Give Me a “P”!... Oh GREEAAT, Another Pizza Review

Two nights ago, the boys and I (and Chrissy, too) were desperately craving pizza.  There’s something about that texture that just... mmm, I’m drooling.  Well, pizza of any sort is just about out, but we hadn’t given up hope of trying to make our own, after our experience at zpizza.

I’m SO glad we took our own advice and made pizza at home.  It was so much better with just a few simple adjustments to how it’s cooked.  Here’s the recipe:

Better Than Bought Pizza
Ingredients:

1 package, Betty Crocker Pizza Mix
1 small container tomato/pizza sauce of your choice
1 package (2 cups) Daiya Shreds, mozzarella flavor
Toppings of your choice

You’ll Need:
Something to bake the pizza on
a mixing bowl
hands (helpful, but not required)

Directions:  Make the Betty Crocker Pizza Mix as directed, adding spices to the dough, if desired.  Use about 3/4 cup of Daiya on the uncooked crust, and place into an oven (as directed on the crust package) for 6 minutes, or until the shreds just start to take on a dry look.  Remove your pizza from the oven and add your toppings.  You will want to precook your toppings, as needed.  Over your toppings, as 1/2 cup of Daiya shreds and bake for an additional 12-14 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Slice and enjoy.

If I could, I’d totally talk to zpizza and suggest to them that they do this at their restaurant, too.  It makes all the different in the world to cook it this way.  The flavor is better, the texture is normal (before the shreds coated your mouth really strangely) and it’s just a more enjoyable experience.


My Moo Rating: 5/5

Tomorrow... tuna salad.  I know, it doesn’t traditionally have milk in it, but we created a good recipe, so I’m sharing.

Helping Hamburger

Both the boys had water day today at school, so we decided something easy was in order for dinner.  That seems to be a recurring theme.  It’s also the theme that is missing from most dairy-free cook books, but we’ll return to that when we have a book deal.  We decided that it would be great if we could have helper for our hamburger, even if we can’t have the brand name one since it’s chock full of milk products.  

It’s not super healthy out of a box, but in this recipe, it’s not nearly as bad for you. Maybe not the healthiest, but it's quick, easy and the boys like how it tastes.  

Here’s what we did.

It looks better in person.  Hi, Gabriel!

Help!  My Hamburger is Tasteless and it Can’t Get Up!

Ingredients:

1 box Road’s End Organics Organic Dairy-Free Mac & Chreese (Cheddar Flavor)

1 lb lean ground turkey

2 Tbps margarine

1/4C non-dairy milk

1/2C Daiya “cheese”

Items to taste: onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder

Directions:

Cook Mac & Chreese (yes, that’s really the name) as directed.  While the noodles are boiling, cook your turkey in a skillet and add onion, salt, pepper and garlic to taste.  We went heavy on the spices, knowing that without these, it wouldn’t be very good, as the M&C on its own doesn’t have a lot of flavor.  After draining your noodles and but before adding your cheese sauce, add your margarine and Daiya to the drained noodles.  Add your sauce and mix until incorporated.  

There you have it, a helper for hamburger that passes the kid test.  We served it with wilted spinach.  Here’s that recipe:

Easy-Peasy Wilted Spinach

Ingredients:

1 package of pre-washed spinach

2Tbps olive oil

2 intact slices from a large, sweet onion (1015, yellow or white)

To taste: minced garlic, pepper, salt

Directions:  Add the olive oil, garlic and onion to your skillet and cook over medium heat until the onions begin to look translucent.  Add your spinach and cook uncovered until they “wilt,” or about 5-10 minutes.  Their color will be very deep and rich.  Serve. 

How easy is that?  Overall, this entire meal took about 15 minutes to prepare, and gave us all some comfort food at the end of the day that nobody turned their nose up at.