#PizzaWeek: "Greek-za!" Mediterranean Pizza

I have never met a person who doesn't like pizza in some way, shape or form. {And if I did, I might be suspicious...} I mean, c'mon... bread, melty cheese, and toppings of your liking? Pure comfort in a convenient, hand-held slice.

When my buddies over at NoshOn.It reached out and asked if I'd be interested in participating in their #PizzaWeek, saying yes was a complete no-brainer.

Pizza is a great unifier. I am convinced that, done correctly, it could bridge generation gaps and end world conflict. Ok, maybe that's a bit excessive. But I can't imagine not being anything but supremely happy when sitting down to split a pie with another.

In fact, some of my absolute favorite memories have pizza involved -- family pizza nights at home as a kid; 3:00 a.m. mushroom pizzas with my roommate in college; finding the ultimate pizza place when Steve and I moved to Dallas {it was our first meal in Texas, eaten among moving boxes}; my father-in-law's famous homemade pizzas; and finally, learning how to make amazing pizzas myself over the past few years.

You just can't go wrong no matter what type of pizza you enjoy the most.

One of our favorite Friday night pizzas at home is what I've lovingly started to refer to as "Greek-za"... a pizza with Mediterranean toppings.

It is so, so good. Can't turn down another slice, kinda good.

When I made the "Greek-za" this time, I rolled out the dough really thin to make it more of a flatbread. Not only does it cut down on carbs this way {because we all know you must be very worried about that if you're eating pizza}, but then you're also getting more toppings than bread, which is never a bad thing in my book. The spinach, tomatoes, Greek olives and red onion intertwined with a variety of bubbly cheeses and sprinkled with fragrant herbs is drizzled with syrupy-sweet balsamic vinegar...it's easy to see why this recipe tops my list of favorites.

If you like pizza as much as I do, be sure to check out the other #PizzaWeek posts being shared today by the following talented bloggers:

Roasted Veggie Pizza by Dine & Dish
Mini Cauliflower Pizzas by The Fitchen
Berry with Arugula & Prosciutto Pizza by FoodieCrush

And if you still haven't gotten your fix, head over to Pinterest and follow the "Pizza Pizza!" board where you can find a variety of pizza recipes to suit any and all tastes!

"Greek-za!" -- Mediterranean Pizza 
Yield: 2 thin crust personal pizzas

Your favorite pizza dough recipe {I used this one} or store bought pizza dough, cut into quarters*
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely minced or grated
1 cup baby spinach
1/2 cup favorite grated Italian cheese blend
1/2 cup favorite mozzarella, grated
1 roma or plum tomato, very thinly sliced
1/4 cup red onion, very thinly sliced
1/4 cup Greek olives, pitted and sliced
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 teaspoon dried mint
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
*I also use a sprinkle of Alessi Dipping Spice -- I love this stuff.
For Drizzling: Good quality balsamic vinegar, or balsamic glaze

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place pan or pizza stone in oven to heat up as well.

2. Meanwhile, combine the olive oil and garlic in a small microwaveable cup and heat on high for 30 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant and begins to sizzle. Remove from microwave and set aside.

3. Cut one of the quarters of the pizza dough in half.* Set aside the other half and keep covered. On a well-floured surface, roll out the dough to desired thickness -- for this version, I rolled mine out quite thin to about a 12x6 inch oval. Repeat the process with second piece of dough to make 2 personal pizzas.

4. Carefully move rolled dough to hot pan or stone. Brush the crusts with the garlic oil and bake for 3-6 minutes {depending on thickness} or until the crust is beginning to turn golden brown in some spots.

5. Remove from oven and top each pizza with spinach leaves, Italian cheese blend and mozzarella. {Doing it in this order helps the leaves stay in place, but you can arrange it as you like, of course.} Place tomato slices, sliced red onion and olives on top of cheese; sprinkle with crumbled feta. Sprinkle dried mint and oregano {or whichever spices you choose} over top.

6. Return pizzas to oven and bake for another 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the pizza are crisp and browned. For a crisp underside, I like to move the pan to the very bottom rack of the oven for the last minute or two of cooking. Just make sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn!

