The Challenge of Gluten Free Pizza Crust

There are certain times that you actually want to follow a recipe - especially if it involves any kind of baking.  I have not made any homemade pizza since I went gluten free in January.  This month, I decided that it was time to venture into the complicated world of gluten free flour.

My Mom is also eating wheat-free and has already taught herself to make GF sandwich bread.  She mentioned that the ingredient "xanthum gum" was important to hold the dough together.  In my typical nature... I ignored Mom's baking lesson and thought that I could somehow make it work without the all-important binding ingredient.  According to About.com, xanthum gum is a corn-based fermented product that is used to thicken and emulsify the dough.

The search began for gluten free pizza crusts that could be made without xanthum.  I came across the Ginger Lemon Girl website and found a Gluten Free and Vegan Pizza Crust that did not include xanthum.  My worries were over.  Wrong.

I didn't really follow the recipe and used it more as a guideline.  Eagerly I began pouring ingredients into the bowl.  Buckwheat Flour... Yeast... Egg (yep, not Vegan)... Rice Flour... Water... Oil... Salt.  As instructed in the recipe, I covered the bowl with a towel to let the dough rise.

Much to my surprise... I returned 45 minutes later to find FLAT dough.  Hmm, perhaps it will stretch across the pizza pan any way.  Wrong again.  The dough mostly stuck to my fingers.  Something needed to be done to save our dinner!

Honestly, I can't remember what I did to make the dough less tacky.  Not that it matters, because no one should ever follow my poor attempt at creating a pizza crust.  Somehow I was able to get the dough to spread across the pan.  I baked it at 425 for 10 minutes and then added our sauce and toppings.  Then I baked it for another 10 minutes.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the crust tasted like FLOUR.  Regardless, I was happy to save the $20 by not ordering a gluten free pizza from Domino's (which isn't guaranteed to be 100% gluten free).  After having a reaction to one of their pizza's... I knew it was time to start making my own.  If you would like more information about the GF crust at Domino's, see the links below for your reference.

Sharing is Caring:

• Tasty Eats at Home: The (Not So) Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Dilemma - A very well written opinion and statement about gluten free crust in chain restaurants.
• Article written by, Alessio Fasano, M.D. - Another well written statement about Domino's crust and a warning to all who suffer from Celiac or Wheat Intolerance.
• Domino's Gluten-Free Crust FAQ's - Educate yourself on this before ordering.  After experiencing a reaction, I always specify to "keep the crust away from other flour".
• Ginger Lemon Girl: Seriously Easy Gluten Free and Vegan Pizza Crust - I do plan to actually follow this recipe next time.  It's a huge time saver!

Copyright 2012 Hint of Thyme. All rights reserved.

Celebrating 2 Years on Hint of Thyme

Picture taken at Solea Mexican Restaurant - June 2012

Greeting readers! 

This month we are celebrating 2 years on Hint of Thyme.  I have learned so much about blogging and new cooking techniques in a short amount of time.  When I started Hint of Thyme in 2010, I really only planned to share it with friends and family.  It still amazes me that I have readers as far away as Australia and Hong Kong. 

It has been an awesome journey that I will gladly continue.  I had much to learn after moving away from my home town in Milwaukee and getting acquainted with my new home kitchen.  Jon has thoroughly enjoyed his position as the "unofficial taste tester" for Hint of Thyme.  It has been a joy for us to bring you restaurant and brewery reviews.

Let's look back at the first ever blog post.  This post is from my former life as a wheat eater.  Tomato and Basil Pizza Pasta was once my most favorite meal to make on a Friday night.  I recommend this dish to any young ladies that might be trying to impress a date or if you are looking for something more flavorful than "Hamburger Helper".  This dish can also be made with Gluten-Free pasta and sauce.

Here are a few popular posts and favorites on Hint of Thyme.

• Art in a Glass - Bloody Mary's:  A whimsical post about an American favorite.

