Easy Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza

I don’t know about you, but for me, heading out of Spring and into Summer is reason alone to look for easy, quick-fix meals for busy families like mine.  I originally saw this recipe in one of my favorite magazines “All You” and I use it all the time so I had to pass it along to our readers.  It’s not only good for saving you time, but more importantly, money saving as well.  So, ditch the  expensive pizzas and delivery fees and throw one of these quick pizzas in the oven.  It’s sure to please!

Prep: 5 min.:  Bake: 12 min.
Cost per serving: $2.10
Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 10-inch flour tortillas
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
40 slices turkey pepperoni
8 ounces shredded part-skim mozzarella
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 500ºF. Mist both sides of 2 tortillas with cooking spray. Place tortillas on a baking sheet, top with half of tomatoes, pepperoni and cheese; bake on top rack for 3 minutes. Move to bottom rack and bake until tortillas are puffed and browned around edges, about 3 minutes longer. Sprinkle with half of basil.

2. While first two pizzas are baking, assemble remaining two pizzas on another baking sheet. Bake as directed above, sprinkle with remaining basil, and serve immediately.

Thai Chicken Spring Rolls

I was in love with Chinese Lettuce Wraps…until I had the pleasure of trying a Thai Spring Roll.  Albeit some what similar, Thai food is one of my favorites.  With that, I wanted to share with our readers a great recipe I found on my right-hand website for quick meals www.allrecipes.com for making Thai Chicken Spring Rolls.  Every time I make them, they come out fabulous.

Thai Chicken Spring Rolls

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut sauce
1 (1 1/2 inch) piece fresh ginger root, minced
2 teaspoons soy sauce; divided
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch pieces
1 teaspoon peanut oil
6 ounces fresh snow pea pods
12 ounces bean sprouts
4 green onions, chopped
1 pound watercress, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 large carrots, peeled
12 spring roll wrappers
1/2 cup peanut sauce

Directions:

1.  Combine 1 cup peanut sauce, ginger, garlic and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce in a bowl.  Add the chicken and mix until the chicken is coated.  Place in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes.

2.  Heat 1 teaspoon peanut oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat.  Cook the snow peas, bean sprouts and green onion in the oil until heated but still crisp, 3 to 4 minutes.  Transfer to a large bowl.  Mix in the watercress and cilantro.  Use a vegetable peeler to have long slices of carrot into the watercress mixture.  Drizzle remaining 1 teaspoon soy sauce into the watercress mixture; toss to coat.

3.  Heat 1 teaspoon of oil to the wok or skillet.  Cook the marinated chicken until no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes.

4.  Fill a large bowl with hot water.  Dip wrappers one at a time into the water for about 2 seconds each.  As wrappers are removed from water, fill each with 2 large spoonfuls of the chicken and a small handful of the watercress mixture.  Fold in two opposite ends of the wrapper to meet the filling.  Then, fold the bottom of the wrapper over the top of the filling and roll.  Serve with 1/2 cup peanut sauce for dipping.

Enjoy!
Di

Tastefully Simple: Modern cooking for the modern family

Today’s modern family is usually comprised of him, her, his kids, her kids, their kids, the dog, a few fish and a hamster. Not to mention that mom and dad both work, the kids have after school activities and overall, schedules are hectic and hard to manage with so little time. Often times, families don’t have enough time to cook, let alone eat together at the dinner table. Families need quick simple recipes that are still yummy to the tummy. Solution – Tastefully Simple! With Tastefully Simple recipes and products, you get the food you love and the time you deserve.

Tastefully Simple is a company that offers a wide selection of convenient, easy-to-prepare foods designed to help people spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the rest of their lives. They offer inexpensive products and spices that can be easily added to things you already have on hand or can easily get from the store.

I love Tastefully Simple products because even a non-cook like me can make anything tasty, and the best part is that it’s easy for me to do! Below is a recipe to one of my favorite Tastefully Simple meals. For more information on Tastefully Simple and/or to purchase some of their delicious products please visit www.tastefullysimple.com/web/thart1.

1. Perfect Parmesan Biscuits (you can purchase the mix directly from the website above)
2. Ham and Swiss Mac
3. Garlic Garlic Green Beans
4. Rice Krispie Caramel Bars

The biscuits, oven baked mac and cheese, garlic garlic, and caramel sauce are all Tastefully Simple products!

Ham & Swiss Mac

Ingredients
Oven-Baked Mac & Cheese Mix
2 cups milk
6 oz. (about 1 1/2 cups) shredded or cubed Swiss cheese, divided
8 oz. (1/2 lb.) cubed fully cooked ham

Directions
Combine Cheese Sauce Mix with milk in a large saucepan; whisk to blend. Bring sauce mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 4-5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add about 1 cup of cheese and all of ham; stir until cheese melts. Add prepared pasta to sauce; stir to blend. Pour pasta mixture into a greased 8 x 8 baking pan; top with remaining cheese and Crumb Topping. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and browned. Makes 6-7 servings.

Garlic Garlic Green Beans

Ingredients
2 Tbsp. Garlic Garlic^TM
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. fresh green beans
2 tsp. sea salt
14.5 oz. can chicken broth
Pepper to taste

Directions
Saute Garlic Garlic^TM in olive oil until slightly brown; add green beans saute lightly. Add sea salt and broth; cover and steam approximately 5-10 minutes until slightly tender. Pepper to taste. Makes about 4 servings.

Rice Krispie Caramel BarsIngredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
12 cups miniature marshmallows
12 cups Rice Krispies®
1 jar Creamy Caramel Sauce

Directions
Melt butter over low heat; add marshmallows. Stir until completely melted. Remove from heat; add cereal. Stir to coat evenly. Spread half of cereal mixture in greased 9 x 13 pan. Pack mixture in pan firmly. Warm Creamy Caramel Sauce; spread over top of cereal mixture. Top with remaining cereal mixture. Cool. Makes 12-15 servings.