7. Remove pizzas from oven and drizzle with balsamic syrup if desired. Slice and serve hot.

*Most 1 lb. dough balls will make 2 large pizzas, 4 medium pizzas or 8 individual thin crust pizzas. It's up to you how you want to divide it up, but for the this particular recipe, I've listed enough ingredients for 2 individual thin crust pizzas or 1 medium pizza. Hope that isn't too confusing! :)

Avocado + Grapefruit Salsa with Baked Coriander Chips

I spent about 2 hours outside in direct sunlight this weekend while we walked around a local Seafood Festival and, in doing so, I came to this conclusion: It is too, too hot already. Like, had to use a paper towel to blot behind my knees because I was sweating profusely kind of hot. Ew.

This is certainly not unusual around here, but I can tell you that I'm already craving thirst-quenching and refreshing things to eat and drink. Partly because they help you cool down, but also because they are generally better for you and will not make you feel as bad when it's time to start wearing less clothing. I'm not saying the "B" word just yet {bikini} because I know many of you aren't ready for that kind of language. But it's coming, folks. It's coming.

Anyway, after nearly melting into a puddle, I woke up feeling like I wanted to whip up something fresh and healthy.

Mondays are my favorite food day of the week because, most of the time, it means that I have a replenished supply of fruits and veggies at my disposal. Lately, my husband has been in charge of going to the produce store solo and picking out our fruits and veggies for the week. It makes sense with our weekend schedule for him to stop at the store and pick things up first thing in the morning right after the gym. At first, this made me a little nervous because 1. I am a control freak, and 2. I don't like surprises.

But I have to admit, he's been pretty good with fruit and veggie selection. Sure, we have about 258,353 onions and lemons because he doesn't always check what we've got before he heads out to the store. But for the most part, I can't complain.  {And I happen to like onions and lemons.}

You know what he's really good at? Picking out avocados. I love, love, love that our local produce store has avocados at a price so affordable that we can pick up enough for the entire week without spending our life savings. And that's exactly what he does. He even tries to select them on a ripeness spectrum so that there's one ready for each day of the week. Isn't he adorable? {It obviously doesn't take much to win me over.}

So, after finding a sad and lonely grapefruit sitting in the fridge and then spotting a perfectly perfect avocado on the counter top, this was only logical:

I can put away serious amounts of chips and salsa... but I try not to because, you know, skinny jeans. But this light and refreshing salsa made me feel like I was actually doing my body a favor with juicy pieces of bright, citrusy grapefruit, gorgeous tomato and creamy avocado. And baking up some crispy coriander-spiced tortilla chips in the oven was the best accompaniment for this snack -- nothing creepy or fried out of a bag.

Perfect.

Ok, Mother Nature, feel free to turn up the heat.

Avocado + Grapefruit Salsa with Baked Coriander Tortilla Chips
1 grapefruit, segments removed & juice reserved
1 avocado, pitted and diced
1 Roma or Plum tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons red onion, finely diced
1/4 cup grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed mint, or 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh mint
Sprinkle of sea salt

1. Place grapefruit, avocado, tomato and red onion in a medium bowl.

2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the juice from the grapefruit with olive oil, mint and salt. {I was able to get about 1/4 cup after removing the segments. If you don't have enough juice, you can use a lime instead.}

3. Pour vinaigrette over the avocado mixture and toss together gently, careful not to squish the avocado too much. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

For Chips:

4-5 corn tortillas {I used these}
Olive oil or olive oil spray
Sprinkle of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.

2. Spray or brush each tortilla with olive oil on both sides. Stack the tortillas and cut into 6 wedges with a sharp knife. Place wedges onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and ground coriander.

3. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the tortillas are crisp and lightly browned.

Serve warm with cool avocado salsa.

Brown Butter Zucchini Cornbread

Ahem, not to brag or anything, but I've managed to get THREE posts out this week. Why, yes, I am patting myself on the back. ;)

Where the last few weeks felt like a complete waste of perfectly good time, this week has felt uber-productive. Isn't that a nice feeling? Not only have I been able to wrap up a bunch of loose ends I've had nagging at my task list, but I've also been able to help a friend who is getting married in just a few short weeks as she crosses some things off her "To Do Before I Do" list.

Being a part of wedding planning madness {several times over the past year} has made me think about how awesome it is when two people who are right for each other come together. In my friend's case, she and her fiance balance one another in lots of ways: She is high speed/high voltage, energetic, scattered and passionate; he is deliberate, calming, organized and logical. Watching them do things together can be somewhat of a comedy show, but only because it's sort of magical how she makes up for where he lacks and vice versa.

