Margherita Pizza

This basic pizza recipe is set off by the whole wheat dough and the homemade pizza sauce!

Ingredients
1 pkg. prepared whole wheat pizza dough
2 tbsp. exta-virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can of tomatoes
1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
Dash of pepper
3/4 tsp. organo
Yellow cornmeal
6 oz. sliced mozzarella
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves

Directions
To make pizza sauce:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute about 1 minute.
Remove tomatoes from can with a slotted spoon and reserve juices. Crush tomatoes.
Stir tomatoes, juices, 3/4 tsp. salt, pepper and oregano into skillet.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

To make pizza:
Remove dough from refrigerator and let stand until it reaches room temperature.
Punch dough down and press to make a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured baking sheet. Sprinkle with cornmeal and crimp edges. Cover dough with plastic wrap.
Sprinkle a pizza stone with cornmeal and place on lowest rack of oven. Preheat oven to 550 degrees F. Preheat the pizza stone for 30 minutes.
Remove plastic wrap from dough and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt.
Spread pizza sauce evenly over dough, leaving about a 1/2-inch border.
Arrange mozzarella slices over dough. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Slide dough onto pizza stone with a spatula.

Bake at 550 degrees F.  for about 11 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and top with basil.

Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids Giveaway

As a special thanks for making A Seamaiden's Dream a splashing success this year, the Seamaiden is offering a fintabulous New Year's gift to one lucky reader. A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids is sumptuously illustrated by artist Margaret Datz and chock full of useful advice for nurturing and celebrating your inner sea nymph. Here's my favorite little pearl of wisdom: "A mermaid is not frightened by her own duality. She is a walking contradiction of piety and lust, sobriety and ecstasy, brilliance and stubbornness, the sacred and the scandalous. The tug between the tail and the head is at the very core of our own evolution toward inner harmony. Duality dwells at the heart of all truth, so dance with your own inner paradox." Oh, and the guide for navigating relationships with sailors, fishermen, pirates and mermen is a treat as well!

To win this new copy of  A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids, email your name to catherinesbaubles@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen by random numerical draw on New Year's Day 2012.

A Seamaiden Takes the Plunge!

Yes, it's spectacularly true! The Seamaiden has most enthusiastically accepted the Seamaster's proposal of marriage, which was accompanied by this scrumptiously beautiful pink sapphire and diamond engagement ring and diamond wedding band set. The plan is to wed, with our nearest and dearest present, at the local courthouse on Halloween 2012! Then we will be off on our honeymoon. The destination is yet to be decided, but there have been discussions of a haunted honeymoon visit to the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, Massachusetts. When we return, the Seamaiden's parents will host a simple wedding celebration with our family and friends.

Now, the key word is "simple." However, the Seamaiden has the sneaking suspicion that, as our ten-month-long wedding season progresses, our elegant splash of an affair will form into a full-out tidal wave of a party. Hmm...we will wait and see.

Seamaiden Shrimp Marinara

A great marinara sauce to prepare in the slow cooker!

Ingredients
28 oz. can of tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp. parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
6 oz. can tomato paste
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1 lb. shrimp, cooked and peeled
8 oz. cooked pasta of your choice (I used angel hair pasta)
Grated cheese of your choice (I love Romano!)

Directions
Combine tomatoes, parsley, garlic, basil, salt, pepper, organo, tomato paste and seasoned salt in a 4-quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
Stir shrimp into sauce.
Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes.
Serve over cooked pasta and top with grated cheese.

Congrats to the Winner of the Decoupage Book Giveaway!

Congratulations to Thea McGinnis, the winner of the Decoupage Book Giveaway. Thanks again to my wonderful readers for sending in entries. Check back often for more giveaways from A Seamaiden's Dream!

Decoupage Book Giveaway

Ever wish you could transform a beat up old chest, table or vanity into an amazing artefact using nothing more than paper, scissors and a few coats of varnish? In Decoupage, author Maggie Pryce offers easy-to-follow instructions for a stunner of a nautilus bathroom cabinet (What a treat for the landlocked seamaiden!), a cherubim headboard, a toy chest, a kitchen table and much, much more!

To win a free copy of Decoupage by Maggie Pryce, simply email your name to catherinesbaubles@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen by random numerical draw on Friday, December 16.

Good luck, my fellow artisans!

