Good Pizza or Bread Dough

 1 cup warm (110 degrees F) water
1 1/4 oz envelope active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 tsp olive oil
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
Mix yeast and sugar in warm water and let it set until foamy. 
In mixing bowl with dough hook add the flour, salt, and olive oil. Add proofed yeast water and mix with dough until the dough pulls away from the bowl. 
Get a large bowl well greased with olive oil. Place the dough I bowl and grease well with olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel
Place in warm spot untildough doubles. 
Preheat oven to400 degrees and bake. 

Chicken Parmesan

 Chicken breasts - boneless pounded thin

Spaghetti sauce

Mozzarella cheese

Pecorino Romano cheese

In one bowl - flour, salt and pepper  

In another bowl - beat up a few eggs with a splash of water, a little lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, pecorino Romano cheese, parsley. 

On a flat plate - breadcrumbs, lots of pecorino cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, parsley. 

Season each piece of chicken both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, eggs, then breadcrumbs. 

Get the oil hot and you need a good amount of vegetable oil. Heat to about an 8 on an electric stove. 

Fry each piece about 3-4 minutes each side. Do not overcook. Place on a rack in the oven at about 350 degrees while you finish cooking each cutlet. 

Spread spaghetti sauce, cheese and mozzarella cheese and bake until melted. 

Pork Schnitzel

 I use the thin cut pork from Aldi. 

In one bowl - flour, salt and pepper  

In another bowl - beat up a few eggs with a splash of water, a little lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, pecorino Romano cheese, parsley. 

On a flat plate - breadcrumbs, lots of pecorino cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, parsley. 

Season each piece of pork both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, eggs, then breadcrumbs. 

Get the oil hot and you need a good amount of vegetable oil. Heat to about an 8 on an electric stove. 

Fry each piece about 2-3 minutes each side. Do not overcook. Place on a rack in the oven at about 300 degrees while you finish cooking each cutlet. 

Putting them on the rack keeps the schnitzel crispy. 

Air Fried Chicken Thighs

 In a plastic bag add:

Baking powder

Salt

Pepper

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Paprika

Rinse and dry off chicken with a paper towel. Spread olive oil on chicken and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Shake the chicken in the bag with the baking powder and seasonings. Spray with olive oil both sides. 

Heat air fryer to 390 degrees. Cook skin side down about 8-10 minutes and flip over for another 7-8 minutes. 

Place on a rack and finish cooking in the oven until internal temp reaches 160-165 degrees or you can raise the temperature to 400 degrees and finish cooking. Do not let the chicken touch in the fryer. 

Chicken recipe from the Clark House

 1 tblsp olive oil

2 boneless chicken breasts pounded thin

Flour

1/4 tsp Basil

1/I tsp rosemary

1/8 tsp thyme

1/2 cup white wine

1/2 cup mushrooms

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes diced

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup heavy cream

In a large pan enough to hold chicken in one layer, heat oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Dredge chicken in flour, add to oil and cook for 4-5 minutes turning once. Add remaining ingredients, except cream and cook until wine is reduced by half. Add cream and simmer until sauce thickens about 5 minutes longer. Serve with rice or noodles. 

Chinese Marble Cookies

 1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat shortening, sugar, egg until light and fluffy. Add flour, salt and cream of tartar, blending well. Stir in vanilla. Slowly Colgate but do not stir. 

Shape dough into walnut size balls and place on untreated cookie sheet. Flatten dough with bottom of glass coated with sugar. Bake for 8-10 minutes. 

Makes two dozen. 

Really Good Buttercream Frosting

There are so many variations, flavors and techniques but this one is always a winner.  You can use lemon extract, almond, add citrus zest, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder for chocolate.  This will frost at 3 layer cake, with some to spare depending on how thickly you frost. You can add food coloring too!

4 sticks softened butter......room temp, not melted

     (Note:  you can use 3 sticks and 1/2 cup solid shortening if  desired.  Shortening holds up better in the heat just FYI)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

32 oz powdered sugar

dash of salt (only if you use unsalted butter)

1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk

Beat butter until very creamy, scraping sides of bowl periodically.  Do this for at least 5-10 minutes.  Creamy butter is key.  Add vanilla and begin adding powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments and creaming well.  Scrape sides of bowl each time you add ingredients. Add a little milk along.  Not too much at a time. 

 It can become too thin quickly.  Continue until you get desired spreadable consistency.  Then keep that mixer going for about 10 more minutes on medium speed to get that beautiful whipped, fluffy lusciousness.