• A Man Needs Meat and Potatoes:  I certainly did not expect this post to gain this level of popularity.  It has become a "pot-luck" favorite and often requested at gatherings.  It's amazing what you can create without a plan or recipe book.
  
  
• Gardening and Cooking - It's a Learning Process:  This post about a bad gardening experience received the most views EVER in only 1 week.  If you're looking for a good laugh at my total girly behavior and amateur gardening experience... this post is for you!

I hope that you will continue to visit and cook with me.  In the next coming months, I am hoping to dedicate more time to posting new Gluten-Free recipes and reviews.

Cheers to finding little moments of happiness through food, faith and friendship!

Thank you for making my first 2 years memorable.  Stay tuned for more recipes to follow.


Copyright 2012 Hint of Thyme.  All Rights Reserved.

Cool Summer Kids Lunch/Dinner Ideas

Ah yes, summer time. The weather is hot, the festivals are in full swing, the veggies are fresh and ... the kids are out of school.  If you are a parent of any school-aged children the phrases "I'm hungry" or "I'm bored" are probably daily vocabulary at your home. 

During the summers when I was a kid, my parents were working full time and came up with fun lunch and activity ideas to keep us entertained.  I have memories of my Mom leaving English Muffin Pizza fixings for us to fix for lunch.  It was one of my all-time favorite lunches as a kid.

Creating healthy and fun meals with your child is great for learning to cook and to be independent.  Pizza doesn't have to be messy or a lot of work.  Plus, what kid doesn't love to eat pizza?

Our "English Muffin Pizza's" included smearing a tablespoon of tomato sauce over the top of the muffin, then adding any toppings that Mom cut up for us; such as green pepper, black olive, cheese, pepperoni, and more.  We would bake or microwave the mini-pizza's until the cheese melted and bubbled.

Here are some other kid-friendly lunch or dinner ideas that they can help you make:

Pita Pocket Pizza
- Stuff the sauce, cheese and toppings into the pita. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes.  You can also microwave for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

PB&J Stuffed Pita
- Toast the pita before or after applying the peanut butter and favorite flavor of jelly. Stuff it with your kids favorite fruit. Some great choices would be apples, bananas or even strawberries.

Pizza Melt Sandwich
- Much like a tuna melt. One piece of bread.. apply thin layer of sauce, toppings and cheese. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is brown.

Happy cooking!  Have a great weekend.


We could all use a hint of more time!
Copyright 2011 Hint of Thyme.  All rights reserved.

Flashback Friday - Comfort Foods

"Flashback Friday"

Let's be honest, when we are looking for a dish to bring comfort and wrap us in loving, tasty goodness... we don't say, "I totally need a spinach salad to comfort me today".  Although I love me a good spinach or leafy green salad, I do not turn to the produce drawer on a day that requires comforting. 

What is your ultimate comfort food?

Typically I will make my favorite variation of home-made macaroni and cheese, but one of my other favorite comfort foods is pizza.  Obviously these choices are not as healthy as a spinach salad BUT that's exactly why it's called comfort food.

There are so many different kinds of pizza's.  America has managed to take an Italian tradition and turn it into their own greasy empire.  So despite how much you love the BBQ Chicken, the BLT, and the Philly Cheesesteak... this post is all about a "flashback" to some traditional white pizza's on Hint of Thyme.

Last summer my sister came to visit and I felt obligated, as a cook and her loving-older sister, to entertain her bored taste buds with delicious white pizza's.  This "Flashback Friday" is a tribute to the pizza that we can guarantee will comfort you when needed. 

Check out the Non-Tomato Sauce Pizza post from September 2010.  We hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as we did.  It is quick, easy and of course... full of comfort.  We could all use a hint of more time. 

Copyright 2011 Hint of Thyme.  All rights reserved.

Meat & Potatoes - Man Style

Who puts potatoes on a pizza? ... This girl! 

My husband, Jon, would probably eat anything that included bacon or potato.  If your man is anything like my husband, I suggest giving this recipe a try.

