Monday, August 29, 2016

(Incredible) Deep Dish Pizza




Ya know when you find a great recipe and you find yourself wanting to make it again within the week?


This Deep Dish Pizza is that recipe.




I do not know where I got the recipe and it is one of those that was not specific about amounts for the ingredients. You know, a throw a little of this in, then a little of that, kind of recipe.


I'm not going to do that to you. I figured out how much I used of each ingredient to make this the most delectable pizza.


My first try came out flat. I realized I just had to add more layers! You can add any other ingredients you'd like but I encourage you to try it the first time with just the ones listed here. So good!


This luscious looking pie.......




started out like this....



With the top crust on ready to bake.

I used frozen pizza dough from Wegmans grocery store because it is the best!



Here is the recipe:




Deep Dish Pizza

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees

1 pound pizza dough (homemade or from the grocery), halved
6 oz. of ricotta cheese
1/4 pound sliced pepperoni
8 oz. bag spinach
8 oz. mozzarella, shredded
Sliced provolone cheese (optional)
1 cup pizza sauce
Parmesan cheese

Roll the two pieces of dough until they are fairly thin.  
Place one piece inside a 9" or 10" pie pan,
like you would line a pie crust.
Spread ricotta cheese on the bottom.
Layer with pepperoni, spinach and shredded mozzarella. I added
sliced provolone to mine.
Keep layering until the ingredients are piled high. It will flatten out
somewhat during baking.
Top the pie with the other piece of dough.
Crimp the edges all the way around.
Press down the center of the pie to make a pool for the sauce.
Make slits on the top and then pour the sauce in the center.
Spread it to the edges.
Top with  grated parmesan cheese.

Bake at 500 degrees for 30 minutes.
Let sit for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

You can vary the amounts of the ingredients to your liking. At 500 degrees it will cook quickly so keep an eye on it!


Will this be your next pizza on pizza night?



Saturday, August 20, 2016

Thrifting on a Whim - Part 2

I have been thrifting and picking for treasures all summer.


I have found great items and it is always fun.


The most fun, though, is when I go thrifting on a whim. I wrote about that back in March if you want to read about what that is all about.




On a recent Sunday we had a couple hours after church and before an outdoor concert we were going to. I really felt that I should go visit my local Goodwill again. It was time. I had never gone on a Sunday. It was very crowded!


I usually just run in and look around and then have to go back for a cart. This time I took the cart in first.


I had high expectations!


I was not disappointed.


I am now buying for my Etsy shop and for my booth in a local shop. Double the fun! I am on the lookout for Christmas items for both and I found quite a few.




There is a soap and tumbler set with a Christmas wreath on them, a metal tray, a cookie gun, a pair of birch candleholders, a ceramic snowman cookie jar and this great, rusty metal door pocket with holly and a ribbon. The holly leaves are pierced through.

Not sure I am going to part with that one yet.

I just loved the painted green basket with the snowman hand painted on. It needs a little cleaning up but it is very sweet.



The cookie press is always a seller before the holidays so I don't pass on buying one when I see them.


I found this great heavy wire basket, which could also be a door hanger. The flat basket with the handles will get a makeover with paint. For $.50 I just had to have the metal address file. No pages in it but the refills are available to buy.




The suitcase basket is actually an American Girls Bitty Baby suitcase which is a retired item. It is for my granddaughter Cassidy for Christmas. Have you priced American Girl doll items? Crazy high. This suitcase, like new, at Goodwill....$2.99


That is just one of the two non-vintage items I picked up. I am saving the other one for last.


I thought this Winter and Spring set of wood hand painted wall hangings was adorable. Very Folk Art-ish.



These round pocket door baskets were very popular in 80's and 90's and can be filled with a lot of faux flowers to make a statement on your front door.




I think this bank for Grandma is adorable! How cute to give it to her to announce a new arrival and prompt some savings for your new baby! The vanity mirror she is sitting on is very heavy and so pretty. I have a thing for those and have quite a few in my collection!

