Homemade Pizza .... and spaghetti squash!

Yes- homemade pizza. Who can really pass it up, right?! I throw herbs into this crust to make it more than just whole wheat dough, but if you don't want to buy them, just add some cumin and some chili powder and make it more of a mexican crust taste. I also whipped up a random side dish of spaghetti squash.. just because I had the ingredients. I'll show you all of it!

Herbed-Pizza Crust:

1/2 cup warm water

1 packet dry active yeast

1/2 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup tomato juice

1 T chopped rosemary

2 T chopped chives

1/4 t white pepper

1 t olive oil

1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Pizza Toppings:

Pizza Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

Any toppings you like- but here's what I used

4 oz can sliced black olives

1 plum tomato sliced

Some chopped chives

Some pepperoncini (only because it was in my fridge)

Here it was pre-bake!

I sometimes could just eat it as dough. But I wait. Here's all you do:

Dough:

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add all ingredients except all purpose flour and mix well. Gradually add all purpose flour as it works into the dough. Once all flour is mixed in, place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 5 minutes, until its smooth and elastic. Let it rise, preferably in a warm place, for 45-60 minutes. Once it has doubled in size, punch down into pizza pan and spread out to desired shape and thickness.

Top with whatever you prefer. Sauce, cheese, and the good stuff!

Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and turning golden brown, at 425 degrees. And your result should look something like this

Too good! I promise you'll love it. If you can splurge on the herbs, DO IT! Its totally worth it!

So, my random side dish was herbed spaghetti squash. You just cut a spaghetti squash right down the middle. Place about 1.5 cups of chicken or veggie broth into a 9X13 baking dish. I put 2 sprigs of rosemary (which you already have from the pizza) and 2 sprigs of sage (it came in a mixed herb pack along with rosemary at Kroger!) in the pan. I banged mine with a knife so it would open up the leaves and release that herby-ness. Place the squash, hollow side down, into the broth.

Place in the oven for about an hour at 375 degrees until the skin gives way a little when you push on it, and squash is completely tender on the inside.

Remove from the oven and flip onto a plate. ALLOW TO COOL BEFORE THE NEXT STEP!

About 10 minutes later, seed the squash carefully. Then take a fork and go at the flesh of the squash. It will come out like noodles! Go all the way to the rind. Place in a bowl, toss with a little olive oil, or butter, some salt, pepper, and parsley flakes. Serve:

Looks kind of odd, I know. But its good. Its healthy. Its easy. Here's the ingredient list since I didn't list it earlier:

1 spaghetti squash

Rosemary (2 sprigs)

Sage (2 sprigs)

Butter or EVOO (about 1 tsp)

Salt and Pepper

Dried Parsley (about 2 tsp)

ENJOY! Try this pizza! You'll never order in again. Well, you probably will, but it will never taste as good and as healthy!