Gouda, Onion Pizza

Hello again! Man Tuesdays sure come quick doing this blog!! Well for today I am posting a pretty easy pizza recipe that I got off of Recipe.com Magazine.

If you are looking for a fun date night idea please check out my other blog tierradawn.blogspot.com and if you happen to draw the letter G you can make this easy, inexpensive meal for dinner!!

Gouda Red Onion Pizza

 

• 2  Tbsp olive oil
• 1  large red onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• 1  Tbsp. snipped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1/4  tsp. salt
• 1/4  tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1  Tbsp. cornmeal (didnt use this)
• 1  10- to 13.8-oz. package refrigerated pizza dough (i used a pkged Boboli pizza crust cause we love them)
• 8  oz. Gouda or Edam cheese, shredded (2 cups) (i used smoked Gouda, ive never cooked or used gouda before.. probably my new favorite!)

   

   Directions

  1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion. Cook until onion is tender but not brown, stirring often (5 to 7 minutes). Remove from heat. Stir in thyme, salt and black pepper; set aside. (So i was trying just to hurry and so I forgot to saute the onions and just put them on the pizza which turned out good but next time ill saute them!)

  2. Grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with the cornmeal. Pat pizza dough into a 12x8-inch rectangle on the baking sheet. Brush pizza dough with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle pizza dough with cheese to within 1/2 inch of edges. Spoon onion mixture over the cheese.

  3. Bake, uncovered, in a 400 degrees F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until crust is golden. Cut into 12 pieces. Makes 12 appetizers.

   

  Here is how i did it: ( i have a tendency to take a recipe and totally change it!)

  So I used a Boboli Pizza Crust and I turned my oven onto 375 degrees. While it was heating up I put 2 Tbsp of olive oil on the crust, then I diced about 4-6 cloves of garlic and spread on the crust. I then cut up the red onion and placed it on the pizza. I decided to cut Cherry Tomatoes in half and place on the pizza. I then put the fresh thyme on the pizza. Sprinkled the whole pizza with Salt and Pepper. I sprinkled the Gouda Cheese all over the pizza and baked in the over for about 15 minutes. 

  It was a fabulous pizza and great for left overs. We paired it with a salad with vinaigrette dressing.  (however i forgot to take a picture of that, sorry!)

  Next time I will saute the onions!! 

  
  

  

  Enjoy!!!

  
  

Quick Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

Hello everyone!!! So i super apologize for not blogging last week. I was extremely busy and just spaced it! So i hope you have all had a great couple of weeks and a great mothers day!! My husband brought home flowers because i am a mom to our dogs! :) He is cute!
So on Saturday the 12th I was in a cooking competition called the Fud Fued and made Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I will give you all the recipe sometime. I entered in the appetizer category and received third place!!! A couple of the judges were The Food Nanny from BYUtv and Judge Jaxon who owns a cooking school in Park City. So it is kind of fun who they get. Last year I made chicken egg rolls and got third place as well. I received some fun prizes that i am excited to use :) All in all it was a fun experience that my husband. mom, step dad, aunt and a couple of friends were able to enjoy with me!
On the weight loss I have lost 6-7 pounds. I need to kick it in gear!!! Yesterday I started noticing where i might be losing weight...... ITS THE LAST PLACE I WANNA LOSE WEIGHT!!...... but oh well.

Anyway on to the recipe for today.... I have made a bunch of recipes in the past few weeks that i am so excited to share with you and some horrible ones i will share so you know not to try them!! But last nights dinner was sooooooo good I couldnt wait till today to blog about it......

Super Quick Tomato Basil Cream Pasta
Serves Two (i always cook way to much pasta so i got enough for 3-4)
1 Large, ripe tomato (2 cups roughly chopped, 1 1/2 cups blended)
1/2 Cup Raw Cashews
1 Tbs Tomato Paste ( i did two TBSP)
1/4 Cup Water

2 Tbs Olive Oil
2-4 Cloves Garlic, minced, optional

6 Ounces (ish) Whole Wheat Spaghetti

1 tsp Salt
2-3 Tbs Wine or Water, optional
1-2 tsp Freshly Cracked, Coarse Black Pepper
1 Large Handful Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped

Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Once boiling add pasta.
Core the tomato, then roughly chop it. Add it to your blender, seeds, skin and all. Add cashews, tomato paste, and water. Blend until very smooth. (seriously blend for awhile)
Add olive oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn.
Pour sauce from the blender into the saute pan and bring to a simmer.
Add salt and let cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If desired add wine/water to thin out the sauce. ( i did 3 Tbsp of wine, it cooks out)
Taste and season more if necessary.
Let simmer until pasta is finished cooking. (my pasta was done way before, so i drained it and let it sit)
Once pasta is cooked, drain.
Add pasta to the saute pan with black pepper and freshly chopped basil leaves. Toss to coat. Serve immediately, garnishing with more pepper and basil.
(i added a handful of parmesan cheese :/......)

So i was really nervous with this because my mom and i tried making a tomato basil soup with chopped on almonds and it was just soo chunky we couldnt handle it. So this sauce being made with cashews i was nervous... because even after i blended awhile it was still slightly chunky. WELL, the cooking it 4-5 minutes makes it soft and it was DELICIOUS!! My husband and I both ate it so fast!! 

Just ate the leftovers for lunch and it was soooo delicious!! Im so excited about this recipe!!  

We had ours with chicken that was marinated in a Lawreys Tuscan Dried Tomato Herbs and some Asparagus :)

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Isn't it fun to pretend like you are a chef in an Italian restaurant? Especially when everyone {aka - your hubby} raves about your food as if it actually came from an Italian restaurant?  I love it when I cook something that makes me feel like a regular chef. This recipe will hit the spot exactly. It is so so tasty and surprisingly easy. I found it in an old Taste of Home's Cooking magazine I used to have laying around and I am super stoked that I decided to make it. Because now, whenever I feel like being an Italian chef, I have the perfect recipe up my sleeve.
And you know what? This would taste delicious with Tierra's Alfredo Pasta. Mmm, maybe we'll have Italian for dinner tonight. :)

Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Recipe from Taste Home’s Cooking for 2 (Spring 2006), Submitted by: Laura Babberl
Prep: 25 min. Bake: 15 min + cooling
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 egg
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:
In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt and garlic poweder. In another bowl, beat the egg. Place the Parmesan cheese in a third bowl. Coat chicken in flour mixture, then dip in egg and roll in cheese.
In a skillet, brown chicken in oil on both sides. Transfer to a shallow 1-at. Baking dish coated with nonstick cooking; drizzle with lemon juice. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until juices run clear.


And because this is Taste of Home and they are awesome, I even have nutrition facts for you. I know, I'm your new best friend. Or maybe not since now you know. Oops.
Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast=394 calories, 18g fat (6g saturated), 173 mg cholesterol, 830 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 45 g protein