Homemade Pizza... Somewhat!

I was venturing through the isles at Trader Joe's (one of my favorites speciality grocery stores... cheap, convenient, and tasty) when I had the yearning to make pizza.  But, I wanted it that night and didn't want to deal with making my own dough.

Thankfully, TJ's offers a whole wheat dough (along with regular dough and a herb version).  I purchased that along with some other must haves and away I went.  So, you bake the pizza at 450-500 degrees to perfection and in about 20 minutes you have a marvelous meal and oh-so-tasty! 

Follow the directions as stated in the dough's package.  I'm telling you in advance to pull the dough out of the fridge 20 minutes prior to prepping.  Be sure to pre-heat that oven.  While the dough is resting and the oven is pre-heating, chop up your choice of veggies.  The pizza I created I named: Pesto Delight.  The sauce was actually tube of basil spread I purchased from Safeway.  I used this instead of actual pesto paste or sauce because it's lower in calories and fat.  Yet, tastes just like pesto sauce.  I also had chicken leftover from earlier in the week, I sliced some yellow sweet peppers, white onion, and spinach.  Topped half of it with pine nuts for others... But, I do not like the texture or taste of pine nuts that's why only half of the pizza was topped with them.

So, the process (simplified) as follows for the PESTO DELIGHT pizza:

-Get the dough out and let it sit for 20 minutes
-Pre-heat the oven to 450-500 degrees (depends on the dough)
-Chop your veggies
-Cut up some chicken breast
-Roll dough out on a well floured surface, use the flour in accordance to your dough (wheat = wheat flour, white = white flour...)
-Once the dough is rolled out, begin to put the basil spread on the dough
-After that, sprinkle LIGHTLY and SPARINGLY shredded mozzarella cheese on top
-Then add your chicken and veggies
-Place in the oven for 8-10 minutes, depending on how you like your dough and VIOLA! 

DONE.  A very simple and easy recipe in which gives you a pizza in about the same time or less than delivery!  And, MUCH healthier for you! 

It's a clean version of what I enjoy eating most.  I could eat pizza everyday!  But, with the over abundance of calories and processed meats, it doesn't make for a wise food choice.  Now, you too can eat cleaner and better without sacrificing taste or enjoyment!  CHEERS!  Stay tuned for more! 

Clean Calzones

Clean calzones sounds like an oxymoron, but it is not.  I got the dough recipe from the highly acclaimed food magazine, Bon appetite.  It is a no knead dough recipe.  It makes enough for three fluffy and thick calzones or four slightly thinner, yet just as fluffy!  Make this dough in advance because it takes a at least 18 hours to complete the rising of the dough.  Be sure to read this recipe carefully prior to starting your dough so you know EXACTLY what to expect... and what to do. 

Yes, there are quicker ways to make dough, but this dough calls for NO sugar and NO oil.  Plus, it has a rustic, Italian taste to it that you can use to make pizza if you choose not make calzones.  TWO FOR ONER!!!  Heck yes!


Ingredients:
3 3/4 cups all-purpose whole wheat flour (I bought mine from Trader Joe's)
2 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 tsp dry active yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water

Recipe:
Whisk ingredients together in medium bowl.  While stirring with a wooden spoon, slowly add 1 1/2 cups of water and stir until well incorporated.  Mix dough gently with your hands until it forms a small dough ball.  Transfer to a large bowl (because it's going to rise, baby!!!). Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temp (about 72 degrees) in a draft free area until the surface is covered with tiny bubbles and the dough has more than doubled in size (which is approx. 18 hours). 

After it has risen, place dough on a floured work surface.  Gently shape dough into three big or four moderately sized dough balls.  Trick here is to continually fold the corners under the ball using both hands repeatedly.  With this action, continue dusting the dough balls with flour. 

Let the dough rest and cover with plastic wrap or a damp, warm kitchen towel.  You want the dough soft and pliable (approx. 1 hour).  Once this has happened, you are ready to rolllllll that dough out and make them caaaaalzones, baby!!!