I find the same in my own relationship with my husband. When I'm up in arms and all in a tizzy, he talks me back down to reality and calms my irrational fears. When his head is in the clouds and he's having a hard time putting dreams into action, I help him think realistically. I keep us organized, and he keeps me from labeling everything in the house and living in an OCD wonderland. It takes a little bit of him and a little bit of me keep things balanced in our household. We're a good team, as are the newlyweds-to-be.

Some things just work well together. Like this:

Know what it is?

No, you don't. You probably think you know what it is. "It's cornbread!" "It's zucchini bread!" ...

It's both!

It's Zucchini Cornbread. The result of a harmonious union of two common favorites, with the added flavor of brown butter.

What's brown butter, you ask? Well, it's butter that's cooked until it's brown. {Um, you asked.} Why is that special? Because when you cook butter until its brown, it gets this interesting, nutty smell and flavor that makes things taste even better than when you're using regular butter... if you can believe it.

I love regular ol' cornbread, but there have been times when certain recipes have left something to be desired because they're too dry or crumbly. But guess what? When you add in shredded zucchini, the moisture from the veggie refuses to allow anything but incredibly perfect bread to happen. Add in that amped up flavor from brown butter, and you've got yourself a pretty above average loaf of yumminess.

Basically, it's a marriage made in heaven. And who can't appreciate one of those?

Brown Butter Zucchini Cornbread
Barely adapted from Epicurious

1/2 cup {1 stick} unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 cup cornmeal, medium-grind
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 large zucchini, coarsely grated

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan by spraying with cooking spray or coating in butter. Set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Once melted completely, reduce the heat slightly and allow to simmer until it becomes a golden-brown color and smells nutty and fragrant. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.

3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cornmeal until uniformly mixed.

4. To the cooled butter, add the buttermilk and eggs and whisk together until well combined. {I just did this right in the saucepan as not to have to dirty another bowl.} Mix in the shredded zucchini.

5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together until there are no more dry spots, but try not to overmix. The batter is going to be very thick; it should be.

6. Scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it as evenly as possible. Bake for about 55 minutes to 1 hour or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. {It's a moist bread so it may have some sticky crumbs, just make sure that it's not uncooked batter and you should be fine.}

Remove from oven and cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing and slicing.

{No Bake} Tropical Energy Bites

Let's talk about snacks. {Baby, let's talk about you.and.me. What? You totally thought the same thing.}

What do you reach for when you're feeling snacky? Probably whatever you can get your hungry little hands on, right? Which is not always the healthiest of options, I'm sure. I'm not judging. I'm just sympathizing with the throes of poor hungry decision-making.

I try not to buy unhealthy snacks because, naturally, if they're not around the house, I won't eat them. But the downside of healthy snacking is that it can get sort of expensive.

KIND bars are one of my favorite, throw-it-in-your-purse-and-go snacks. So are Pamela's "Whenever Bars" {though, for the love of Pete, I wish they'd revamp their wrappers & packaging}. When I'm needing salty, I like Blue Diamond Nut Thins {although truthfully they contain a few ingredients I could live without}, which keep me from diving head-first into a bag of Doritos. But those little bitty snacks? They add up big time. Is it just me, or do you find that the healthier the snack, the less they put in the bag and the more they charge for it? Maybe keeping the volume at 75% air is what really keeps it healthy? Who knows.

Anyway, after taking inventory of my pantry {Read: raiding the shelves for something to snack on} last week, I realized that I probably have enough random ingredients in there to make my own healthy snack without spending any extra money. So, of course, I started experimenting.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that... a whir in the food processor and, VOILA!, Tropical Energy Bites.

Made with dried mango, cashews, banana chips and flaked coconut, you can feel confident knowing that there's nothing creepy lurking in your snacks. {Just be careful when purchasing dried fruit and make sure that the ingredient list is up to par -- some of them can get very heavy on the sweetness.} Yes, there's some sugar in these as I just used what we had on hand, but I still consider these better than devouring a row of Oreos. Additionally, it is possible to find dried fruit with no added sugar if you look hard enough {I'd start the search at Whole Foods or another health food store for best results.}

This recipe {which makes a small batch} made 30 bite-sized energy balls that are ideal for tossing into a snack bag and taking for the road, but you could easily double the recipe for a treat that will last a little longer or feed more people.

