Beets & Pizzas

For lunch yesterday I wanted to use my beets.  They've been in the veggie draw for a long time and while beets can last a good long while, I didn't want to push my luck...and I HATE having to throw out food. 

So Plan #1 was to roast the beets and then decide what to do with them from there:

Clean Beets and a drizzle of EVOO

All wrapped up & into the oven for about an hour

Unwrapped and cooling

The skin slides right off under a bit of running water

Chopped up and read to eat.

Now that I had beets I needed to figure out what to do with them...

I'm a salad whore.  I admit it.  I'll take a salad morning, noon & night.  Throw a little quinoa in there for protein and I'm a happy camper.

A bit of orange juice marinating with the beats

Mixed with some Quinoa and added to a bed of spinach + feta &  Humus

Kai on the other hand, loves herself a jelly sandwich.  But I refuse to slap jelly on bread and let it go.  If that's going to be the main thing she eats then we're going to bump up the nutrition.  And the best part?  I don't have to be sneaky.  She LOVES to help sprinkle some nutritional yeast & flax seed on there before we spread the jelly. 

Pull out the dino bread cutters

Before spreading anything make sure the dinos are kissing.
If you try to do this when they're facing the same direction they're not going to sandwich together properly.
I know, It seems obvious now but we've all had our moments. lol!

Jelly Dino, Beet Salad & Humus

For Dessert:  Yogurt with magno, chia & sprouts
OK - Kai did not want this.  She wanted watermelon but I didn't take a picture of the watermelon.  :)

Now how do you top that colorful of a lunch??  Pizza!!


Pizza can top just about anything!


I had some dough in the freezer so I defrosted it in the fridge during the day.  That's right, I knew in the morning that we'd be having pizza for dinner.  Do you know how hard it is to concentrate when you know you're going to have pizza later?  


You probably do.  After all, it's pizza! 


PIZZA


Dough: Makes Enough for 4 pizzas & 2 small dessert pizzas - I freeze half


1 T Raw Honey
1 C Water Warm Water
1 pkg Yeast (14 oz)


Total of 3 Cups Flour (I use a mix of spelt, WW, white, oat, etc...  What ever I happen to have.  If you're using whole wheat be sure to use some white so that it's not too heavy)
1 t salt
1/4 C EVOO


Dissolve the honey in the water then stir in the yeast so that the water is cloudy.  Let sit in a dark warm spot for about 5 minutes so that a layer of foam forms.


Mix everything together using the flat beater in a mixer (I have a Kitchen Aid).  Once it's all mixed use your kneading blade to kneed it all together (or kneed by hand).  If after a while, it's still sticky, add some flour.  You want it to be smooth and elastic.  Shape the dough into a ball.


Spray a bowl with some EVOO and put the dough ball in.  Turn to coat (you don't want the dough to get dry while it rises).  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 45 minutes to 1.5 hours - until it doubles in bulk.  Punch it down and get ready to make pizza.


At this point I take 1/2 of it and put it in a freezer bag.  Pop it in the freezer for the next time you want to make pizza.


Making Pizza:
Put your pizza stone in the oven & Pre-heat the oven to 500°.


Roll out your pizza dough.  I divide it into 3 mini balls - 2 larger and 1 smaller.
To roll it out I place it between 2 sheets of parchment paper - it makes it 1000-times easier!


Spread some EVOO & minced garlic on top.  Then top away.  MY favorite is roasted veggies.  The Hubs likes meat, pepper & cheese.


Add some Italian seasoning & fresh basil.


Then bake for about 5-10 minutes.  I make 1 pizza at a time.  While one bakes I make up the next.  :)

Roll out your dough.
TIP:  roll it between 2 sheets of parchment paper and you won't have any sticking issues.

The Manly Pizza:   EVOO, Tomato paste, minced garlic, roasted tomatoes, pepperoni, jalapeno peppers & cheese

The Girly Pizza: EVOO, Tomato paste, minced garlic, roasted veggies & a bit of cheese

Pizza's are done dude!

Little Dessert:  coconut oil, carob powder, mini marshmallows

BUT WAIT!