                                                         Available

These are heavy resin wall plaques. I just love the rustic chippiness on the blue one. The cornucopia wreath is cute for Fall as a centerpiece on the table with a candle in the middle or hung on the door.


So this is my other non-vintage find that I unexpectedly found. I love it! I had been looking for another purse for summer/early Fall because I was frustrated with the one I was using. The color and summery look to it caught my eye and for $4.99, I figured why not. It has lots of room and pockets on the inside for organization. It also had a designer name on it that I didn't know, but I really don't care about that stuff anyways. I don't seek out designer clothing or accessories. If I am in Walmart and I see a cute shirt, I buy it!
The curiosity got the best of me so I looked the name up online...Eric Javits, New York. I found the exact purse that I have and the price is $390. Whaaaat?! Thank you Goodwill!

As much as I love thrifting and old, rusty crusty things, I also love getting new pretties, especially in the mail. Today I received a package from Stephanie at Rose Petal Blessings and I just love how much thought and love she puts into her handmade items and the packaging.


The pretty snowflake ornament, I just had to have for my Victorian tree, came in tissue paper tied with a pink ribbon and pretty washi tape. There was an envelope of lots of little pretties like tags, flowers and a teabag. She even embellished the mailing envelope with pretty stickers. Her Etsy shop is full of her hand sewn things and it is hard to choose which to buy. I also love reading her blog, The Enchanting Rose. Her posts are full of sweetness and love, great recipes, devotionals, and book reviews.

All my new, old things will be showing up in my Etsy shop and maybe Instagram in the near future. I will be enjoying my Designer purse the rest of the summer and I can't wait to decorate my Victorian tree with my new ornament.

I love shopping :-)

AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up to these fun blog link parties:













Friday, August 12, 2016

What to Do With This Rusty Goodness?

I have been thrifting all summer with my new rule in mind to be very selective.


If I already have one, don't buy another.


It has to be unique to even be considered.


I really shouldn't buy anymore things on a whim and especially if I don't know what I am going to do with them.


The rusty goodness of this piece threw my last rule out the window.




I saw it while walking away from paying for my other finds. It was only a $1.


It is gorgeous! And heavy!



It is obviously a rake/hoe head or some kind of tool for digging. Or maybe it came off of some big farm machine. I like that idea.


I want to do something fabulous with it but that is not my department. I usually just buy and resell.


I envision it maybe hanging on the wall with something on it, or hanging from it.


No, I don't need another necklace hanger!




I can think of a few bloggers out there on my list of blogs I follow who may be able to help me.


Donna, from Distressed Donna Down Home, is a self professed rust goddess. She is the queen of makeovers using all kinds of painting techniques. She picks and thrifts all the time and has two booths to sell all of her unique finds. What would she do with this? Donna?


Betsy, from My Salvaged Treasures, has a great imagination for repurposing junk. I am always amazed at how she turns pieces and parts of vintage stuff into purposeful and beautiful things. I would love to know what she would do with this. Betsy?



Tuula from Thrifty Rebel Vintage, lives in Canada where the thrifting is fine! She has that eye for finding great junk and things to repurpose. She makes the most gorgeous wind chimes out of old silverware and finds a use for everything she picks in a most unique way. Tuula, I am hoping you can help me find a fabulous use for this fabulous thingy!

And Cecilia from My Thrift Store Addiction, has the best projects and makeovers for all of us out there that aren't that crafty! She has a feature called The 15 Minute Fix where she shows how to make something wonderful in 15 minutes. Cecilia, can you make something fabulous out of my rusty rake thingamajig in 15 minutes?




There's a hole at the top for hanging......hmmmm, some kind of light fixture?


I'll leave it to the experts.


Do you have any ideas for my gorgeous, rusty somethingorother thingy?




P.S. I had to come back and post this picture sent to me by Colleen, a sweet reader who left a comment with some great ideas! How cool is this? It's a garden cultivator from the early 1900's.



AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these fun blog parties:
Best of The Weekend
Snickerdoodle Make, Create, Bake
Cooking & Crafting With J & J
Let's Talk Vintage
Share Your Cup
Vintage Charm Party
Simple & Sweet Fridays