I'm pretty proud of myself for whipping up something healthy with stuff I already have -- a penny saved is a penny earned, after all. And I'd rather spend my pennies on something cute, like this. :)

{No Bake} Tropical Energy Bites

1/3 cup roasted, unsalted cashews
1/3 cup banana chips
1/4 cup dried mango {unsweetened if possible}
1/4 cup unsweetened dried coconut flakes
3 tablespoons almond butter
2 heaping tablespoons honey

1. Pulse all ingredients in a food processor until mostly ground and combined. A ball should start to form with the mixture.

2. Once ground to desired consistency, scoop out the mixture by the teaspoon-full and roll into bite-sized balls.

3. Refrigerate to harden a bit if desired. Store in an airtight container.

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

Did you think I disappeared? Was abducted by aliens seeking Earthling recipes? Tried a new cooking technique and sent my kitchen up in flames? {Did you even notice I was gone??}

Nope. I'm still here! The truth is that a jam-packed schedule combined with some tummy troubles and a few big baking projects have contributed to the lull in posting and a very boring social media feed. I mean, who's up for pictures of a sickly, frazzled baker?

While some couch time and a break from posting was exactly what I needed, I figured I'd spare you and wait until I had something a bit more fun to share. You're welcome. :)

Grocery shopping after a bout of not feeling like eating anything is like walking through a candy store after a few weeks of sugar deprivation. Suddenly, everything calls out to you and beckons to be placed in your shopping cart. Shiny, colorful and particularly fragrant things stand out above all.

So, strawberries. Three for $5 strawberries, to be exact. Plump, vibrant red and as potent to the senses as those scratch-and-sniff stickers you couldn't resist as a kid. {Or, in my case, even as an adult. I'm not gonna lie. The teacher in me still lives when it comes to stickers & office supplies.}

In restocking my fridge after my trip to the store, I became sheepishly aware that I had *maybe* gone a little overboard with the strawberries. Especially because there are only two of us and strawberries are infamous for going all fuzzy before you can say "shortcake."

With strawberry season peaking in the springtime, this is the perfect time to stock up and use them in just about everything!

Sometimes I'll have an idea for a recipe and Google it to see if anyone else has come up with the same thing. Most of the time, it's been done in one way or another. Many times, I start off with someone else's recipe as a jumping off point, and heavily adapt it to suit my taste. But when I Googled "Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins" and came across this streuseled version from The Recipe Critic, I knew there wasn't much I would change {except for the streusel}.

Tender vanilla-scented muffins are speckled with bright bits of ripe strawberry, and a surprise layer of cheesecakey yumminess. Together, they make such a perfect, springy combo. I added an extra flourish of additional cheesecake batter at the top of the muffins, and finished them off with a little sparkling sugar.

Are there there any springtime fruits or veggies that make you fall all over yourself at the grocery store? {Or am I the only crazy chick with 10 pints of strawberries in her basket?} ;)

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins
Slightly adapted from The Recipe Critic

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 cup milk of your choice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries

For "cheesecake" filling:

4 oz. {half a block} of cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons of beaten egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
{Optional} Coarse or sanding sugar for topping

Beat together all ingredients until smooth. Set aside until ready to use or transfer to a zip top bag for easy pouring.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a muffin tin with liners. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder & salt.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, sugar, oil, milk and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir until just incorporated into a batter {try not to overstir}.

4.  Fill each muffin liner with about a tablespoon of batter. Sprinkle a few strawberry bits over top of the batter, then top with about a tablespoon of cheesecake mixture.* Top with another tablespoon of muffin batter & a few more strawberry bits. {At this point, I had cheesecake batter left over so I drizzled a tiny bit on top & swirled it in with a toothpick. This is optional. The cupcake liners will be pretty full, so just be careful not to add too much.}

5. Bake muffins for 20 to 25 minutes, checking for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center and making sure it comes out clean or with moist crumbs.

6. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before placing on a cooling rack. Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.

Brazilian Coconut Brigadeiros

I know that some of you are still buried under piles of snow even though Spring has supposedly sprung. I'm guessing by some of your Facebook and Instagram posts that impatience is rearing its ugly head as you bundle up, yet again before walking out the door.

If you think waiting for warmer days is tough, you can imagine how my buddy Katie at Katie's Cucina is feeling as she waits for her little bundle of joy to arrive any day now!  {Come on, baby!} Today I'm filling in for Katie while she waits for progress with a recipe to keep everyone occupied!