Remember how I said almost nothing can top pizza?  Well there's one thing that can...

Fro-Yo!

My name is Emily and I'm a Fro-Yo addict....

Chocolate, Cheesecake & Espresso Fro-Yo
+ cherries, blueberries, raspberrys, black berries, mango, and cookie dough.

Personal Pizza & Pasta Salad...What's better?

It seems like I've been wanting to make personal pizzas for weeks.  In reality it's been days, but when you really want something time becomes altered.  Kinda like how Christmas Eve seems to last forever...

Today I decided I was making pizza...no matter what!  Ha-ha, take that Mr. Excuse!!  I made a preemptive Strike!

At first Kai didn't want pizza but the lure of making your own is too much for any kid to resist.

Before begining I made a "mom" topping...

Sauteed Onions, Kohlrabi Greens & Spinach

I knew as I was making it Kai would  not be cool with the "green" topping.  She's just not into sauteed greens.    :(

Then the fun started.

2 Ezekel 4:9 Sprouted Grain English Muffins.

I LOVE the Ezekel Sprouted Grains.  They just taste so darn good!

Open up so there are 4 "pizzas" and start topping...

First I spritzed them with some EVOO then I added....

Tomato Paste for the Sauce, 3 got the "greens", sun-dried tomatoes,

Italian Seasoning (Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Marjoram, Garlic)

And of course a bit of Mozzarella & Parmesan Cheese

Then another spritz of EVOO

Pop into the oven at 350° until you just can't wait any longer (about 5-10 minutes).

Kai's Plate...

....Wait, are those raisins & bunnies????

Yes they are!  When you make your own pizza you get to pick the toppings,

And Kai wanted Raisins & Bunnies.

She did eat the toppings before eating the crust...upside down.

Ehh, to each their own.

My pizza was a bit more traditional looking...

I know, there are only 2 on my plate.  

I saved one in case Kai decided she wanted it.

She didn't.  I did.  And it was just as delicious as the first 2!

__________________________________________________

Then this evening the Hubs and I had an orientation meeting for Kai's school.

Yes, she's starting pre-school this week!  Fingers crossed all goes well. :)

Well we needed to be at the school at 5 and I figured we'd be back by six so I wanted to make dinner ahead of time and have it ready to go when we got home.  I present to you..

Pasta Salad

           Chicken Pasta     Quinoa Pasta    Chicken & Quinoa Pasta

This is SO SIMPLE and such a hit with EVERYONE.

every part can be adjusted to your tastes - use the pasta you like, veggies you like, etc...

1.  Make up 3 servings of pasta (I used Market Pantry Penne Plus Multigrain Pasta)

Cook about a minute or so less than recommended so that they're good and al-dente.

Strain with ice or cold water to stop the cooking.

2.  While the pasta's cooking chop up your favorite Veggies.

I used Zucchini, Tomatoes, Assorted Bell Pepper, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Kernels from 1 ear of Corn

3.  Mix your Pasta & Veggies in a bowl and add some Italian Dressing.

I had some home-made left over from this Tomato-Cucumber Salad.

4.  Now's the time to add your protein assuming everyone's having the same thing.

I recommend left-over shredded chicken, Cooked Quinoa or your favorite bean.

(Since I like Quinoa & the Hubs likes chicken I wait and add the protein just before serving.)

5.  Put into the fridge until you're ready to eat.

(1-5 Takes all of 15 minutes - QUICK)

6.  When you're ready to eat take it out and stir.  

*HUBS - DO NOT READ --> I added about 1/4C nutritional yeast to the salad

*HUBS - CONTINUE READING --> I added cheese to the Hub's & Kai's bowls

We got home at 6 and I was putting the Bowls on the table at 6:05.

I wish the picture did this dish justice.  It's so pretty with the different colored veggies and since they're raw the Hubs actually likes them.  This was also the first time I've added corn and I REALLY liked the sweetness it brought to the salad. 

Of course I can't stop with one bowl.  I'm an eater.  So I added a plate of veggies & humus when no one was looking...

And there you have it.  I'm honestly not sure which meal was better.

I guess that's why we get 3 meals a day!!