list work? LOST, Sherlock, Supernatural, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars... the list goes on, but these are my top favorites.

5. What do you think you cook or bake the best?

Hmm I am a darn good baker, but I think my (Heavenly) Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake is probably the best.

6. Where do you want to vacation next?

Honestly, I want to go back to Disney World. I'd also like to stop by Daytona Beach again on my way to Orlando :)

7. Do you have a favorite candy?

CADBURY CREME EGGS

8. What is your hobby?

Reading, writing, netflixing

9. What is your favorite restaurant?

I LOVED Cheeseburger in Paradise (they had amazing sweet potato fries) but that closed down, so probably Cheesecake Factory wins because I love their Adam's Peanut Butter Cheesecake. Dynasty Buffet is another favorite, because I am also addicted to Chinese food, and they have delicious selections!

10. If you could buy ONE thing, and money was not an issue, what would it be?

If I say "an in ground pool," does that include the space to have a pool, the water, the chemicals, the pumps, and everything else needed to have a pool? If so, then "a pool." :)


My nominees:

Things that Make People Go Aww

Tricia's Treasures

My So Called Balanced Life

Christy's Cozy Corners

AngieWagg's Blog

Mommy's Block Party

Kelly's Thoughts on Things

PinkMama's Place

Mom Knows Best 2

Adventures of the Mommy Homemaker

My questions to the nominees:

1. If you could travel to one place, where would you go?

2. Where is the farthest you've ever traveled?

3. What's your favorite type of cuisine (Chinese, Mexican, Thai, etc.)?

4. If you could be best friends with someone famous or fictional, who would it be?

5. Do you like scary movies? If so, what's your favorite?

6. What's your favorite outdoor activity?

7. What's your dream job?

8. Stripes or polka dots?

9. What's your favorite season?

10. What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

BLOGGERS: if you accept this tag, post your answers in your own blog post, write your own 10 questions, and tag 10 bloggers to answer them (and tag me in it so I can read your answers to my questions)!

Molly

Monday, August 10, 2015

Blogger's Co-Op Sharing is Caring Weekly Link Up 8/9 #SharingIsCaringLinkUp

 
 

WELCOME TO BLOGGER CO-OP "SHARING IS CARING" SUNDAY LINKUP


It's week 3 of the Sharing is Caring Sunday Linkup, brought to you by the Bloggers Co-Op! The Bloggers Co-Op is a group of bloggers who want to share and grow together; what better way to do so than by linking up with each other and other awesome bloggers?

Have a post from this past week you'd like to share/highlight? Go ahead and link it up here. In fact, you can link UP TO 3 of your favorite posts from this past week! All we ask is that you follow at least one host each week, link up NO MORE THAN 3 of your posts (family friendly only, please!), visit at least 2 posts for every post you link up, and spread the word! (The more people who know about the link up, the more people will be likely to see your posts!) See the rules below.

This link-up will be open all week long, so please feel free to drop by any day and add your post, plus check out other bloggers' posts!

This week's blogger highlight is Nancy over at Things That Make People Go Aww.

HOSTS:


Molly: A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**GOOGLE+

Nancy: Things That Make People Go Aww
TWITTER*FACEBOOK*PINTEREST*INSTAGRAM*GOOGLE+

Patricia: Tricia's Treasures 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Melinda: My So Called Balanced Life 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christy: Christy's Cozy Corners 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Angie: AngieWagg's Blog 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Ondria: Mommy's Block Party  
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Kelly: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Pam: PinkMama's Place 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christina: Momknowsbest2.com 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Maria: Adventures of the Mommy Homemaker
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

STEPS:

  1. Please follow at least *one host* each week! 
  2. You can share UP TO 3(!!!) of your favorite blog posts (family friendly only, please!)
  3. Please visit at least 2 others for every link you enter. 
  4. By linking up, you are giving us permission to share your post on our social media pages 
  5. Please spread the word about the LinkUp because the more people who see the link up-more people see your posts! 
  6. Please use the ‪#‎SharingIsCaringLinkUp‬ hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
Just add your link by clicking the link below, or just browse and share some of the other blog posts. Remember: Sharing is Caring!!!