Creamy Seamaiden Pasta

This creamy seafood pasta dish is visually enhanced by the Zanier multicolored farfalline pasta. However, you may substitute with any farfalle pasta.

Ingredients
2 cups sour cream
3 cups colby jack cheese, shredded
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 lb. bay scallops, sauteed
1 lb. medium cooked shrimp, peeled
8.8 oz. Zanier farfalline multicolored pasta, cooked according to package directions

Directions
Combine sour cream, cheese and butter in a 4-quart slow cooker.
Stir in pepper, scallops and shrimp.
Cover and cook on low for 1-2 hours.
Serve over farfalline pasta.
Makes approximately 4 servings.

Congrats to the Winner of the Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook Giveaway!

Big congratulations to Pam Farrell, the winner of the Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook giveaway. Thanks to everyone who visited and sent in entries. Check back on Monday, December 12. The Seamaiden will announce yet another fintastic giveaway!

Bel Air's Own Flavor Cupcakery Is the Cupcake Wars Winner!

The Seamaiden is always delighted to give props to businesses from her hometown of Bel Air, Maryland when they make a big splash. And that splash is more like a tidal wave for Flavor Cupcakery, the latest winner of the Food Network's scrumptious series, Cupcake Wars. Now, the rest of the world knows Bel Air's delicious secret: Flavor Cupcakery bakes the best gourmet cupcakes on this side of the Atlantic and Pacific!

Stop by Flavor Cupcakery to sample the winning flavors, inspired by the Nutcracker: Chocolate Cherry Wassail, Orange Chocolate Clove Marnier, Chocolate Peppermint Coconut Macaroon and Modern Fruit Cake. Trust me. These cupcakes are worth the drive (or the swim)!

Flavor Cupcakery is located at 118 N. Tollgate Road in Bel Air, Maryland.

Christmas Greetings, Seamaiden Style

The Seamaiden can't wait to mail these retro and oh-so-apropos Christmas greetings to her family and friends. Want to send your holiday greetings in similar seamaiden style? Visit these card companies today!

What's Buzzin?
Marshmellow Mermaid
Zazzle
Greeting Card Universe
Cafe Press

Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook Giveaway

Just in time for Christmas, the Seamaiden is offering the perfect little gift for the seaglunker, or sea glass hunter, in your life. The Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook by C.S. Lambert is the ultimate guide for collecting these gems of the ocean, complete with a sea glass dictionary and list of the best sea glass hunting beaches around the globe.

To win a new copy of The Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook, send an email to catherinesbaubles@gmail.com with your name in the body of the email. Please write "Giveaway" in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by random numerical draw on Friday, December 9.

Good luck, my readers!

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Black bottom cupcakes are a staple at the Seamaiden's lagoon during the Christmas season!

Ingredients
8 oz. cream cheese
1 egg
1 1/3 cup sugar, divided
1/8 tsp. salt
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup sugar and salt with an electric mixer.
Stir in chocolate morsels; set aside.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, 1 cup sugar and baking soda. Add water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Beat until well mixed.
Fill 24 greased or paper-lined muffin cups one third full with batter. Top each with a heaping spoonful of cream cheese mixture.

Bake 30-35 minutes.

Tomato Shrimp Supreme

Another hearty shrimp dish from the slow cooker!

Ingredients
1 lb. mushrooms, sliced
2 green peppers, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 1/2 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
6 tomatoes, chopped
6 celery stalks, sliced
1 tsp. sugar
1 lb. fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup white wine

Directions
Saute the mushrooms, green peppers, and onion in butter over low heat until soft. Add flour, salt and pepper. Stir until sauce thickens. Transfer to slow cooker.
Add tomatoes, celery, sugar and shrimp to the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
Add wine 1/2 hour before serving.

Cook in a 3-5 quart slow cooker.

My Shabby Streamside Studio: Books & Ballet Slippers Giveaway

Don't miss this fintastic giveaway! Vintage ballet slippers, a signed copy of Rachel Ashwell's Inspirations, the December 2011 issue of Jeanne d' Arc Living, a copy of Amazing Retreats, and a $20 Shutterfly gift card! The Seamaiden's tail is aflutter!

My Shabby Streamside Studio: Worldwide Annual Holiday Giveaway 2011: Books & Ba...: I offer my second giveaway, gifts only one of you will receive but my heartfelt intent is to give them to every one of...