healthy 5-minute pizza

Pizza is a huge healthy-eating challenger. Oozey-gooey stringy cheese covering crispy bread topped with toasty toppings of choice...yes please. Next time you have a big pizza craving, make a healthy 5-minute pizza instead. This is hardly even a recipe, it's completely malleable to your cravings, and even better it is actually ready within 5 minutes. Talk about instant gratification!
 

Ingredients (for 4 mini pizzas):
2 whole wheat english muffins
4 tbs tomato sauce
1 tbs olive oil *optional: produces the greasy component*
1/3 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella
2 tbs shredded mixed cheeses (or just some cheddar)
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 shallot, chopped (they're like mini onion rings!)

Directions:
1. Lightly toast english muffins. 

2. If making a white-pizza (with no sauce), drizzle olive oil on the bottom. Or add 1 tbs tomato sauce to each half. Top with a pinch of basil & oregano.
 

 

3. Top with cheeses & toppings of choice.
 

4. Pop in oven and broil for 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted.
 

 

5. Enjoy warm with oozing cheese & all of the pizza flavor in a smaller personalized portion with a much healthier twist.

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breadsticks

For the upcoming holiday party season, appetizers are key. Dips are easy peasy as long as you find a good recipe, and here's a recipe for a dip-partner: breadsticks!

Ingredients (adapted from here for 2 dozen breadsticks):
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 package active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt 

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine the yeast, water, sugar, and 1/4 cup of flour. Stir and set aside for 10 minutes.

 

2. Stir in the remaining flour, olive oil, salt, and thyme and knead into a ball. Drizzle a bit of olive oil in the bottom of the bowl, place ball of dough on top, and cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.

 

 

 

3. Remove dough from the bowl and roll out into a thin rectangle. Cut the dough lengthwise into thin strips.

 

 

 

4. Place the strips on a lightly greased baking sheet and let rise for another 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
 

 5. Place baking sheets in preheated oven for 10 minutes each, until browned and crisp.

6. Enjoy on their own or dipped in your favorite dip!

 

 

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chocolate-coated popcorn

Sweet & salty gets me eveeeerytime. I love pakkorn, and I love chocolate. I also happen to love chocolate-coated popcorn! This super simple "recipe" is done within 10 minutes and is a real party-pleaser.

Ingredients:
1 cup popcorn kernels
1 tbs canola oil
2 tbs butter
Salt to taste
2 oz semi-sweet chocolate (or mix of chocolate of choice)

Directions:
1. If you are using microwave popcorn, pop popcorn and skip all the way to 3. If not, pour the canola oil in a large nonstick pot. Place 3 kernels on the bottom and cook on med-high covered until all kernels pop.

2. Once kernels pop, turn heat off, add 1 cup of kernels, top with salt & butter. Cover and count to 30. Return to med-high heat until fully popped. Remove from pot.
  

3. Bring a small pot of water to a simmer. 
 

4. Place an oven-proof bowl on pot and add chopped chocolate.
 

5. Continue to stir chocolate to melt evenly until smooth.
 

6. Put chocolate in a small ziploc bag, cut tip of a corner and squeeze to drizzle over popcorn. Stir to coat.
 

7. Put chocolate-coated popcorn in fridge for 10 minutes to harden before enjoying (or risk chocolatey sticky fingers)!

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crunchy granola recipe

Sometimes, if I can make it easily, I can't bring myself to buy it in the store. Thought I'd try to make some granola this week...so I did!

Ingredients:

1.5 cups rolled oats

1/3 cup raw pistachios
1/4 cup chopped, raw almonds
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/6 cup raw pepitas

1 tablespoon flax seeds 1 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 cup olive oil
1/4 cup currants

1/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine dry ingredients (except currants and cranberries) into a large mixing bowl.

2. Add maple syrup and olive oil. Stir to coat.

3. Spread granola in an even layer on an ungreased baking sheet. 

4. Bake for 30 minutes (but stir every 10-15 minutes to prevent burning).

5. Remove from oven when browned, add currants and dried cranberries.

6. Let cool and store in an air-tight container. Enjoy as a snack on the go, in some yogurt, or with some milk and fresh fruit!

 

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