If you've ever ordered from Toppers Pizza, then maybe you have seen a Potato Pizza on their menu.  The concept of putting potatoes on a pizza does seem strange at first.  After the first bite of my recipe... you will completely change your mind. 

Get ready to send your man's taste buds on a trip.  Guaranteed to please the male tummy!

Prep time:  15 to 20 minutes
Cook time:  10 to 12 minutes

Mara's Bacon & Potato Pizza
- 1 roll of store bought pizza dough (I used thin crust)
- 8 slices of bacon, diced (Healthy Option: Use turkey bacon)
- 2 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1/2 a medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 TBSP of EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
- 1/2 TBSP of dried Rosemary
- 1/2 TBSP of dried Parsley
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cup of Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese, shredded (Healthy Option: reduced fat cheese)
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: Sour cream or BBQ for a topping or dip (per the suggestion of the husband)

We'll break the pizza down by layers. 

Step 1:  After you have very thinly sliced the potatoes... add them to a non-stick saute pan and cook until fork tender or golden brown.  Make sure that the potatoes are separated and each one has been browned.  In the mean time, slice the onion and dice the tomato. 

Step 2:  Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.  Roll the pizza dough onto the baking sheet.  Add the EVOO, rosemary, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper directly to the pizza dough.

Step 3:  After the potatoes are done cooking, add them to the pizza crust.

Step 4:  Add the bacon, onion and tomato over the potatoes.

Step 5:  Add the cheese.  Bake at 425 for 10 - 12 minutes.

Step 6:  Serve and enjoy.  The optional toppings or dips are suggested above.

This is obviously not the healthiest choice for a meal but it's something that my husband enjoyed very much.  I hope that you man enjoys this recipe just as much as mine did. 

The best part of this recipe is that it didn't take much time.  I served it with a salad on the side.  After all, we could all use a hint of more time.  :)


Copyright 2011 Hint of Thyme.  All rights reserved.

Can You BLT My Pizza, Please?

If you like pizza's with unique flavors and are more than just the average meat and cheese, then you need to try this recipe!  

When I was a kid, my family and were visiting family in Iowa and happened to try a very unique and new style of pizza.... the BLT pizza.  It was delicious - the kind of dish that you never forget.  Years later my Mom found a recipe for making it at home.  The rest is history.  It has become a family favorite and something that my sister and I always try to make when we're together.

Honestly, it's probably not as scary as you might think.  :)

Prep time = 10 minutes

Cook time = 12 minutes

American BLT Pizza

- 1 thin pizza crust (just get the store bought stuff in the dairy section.. it will save you a lot of time)

- 1 1/2 cup of diced tomato

- 8 chopped bacon slices (healthy option alert: use turkey bacon for fewer fat and calories)

- 1 TBSP of olive oil

- 2 cups of mozzarella cheese

- 1 bag of shredded lettuce OR 3 cups of shredded Iceburg lettuce (of course you can always make it fancy with romane lettuce but iceburg seems to have the best texture for a topping)

- 2 or 3 TBSP of light mayo

- Salt and pepper to taste

That's it!  Preheat the oven to 425.  Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and lay the pizza crust on it.  There is not a traditional red pizza sauce in this recipe.  Instead, add the olive oil directly to the pizza crust and spread until the dough is covered.  Add salt and pepper to the dough.  Apply an even layer of tomato and bacon.  Cover with mozzarella cheese and bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. 

While the pizza is baking, combine the lettuce and mayo in a separate bowl.  Stir until the lettuce has a light coating of mayo.  It should be wet but not drenched.  Add salt and pepper.  This will not taste nearly as good if it's not seasoned properly. 

After the pizza is done baking, let it cool off for 2 or 3 minutes.  Add a thin layer of the lettuce across the entire pizza.  Serve and enjoy.

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It's so easy and definitely a crowd pleaser.  You're friends and family will be asking you to make it again and again.  Plus it gives you something that we could all use more of..... a hint of time!

Have a great week, readers!