For the sauce, I opened up a can of organic, no salt added tomato sauce put in a sauce pan and let it heat up.  Meanwhile, I diced some onions to my liking and garlic.  I tossed those into the sauce and then added some Italian herb seasoning.  I let that simmer for about 10 minutes or so... and then you are ready to put on your dough.  Divide your dough in half... if you are making circular calzones, fold use only one half for the sauce then add toppings... or fillings on top of the sauce. Save some sauce for dipping!  Lightly cover the dough, by the way.  Don't drench these calzones just yet with sauce. 

Toppings... well in this case, fillings can include anything that you'd put on a pizza.  I put chopped spinach, red and yellow peppers, yellow onion, garlic (yes MORE... hehehehehe), mushrooms in mine.  It was amazing!  Add mozzarella cheese, if you'd like!!! 

To finish your calzone, fold the untouched dough side of your calzone over the toppings/fillings and sauce. Then begin to pinch the outer edges together.  You can get fancy and twist... I am not much of a baker and have no patience so I pinched mine in orderly fashion... cross my fingers and they came out fine!  Haha!

Arrange the calzones on a baking sheet and bake in oven on 500 degrees  until the dough on the bottom is a crispy and brown.  The top of the cals should be golden and crispy, as well.  It should be about 10-12 minutes.  CAREFUL!  I'd keep on eye on these bad boys every four minutes.  Once the are cook thoroughly, they are ready to serve.  Be creative!  If you find this complicated, then make pizzas which are pretty much the same thing... except you cover ALL the dough with sauce and cheese... and you don't fold it... 

Good luck and cheers!  Enjoy! 

Beautiful Skin via Eating Well

Eating good, clean foods are not just beneficial for your physique.  Your skin can also benefit from it, as well!  It's amazing that so many foods can help reduce wrinkles, improve your skin's luminosity and radiance, and help to prevent acne.  I've been doing some research and have found that there are some great eats out there!  You should definitely include these skin-tastic foods in your daily food intake... So, without further or do, the Skin-tastic Foods you've been on the edge of your seat waiting for...

Those pesky wrinkles, crow's feet, smile lines, sun damage; all suck!  We know this.  To prevent from the inside out try these tricks:

• Eat more PEPPERS!  Studies show that woman who eat yellow, orange, and green veggies tend to have less wrinkles around the eye.  Peppers are a great way to get your colors in your diet!  Try sprinkling some julienned green and yellow peppers in a salad!  Or saute some peppers with your zucchini.  Or saute with some onions and turkey sausage for a zesty dinner!  Mmm, hungry yet?!
• GREEK YOGURT time!  Eating dairy proteins can help make your skin firmer.  No joke!  And, Greek yogurt has double or more amounts of protein than normal yogurt and less sugar... especially the nonfat\, plain version.  How can you eat this rather plain food?  Make a protein shake!  Add 1 cup nonfat, plain Greek yogurt + 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries + 1 banana + 1 orange (juiced!!!).  Add to blender.  Blend until smooth.  Then drink!  Or add some to your salad with some EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), Balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper... viola!  Greek dressing!  Or simply add 1 tsp - 1 tbsp of honey (to your sweetness meter's delight) to the yogurt.
• This breakfast item can definitely help you look younger... OATMEAL!  I use steel cut because it is less processed and Bob's Red Mill makes an amazing version of this!  Oatmeal takes longer to breakdown in your body than other breakfast items which helps to keep your insulin levels stable; otherwise elevated insulin levels can release androgens which are hormones that are contributed to wrinkles.  And, us woman know that this is NO GOOD... so get a bowl in at least twice or three times a week.  Plus, oatmeal has been proven to lower your cholesterol.  A two for oner! 
• Get the water boiling because GREEN TEA treats inflammation and helps to calm redness when topically applied.  When ingested, it does that same thing!  Plus, it has a very powerful polyphenol antioxidant (ECGG) which has been PROVEN to reduce redness.  Awesome!  Best way to get this in your diet, drink at least 1 cup every day. 
• Another power polyphenol POMEGRANATES help to regulate blood flow and fight free radicals (like your previously mentioned friend, Green Tea).  You can eat them or try pomegranate juice, about two or three glasses of day is sufficient enough.  When topically applied it can be an excellent moisturizer and line smoother! 
• WALNUT time!  Eat more walnuts!  Walnuts can improve your skin's elasticity due to it;s omega-3 fatty acids.  Walnuts also contain copper; a mineral proven to boost collagen production.  So, improve your skin's texture by eating a handful a day (approx. 10-15 pieces). 
• For you SUNFLOWER SEED lovers, go for it!  Sunflowers seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin E!  Eating them can help protect your skin's top layers (epidermis) due to its high content of essential-fatty-acids!  Eat a handful a day... and topically, sunflower seed oil can treat dry areas of your body.  Aim for your elbows, knees, heals, even lips! 
• EDAMAME!  SOY MILK!  SOY LATTES!  Soy, soy, soy!  Soy is known to help people maintain a clearer complexion, according to studies.  Soy beans have been proven to lessen hyperpigmentation (which is the darkening of your skin).  Eat a cup a day to see best results.  So, however you want to consume it, do it!  It definitely can help reduce sun spots when topically applied.  I eat edamame all the time and Trader Joe's has a few different varieties.  All of which are delicious and can satisfy your soy needs. 
• This next food you are probably already how great it is to eat!  DARK CHOCOLATE!  I love dark chocolate.  It goes well with orange slices, raspberries, yogurt, low-fat ice cream or forzen yogurt, or even by its lonesome.  Eating a couple squares of this delight can help hydrate your skin.  By hydrating your skin you will actually help to make it firmer!  Now, who doesn't want firmer skin!?!  The percentage of cacao you should aim for is 70% or more to get the most flavonol content possible.  Flavonol is are part of the flavonoid group of phytonutrients (a group of chemical compounds naturally occurring in plants.  They have many health benefits).  Eat up ladies and gents!
• Ok, last but not least get rid of those pesky pimples by eating KIDNEY BEANS!  Kidney beans contain high levels of zinc.  Low level of zinc can cause blemishes, according to studies.  For every ounce of kidney beans you eat, you are helping your face stear clear of those pesky pimples.  You can eat them alone or toss them in a salad or a wrap.  Go for the dark red as they have higher levels of antioxidants. 

Those were just a few great eats.  You can snack on  most of these and include everything in a recipe some how, so way!  Cheers to good, clean food!  Print this out for a handy dandy guide... or pass it on. 

PASTA MANIA, the BUKOSKEY way!

My friend inspired this dish while we were grocery shopping one day.  By the way, if you need help with your diet and are willing to change your lifestyle by eating clean... I CAN HELP YOU!  Just ask! 

For now, check out this recipe:

PASTA BUKOSKEY
...
2 cups cooked pasta (I chose rigatoni because I wanted lots of pasta texture without having to eat a lot of pasta. Also, choose the whole wheat/grain version of your pasta noodle... Barilla is the best choice I have found thus far.)

2-3 cups of raw spinach
1 cup julienned sliced green and red peppers
1/2 cup julienned sliced yellow or white onion
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (I used crimini in this recipe)
1 tbsp of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil... the good fat!!!)
1/2 tbsp of crushed garlic
1 tsp of italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet or pan on medium heat, add EVOO. Once heated up, add peppers and onions with salt and let saute until the peppers are vibrant in color and the onions are translucent. Add mushrooms, garlic, and italian seasoning and saute for one to two minutes. Add spinach and pasta. Heat until spinach is wilted and pasta is hot. Once that is done, serve!!! I added meatballs to mine! But, 92/8 version... which is the meat I used. If you'd like the balls recipe, just ask!!! =)

Enjoy!

Nutrition info:
Not

Serves 2-3 peeps