I was made for more!

So that a big step, coming out of the silence and talking about difficult stuff: diet.
At this time of the year everything is about diet. But what I am talking about is more profound that the occasional fast track weight loss.
For years I have been battling with weight. I have done numerous diet, lost a lot, once I was even a size ten. I announced loudly that was it, I threw all my old clothes but 2 years later I was at the biggest I ever been. OK I had a baby but it doesn't excuse. And I was so ashamed... I had let myself down ... I had not been strong enough...
Until I decided to change perspective, to not do it for body image but for my relationship with God.
I started this devotional "made to crave" and slowly I am changing my way of thinking. The problem is not that I have a sweet tooth or no willpower , the real problem is a spiritual weakness. Filling the gap with food but not with God.
So one step I took was prioritising. I stopped baking so much because to be honest if I bake , I eat...
So here we goes I am more than this and starting a journey of being more healthy spiritually and physically.

Pizza!!

 Pizza!

At last a new post!

So it has been nearly a month since the last post... so much for the weekly baker, might need to change the name of this blog!

Anyway things have been pretty busy with moving into the new house, settling with new routine and longer commute and now T boy has chicken pox...

Even though I have not posted a lot, I have been baking. Just need to go back into the groove of it.
Sometimes ago, I decided to go back to great British bake off book as I still have a lot of recipes to go through. I had some family coming over so decided to make the pizza.
The recipes is pretty simple:

For the dough:

500g strong white flour

1 teaspoon sea salt flakes (or like me table salt)

1 x 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast

300 ml lukewarm water

1 tablespoon olive oil

You mix all the dry ingredients then add the liquid in a "well" slowly while incorporating it. You then kneed 10 minutes by hand or 4 in mixer with dough attachment,  then let it proof for an hour.

I did not really follow the recipe for the topping  (which called for artichoke and goats cheese )because I wanted to make a simple one for the kids and I fancied pepperoni!
For the tomatoes base I used passata as it is smoother and I pre-cooked it with some herbs and seasonings.
I went for a thinner crust, using the very (not) traditional way of pulling the side while not making hole. I found the best way was lifting it and making it do circle while letting the gravity do it's work.
The base could have done with more cooking but the troups were hungry and this gaz oven... (By the way it's gone).

This is my little secret for quicker rising:

 Survival cover! I got mine in the pound shop, they help keep the warmth and can divide rising time by two! Always great when you are in a hurry.