Pizza picture

I knew I forgot something... Here is the picture of pizzas I was talking about.

Eat Well

-DK

Pizza Crust Tips

After baking bread often last year (my roommates can attest to the many different kinds loafs of bread) I tried to take it one-step further. What came about was well rather flat in one respect, fun, and unique in the other. It's amazing how one basic dough recipe can transform into when you take it a step further. When it comes down to it, I've learned more than my fair share of mixing flavors in baking pizzas. Talking to a few friends, most people say what makes a pizza is the sauce. I'll agree with that, but for me that's not the pivotal point on a pizza. For me it's the Crust. Thin, Thick, Stuffed, or dessert or whatever way you like to throw it.  The crust is one thing people will remember because it's "usually" the last thing their taste buds will remember. Unless they eat it backward, but that's whole different discussion. Therefore, here are a few tips I've come to live by through trial and error when making pizzas.

-NEVER, buy a pre-made or packaged instant crust. If you want to make a pizza right put some time into it!


-If you’re going to add spices to a crust, know what the toppings on top and sauce are going to be. Then use spices in the crust to accent them.

-Adding a hard cheese (Parmesan, Romano, or Asiago) within crust can help make it softer

-Milk can add just the right amount of creamy texture while corn meal can add that just right pizza grit.

-Don’t be afraid to mix a little of the sauce into the crust to bring out a little extra flavor and it's something most people never expect

-Blend different flours i.e. Wheat and white flour.

-Sugar or a sweetener is great but not in excess because you risk killing the yeast

-Sea salt over convention table salt

-Use bread flour not multipurpose because throwing will be a lot easier

-If your in a pinch for time us a bread machine to kneed your dough then store it by either freezing it or in the refrigerator until you use it (1-2 days max)

-Ovens are great but if you want to have more control over the baking a "Pizzazz Pizza Oven" is also a useful alternative with no pre heating and can cut down on your energy usage if you want to be "green"...

-For College students I would recommend buying two things if your interested in making pizzas. First buy a bread machine they are usually cheap (5-10 dollars) at a thrift store and most likely not used because the average person who buys one uses it 2 or 3 times. In addition, buy a Pizzazz. Since your usually in a pinched for time this will help by freeing up a little extra time during the prep work.

-Don’t be afraid of trying something new because unique isn’t boring, it either a hit or back to the drawing board.


Eat Well

-DK

Pies anyone?

I'll be taking a little detour from cars, weather, and adjusting topics to something a little different. I'm going to talk a bit about food. A few of my friends along with family have begun to realize I've got a knack for cooking. That said my specialty dish is best described as how they say it over in Jersey, "Pies." For the rest of us my specialty is making pizzas.

The basics of a pizza are dough, sauce, and toppings. Simple, a bag of instant dough by just adding water, tomato paste and some cheese and you’re done. Right... actually, if I made them that simple I'd probably be looking for something else to prepare. From the first time I attempted to make a pizza to one of my modern creations the process that use that goes into one of my pies has not only evolved, but it's never the same.

I'll be the first to admit my first solo attempt making a pizza was a disaster waiting to happen. I had found a package of instant dough and everything else I wanted on the pizza. From what I remember, I did 3-4 thing wrong. First, the pan was too small, the oven wasn't at the right temperature + I didn't bake it long enough, and the dough had too much water put into it. What came out was a pizza with a burnt bottom and top plus doughy middle that was almost impossible to eat. After that disaster, I vowed I wouldn't make another pizza from scratch. That was 7 years ago. Five years later, my sister and cousin wanted to be adventurous and make a pizza. We bought everything at Cub Foods, including a pre-made already pressed crust. My job was simple, cut the crust out of the plastic wrap... yeah simple... long story short the crust went flying and I ended up have to re-throw it, but the pizza overall was really good (macaroni and red pepper topping w/ a Alfredo sauce). After this attempt at making a pizza that actually turned out, I did a little rethinking on that vow I made years back.

From that pizza onward, I worked on different types of crusts. Some with milk, others with wheat, even others with sauce and cheeses mixed in with the crust. With every pizza I make I try to do something different either with the crust or toppings, but something has to be unique to it otherwise it's just like any other previous pizza.

A while back, I wrote a few things down pertaining to things I I've tried. I'll see if I can find it again and post my tips along w/ a few photos of pizzas that have come from my kitchen.

Eat well,

-DK

Spotlight 2010 Ford Focus SES

After seven years of the first generation Ford Focus a overhaul was completed in 2008 to a sedan/coupe only style. For the many of the enthusiasts this was a major downturn for the once hot hatch Focus. For the average consumer it was still a eco-box on wheels, but Ford this was a initial step in bringing some pretty exclusive tech to small cars.


Exterior:
Weighing in at a 2,642 lbs and 175" long, 67.8" wide and 58.6" tall the 2010 Ford Focus SES sedan fits right into the compact category. From the first glance this car has gone through a few subtle revisions from the 2008 version. The chrome side flares are gone and a few other small things were cleaned up. When looking at it from the outside the Focus takes on Fords signature razor chrome grill with only 2 bars instead of the 3 seen on the Fusion and Edge. The headlights blend fairly well with the face of the car and the optional fog lights and heater mirrors are nice to have especially in the northern states.

Ford Focus 2010 From Fords website

Interior:

Stepping inside the Focus the first thing that stands out is that the center stack is similar to the Ford Fusion. The buttons and controls are laid out in a similar fashion except for the Focus has a little message center atop of the console that has radio information along with temperature and time. The dash was nice and clear to read and the different looking dials with a splash of color bring a welcome improvement over the previous generation which were just black with white lettering. The brushed aluminum looking materials add a nice touch to the interior even though they are plastic. For technology in the Focus, SYNC by Microsoft only available on Ford family vehicles is a awesome interface for using voice commands to call people, or play music from a compatible mp3 player. One thing I didn't care too much for on the car I tested was that the shifter seemed a little too far forward to rest your hand on while driving.

Ford Focus 2010 interior from Fords website

Powertrain:

Equip with a 2.0 liter Duratec engine that is good for 140 hp the Focus is fairly spry even with 3 adults in the car. The automatics shifts were on mark most of the time a few times it held in a gear longer than I wanted it to but overall it was a pleasant ride. It would be nice to have a select shift feature, but then again that's what a manual transmission is for.

Thoughts:

Honestly I had major doubts going into this test drive. I had driven a 2000 Focus and a 2005 Focus before driving a 2010. I liked the 2000's suspension w/ how it cornered and the design was pretty good. The 2005 was just bland all around. The 2010 was a shock to say the least. I didn't care when Ford dropped the hatchbacks with the second generation Focus, but instead they made a nice compact that handles rather well absorbs most of the bumps in the road and is very impressive in the inside with technology including SYNC.

Price Tested:

MSRP-$19,995

-DK 

Disclaimer: I signed up at the MSP auto show to receive $50 master card from Ford after completing a test drive with a Ford vehicle.

Three Test Drive's Up Soon

It's been a tad busy the last few days, but I did have a chance to go out and test drive three cars. They were limited on the amount of time, but in the next three posts I'll touch on somethings I liked and a few things I didn't. The three cars are 2010 Focus SES, 2010 Ford Taurus Limited, and 2010 Fusion Sport. All three spotlights will be up hopefully by the end of the week. A quick preview, two of the cars I liked the other didn't meet the expectations I had for it.

-DK

Images from Ford's website.