So I made my first meatza today for lunch. Meatza is pizza but instead of a traditional crust made out of dough, I used meat, hence meatza. The first time I read about meatza it didn't sound too great and wasn't so sure about it so it wasn't high on the list of new things to cook. However, it was a recipe in one of my new cookbooks, Well Fed, so I decided I would give it a try. If you are interested in eating the Paleo/Primal way this is a great cookbook to get. If you aren't sure of what Paleo/Primal is, I plan on doing a blog post about that in the near future.
Anyways, the meatza. I used approximately 10 oz of ground beef that I had in the fridge. If I would have had a full pound then I would have used that but that's just what I had. I seasoned the beef with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, dried parsley and a touch of crushed pepper for a kick. Then I molded into the bottom of a spring pan (or a cake pan would work) and cooked at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.
While the meat crust cooked I made my pizza sauce. In a small saucepan I sauteed a minced clove of garlic and Italian seasoning in olive oil. Then I added approx 3 oz of tomato paste and 1/4 cup of water. I let that come to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes.
I also sauteed my veggies while the crust was cooking away. This is where you can put your own spin on the pizza. You could use about any veggie really including broccoli or spinach. I sauteed green and red peppers, onion, and mushrooms.
When the crust was done, I let it cool for a few minutes, then topped with the sauce, veggies, and a sprinkle of mozzarella. Then I plopped it in the oven at 400 degrees for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese was good and melty.
The verdict? It was very tasty and will definitely make again. Is it a substitute for pizza....not really. I've made eggplant pizza with sliced eggplant as the "crust" and grilled it and that was probably more of a better substitute in my opinion.
The meatza can be very versatile though. You can really use any ground meat as the crust or could use a mixture of ground meats. You could also make a Mexican style meatza and use salsa as the sauce and top with a Mexi style cheese. I like recipes like this because you can make it differently every time if you want to and so you don't get bored with it. Enjoy!
So this is sadly my first post of 2012. I have been seriously slacking in the blogging department. I don't have a good excuse either. Just been lazy about it I guess. I've posted a few food pics on Facebook but that's about it. For anyone who may actually read this I still plan on posting about bacon, food, and other random topics that come to mind. So I just wanted to do a quick post this morning.
Chris is out bird hunting on this blustery morning so I just had to worry about me for breakfast. Luckily, when I peeked in the fridge there were two slices of bacon and two eggs left. Close call! So I fried up the bacon and eggs for breakfast along with a half an avocado. All the yummy fat, and yes they are healthy fats, should keep me full and energized for quite awhile. Which is good because I've got some major cleaning to do around the house today.
I hope everyone has a great Sunday! If you are watching football, go Forty Niners and Ravens! I'm actually a Patriots fan but both of those teams have former Washburn Ichabod players playing and I think it would be pretty neat for them to play each other.
So by the looks of some of the gifts Chris and I received for Christmas, our family members caught on the fact that we like bacon. Bravo to them and their superb observations!
Above is a pic of all the awesome bacony stuff we unwrapped Christmas morning. My sister got me a bacon cookbook which has over 150 bacon recipes and also talks about different kinds of bacon from all around the world. I had no idea there were so many varieties...I must start sampling! She also whipped up some bacon truffles. One word...yummo! Chris got bacon flavored toothpicks from my mom and I got Chris Vosges dark chocolate bacon bars and flying chocolate pigs. That gift may have been a little self serving but sometimes that happens.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend lots of awesome time with family and hopefully ate way too much. I know I did!
Woohoo! It's Christmas time!!!! I hope everyone isn't too stressed out right now! Too often it is easy to get stressed out this time of year with so much to do and seemingly too little time to do it in. I just wanted to take a quick moment and remind everyone to take a step back and enjoy and appreciate what they have. Enjoy and appreciate your family that you get to spend time with even if it is crazy Cousin Eddie. Not to be morbid and depressing but you never know if this is the last Christmas you may get to spend with someone.
If you do happen to be stressed and frazzled I heard a saying the other day that helps me out. Not that this is the first time I had heard it but really thought about it. Let it be. That's it, just let it be. Not let it be awesome or let it be something, just let it be. Sit back, relax, and let it be.
This is also not the time of year to be worried about diet. I am normally pretty conscientious about what I eat but it's Christmas and I indulge...a lot. Not saying that I don't get belly aches and I don't feel as good so there are consequences but oh well. If you're not sure how to indulge, read this link on holiday eating tips. Lots of great advice. Tip #5 is my favorite.
If you are looking for some recipes for the holidays, whether it is an appetizer for a party or the main dish for Christmas dinner check out these sites:
Williams-Sonoma - one of my all time places to find recipes, especially for entertaining Serious Eats - just found this web site and is chock full of awesomeness! Epicurious - I don't use this site as much but still has a lot of recipes to choose from
Chris and I love chorizo sausage with eggs and we like to pair sweet potato with it. It adds a nice balance with the spiciness of the sausage.
