Brown Sugar Mozzarella Garlic Bread sticks!

Yes I know, you're thinking...that's disgusting! However, if you've lived in WA state and have eaten at The Rock, formerly known as Rock Pasta, you know these are to die for! They are a match made in heaven! Trust me! Now you can buy pizza dough and do it that way, my family and I, however, we like fresh home made dough. I'll include the dough recipe as well (it's easy) just in case you want to venture out a bit.

Ingredients:

Pizza dough (recipe below)

1/2 cup of light brown sugar

1 package mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup or more of minced garlic (we like more!)

Pizza dough recipe:

1 cup, plus 2 Tbs warm water

2 Tbs olive oil

2 Tbs sugar

3 tspn garlic powder

1 1/2 tspn salt

3 cups flour (or bread flour)

2 tsp active dry yeast, or 1 packet

1 Tbs butter, melted

Mix yeast in warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes to foam up a bit. Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the yeast water, oil and melted butter to the dry mixture and mix well. Once all your ingredients are combined, lightly flour a surface and knead your dough until smooth. Knead into a ball. Lightly spray or grease your bowl and put the dough in. Cover and let it rise until doubled it's size. Once done, I like to take 1/3 of it and make a separate small cheesy bread sticks, for those picky eaters. Or you can divide it into 2 and make 2 sets of bread sticks!

Preheat your oven to 450. Once your dough is ready, roll it out to about 1/6 in thickness. It tastes better when it's thin. Fit onto your pizza pan and cut off remaining edges using a pizza cutter. Spread the melted butter all over the dough. Then evenly spread your garlic all over. Sprinkle mozzarella. And finally, sprinkle on the brown sugar. Place your bread sticks in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, until golden brown on the edges and the cheese is melted. Now it doesn't taste exactly like The Rock, because, well, I don't own a wood fire oven. However they are delicious and always a hit! Try it and you'll love it!

Red Velvet Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

You have to love these! They are super moist and when you have leftover ingredients from chocolate cupcakes, what else should you make! Try this recipe out! Super moist and full of flavor!

Ingredients:

3 cups flour 

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp slt

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, light

1 cup vegetable oil 

1 cup butter, melted

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

1 Tbs vinegar white or cider is fine

2 Tbs vanilla extract

1 oz bottle red food coloring, I use 1 1/2 bottle as I like a rich red color

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. in a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder. In a large bowl, beat the sugars, melted butter and oil for about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time and blend well after you add each egg. Add the vinegar and the vanilla and blend again until combined. Add half of the dry ingredients, blend well then add a cup of buttermilk and mix well. Add remaining dry ingredients, mix and then add remaining buttermilk and mix well. Add the food coloring and mix well. 

Fill your cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for about 30 minute or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups powder sugar (to start, add more to thicken)

1 tspn vanilla

2-8 oz cream cheese

Blend all ingredients together. Add more powder sugar to get desired thickness. I usually use almost a whole bag. ;D Using a pastry bag, pipe your frosting onto the cooled cupcakes! Enjoy!!!