Thin Crust Pizza Dough: 2 hours 30 minutes

I still need to test out the ball of pizza dough that we froze (update: it holds up in the freezer!!) but this is my new go-to thin crust dough and if the freezer ball works out it will be a good day indeed. We paired with our homemade pizza sauce and the hamburger tomato pizza toppings.

Thin Crust Pizza Dough
2 hours 30 minutes
Adapted from Dinner: A Love Story
Makes 2 pizza crusts

• 3 3/4 cups flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/3 cup room temperature water
• cornmeal for dusting

In a medium bowl stir all the ingredients up to water together.  Add the water and mix well with a spatula or your hands for 30 seconds. The dough should be stiff, not wet.  Cover the bowl and let sit 2 hours.

Divide the dough in half and shape each into balls (can be frozen at this point).

Put a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500F. Roll out one of the balls. When the oven is preheated, take out the hot pizza stone and dust with cornmeal. Place the rolled out dough on the stone then make the pizza.

Cook at 500F for 15 minutes.

Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

A sheet pan (and one pot...and one bowl) dinner. Of course no pictures, but we both agreed this was better than a typical shrimp boil. Something about that extra char from the oven.

Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
Serves 4
Adapted from Damn Delicious

• 1 pound baby dutch yellow potatoes (I couldn't find baby so just cut yellow potatoes in chunks)
• 3 corn on the cob, cut into sections - I used frozen and it was great
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon cajun season
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 12 ounce package of smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon
• fresh parsley leaves, chopped for garnish

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray.

Boil a large pot of salted water.  Cook potatoes for about 10-13 minutes until just tender.  Add corn in the last 5 of those minutes.  Drain

Meanwhile in a small bowl combine butter, garlic, and Cajun seasoning.

Place potatoes, corn, shrimp, and sausage on the baking sheet and toss with the butter seasoning.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until shrimp are pink and corn is tender.

Serve with lemon wedges and parsley.

Mac n Cheese

The quest for the best mac n cheese still continues.  There isn't such a thing as bad mac n cheese, I just haven't found one that hits the spot.  This one was pretty dang close.

Stove Top Mac n Cheese
From Serious Eats

• 1 part elbow macaroni
• salt
• 1 part evaporated milk (usually sold in 5 oz or 12 oz cans)
• 1 part grated cheddar cheese (I used strong, next time I'll go medium)

Place macaroni in a pot with just enough cold water to cover it (this is important, the less water the better). Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil over high heat.  Since there isn't much water you need to stir frequently. Cook until most of the water is gone and the macaroni is almost done. About 6 minutes.

Add evaporated milk and bring to a boil. Add cheese and reduce heat to low.  Stir continuously until cheese is completely melted and turns into a creamy sauce (about 2 minutes). Season with more salt and serve.