For our omelet I used:
- 5 Eggs beaten w/ salt and pepper
- 6 oz Chorizo
- 1/2 med size sweet potato chopped into 1/2" cubes
- 1/4 onion chopped
- 1/4 red bell pepper chopped
- Cilantro chopped finely
- Salsa
- Guacamole or Avocado (optional)
First I cooked up the chorizo with onion and red pepper. I microwave the sweet potato, let it cool, then chop and add to the mixture after the chorizo and veggies are done cooking.
Then get your eggs going in another pan. Once the egg is cooked add the chorizo and sweet potato mixture down the center of the omelet.
Chris is the master omelet folder in the house so normally I have him finish off the omelet and plate it up.
Lastly, finish off with salsa, guac or avocado and cilantro and eat up!!!
If you don't have awesome ninja skills when it comes to omelets you can just make one big yummy scramble and eat as is or make breakfast burritos.
Mark's Daily Apple is one of my favorite blogs that I make sure to read on a daily basis. Friday posts are my favorite because he posts a success story of someone who has taken up the primal/paleo lifestyle and they are always so amazing and inspirational.
I wanted to share this week's with everyone. So quickly, put down that bready sammich and pick up a drumstick! Enjoy!!!
Last week was my birthday and I turned 29 which means next year is the big one for me. Does the thought of turing 30 scare me...heck no! It may be cliche but I truly do believe that age is just another and you are as young (or old) as you feel. I have a lot of exciting things ahead of me and am ready to take life challenges on as they come at me. Hit me with your best shot Pat Benatar! You may be wondering where the heck are you going with this and how does it relate to your blog. Well, in my first post I did mention that this won't always be about food. It will, however, relate a little bit back to food. Just stay with me.
I might have to get a pig shaped birthday cake for next year.
If you look at a lot of successful people you might observe that they are normally pretty fit. I'm not saying there is a 100% correlation but this has at least been my observation. Fit and successful people are normally both pretty disciplined, persistant, make goals/plans for themselves to strive for, and are passionate about what they do, just to name a few. To be successful being fit can be critical. Living a healthy lifestyle helps successful people keep the long hours and demanding schedules that are normally a part of their daily lives.
Tony Horton - Bring It!
So as I continue to live and the years go by I want to make sure I keep myself fit because I want to be a successful business woman, mother (one of these days), and wife. Will that be easy...absolutely not but if I was in poor shape and sick all the time it would probably be impossible. Also, as people and especially women get busy with work, family, etc, it becomes even more important to take time for ourselves. That can be a walk or bike ride outside, a relaxing yoga session, or good pump in the gym. Not only do you get some "me" time but the exercise will help ward off the stress that everyday life can hand you.
So I'm rambling a little bit and you're still wondering where I'm going with this. Well, I've been thinking of some fitness goals for myself next year to achieve before my 30th birthday. Most I will share and some I will keep personal. Luckily, I have an extremely supportive and loving husband who tells me how good I look everyday (sorry if that's TMI) but I'm always about continuous self-improvement and want to tighten some things up like my abs. I'm not saying I want to look like one of these chicks and enter a fitness competition...yikes! Everyone has their own ideal body and it should be one that is sustainable without starving yourself and one that makes you happy.
Not my ideal look but maybe it's your's!
So here are a few of my goals I am going to train for the next 12 months:
1) Warrior Dash - Chris and I signed up for it last year but then my sister scheduled her wedding for the same weekend. However, as hot as it was and considereing a couple people died last year I'm pretty glad we didn't go. I'm not much of a runner but this looks fun.
2) Tinman Triathlon in Topeka - Always wanted to do it but never signed up so now it's out there.
3) 100 Push Up Challenge - Why not?
4) 50 Mile Bike Ride - kind of random but I really enjoy riding and it seems like it will be challenging but still doable.
5) Be an American Gladiator - Ok, probably not since they don't have that show anymore but when I was younger and the show was on I really really wanted to be one.
My sister and I with Justice from the newer American Gladiator at California Pizza Kitchen on the Plaza a couple of years ago. I was pretty stoked!
So how does this all relate to my blog? Well, it's my blog so I make the rules and can say anything I want. But eating the right way will help me attain my goals. That post will be another day though. Definitely not in December when everyone is dominating sugar cookies and candy canes.
Sorry if this post was a bit boring and I didn't have any yummy food pics for you but I wanted to get this out there and I hope everyone can help keep my accountable in the next year. As they are accomplished I will keep everyone updated. Or at least for whoever is bored enough to read my blog. =)