Because I can't control the weather {or baby boy's tardiness!}, I thought I'd share the flavor of warm, sunny days to keep impatience at bay. These Brazilian Coconut Brigadeiros are just what you need to get you through what will {hopefully} be your last push through frigid days {and a different kind of push for Katie, of course}!

Sweet, tropical coconut flavor shines in these poppable bite-sized Brazilian treats. If you're a fan of dulce de leche, you'll love these easy-to-make candies. And wouldn't they be a fun sweet to whip up for Easter?

Hop over to Katie's blog for the recipe, and let's all send our best vibes for the signs of spring to arrive sooner than later!

Coconut Red Curry Chickpeas with Ginger-Scented Rice

Are you adjusting to the time change? {She asks as she nearly slumps over with drowsiness.} Because it's not going so well over here. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the fact that the sun is still out when I leave the office. It's the dark, snoozy mornings that are killing me. And the fact that I can't make my body go to sleep an hour earlier no matter how hard I try. Add in extra projects, lack of caffeine and constant places to be and things to do, and we're really in trouble. Suddenly, a week passes by and not one recipe gets posted. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. {Note: I love everything I've been involved with lately, just not the lack of time for posting.}

Getting into new routines is a challenge for me. It always has been. I cried for the better part of Kindergarten through 3rd grade because, just when I'd feel like I was getting into the swing of things, it was time for a change. By 4th grade I got the hang of it all, but I'd still start off the year slightly anxiety-ridden. Yes, I was a weenie. 

Though you won't find me in tears anymore {most days, anyway} it still takes me a while to get into the swing of new things, but I've gotten much better at it. Keeping one of my mini-routines within the grand scheme of things helps me to keep calm and adjust to change.

Cooking has become one of those soothing, familiar mini-routines for me. No matter how busy I am or what's going on, it's nice to know that I will most likely end up in the kitchen at the end of the day and get into autopilot mode. The key is coming up with recipes that allow for quick and easy preparation when times are a little crazy as they have been lately.

That's how these Coconut Red Curry Chickpeas happened.

Just because my normal schedule is turned upside down doesn't mean that I'm not hungry for something comforting and delicious. With just a few pantry staples and a handful of other things, this meal comes together super fast.

Chickpeas -- which are both nutritious and hearty -- are flavored with aromatic veggies and red curry paste and bubble away in luxurious coconut milk to create a silky sauce while hardly lifting a finger. Tossing in a little knob of ginger into plain white rice while it cooks infuses it with an unexpected fragrance that pairs perfectly with the chickpeas.

It's just the right balance of different and familiar...exactly how I like it. :)

Are you a creature of habit or do you crave change? How do you deal with changes in routine? Hope the time change is treating you well!

Coconut Red Curry Chickpeas with Ginger-Scented Rice

1/2 large yellow onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced or grated 

1 medium zucchini, diced

1 1/2 tablespoons red curry paste {I use Thai Kitchen}

3/4 cups canned, full-fat coconut milk

2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

{Optional} Dash of cayenne pepper

1. In a large pan over medium heat, saute onion in oil until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini begins to soften.

2. Add red curry paste to vegetables and mix to coat, cooking for about 1 minute. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

3. Add chickpeas and combine gently with the veggies. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 6-8 minutes or until the coconut milk has reduced a bit and thickened. {I like it saucy but not soupy.} If desired, add a dash of cayenne pepper for an extra kick and mix well.

Serve hot over Ginger-Scented Rice {See below}

For Rice:

1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil

1 cup white rice

1 1/4 cups water

1 inch piece of ginger root, peeled and cut in half

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1. In a small pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add rice and stir to coat with oil. 

2. Add water, stir and cover and allow to come to a boil, about 3-4 minutes. 

3. One boiling, remove lid and add ginger and salt. Stir well, then  reduce heat to medium-low, cover once again and let simmer until the rice has absorbed most of the water, about 5-6 minutes. {You'll see little craters start of form on the top of the rice.}

4. When most of the water has been absorbed, give it a good stir {scraping up any rice that has started to stick to the bottom of the pot}. Return lid to pot and reduce the heat to the lowest setting on your stovetop. Let the rice steam and soften for about 7-10 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Remove ginger before serving.