How could it be junk food week without pizza? Pizza is the ultimate junk food. You ask any little kid what their favorite food is and what will they say? And the one day a week at school that a kid, who usually brings a sack lunch, buys lunch?... Pizza day! And you can bet he knows what day it is. You ask him what he learned at school today and he has no clue, but he knows what day is pizza day!
Pizza day at our house was every friday. Pizza and a movie. We kept little cesars in business! Now that I'm married I make our pizza for pizza night. We prefer "califonia style" with a thin crispy crust. I've also found this supurb pizza seasoning that makes any pizza! Here are two pizza recipes. The first is a delicious vegetable pizza. I actually served this to carnivore friends that came for dinner and they ate all the vegan pizza before they started on the meat pizzas that were made just for them. These are really versatile. I like to have pre-made crusts in the freezer to pull out and make up quick!
The Second recipe I've actually stolen and veganized it. I realize that doing this to a recipe which came from a Texan is a sin but it was so good I had to have it again. While on my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I served in Graham Texas. This town is truly unique. On the main square there is a pizza joint that is in the old city jail. I could just picture barny fife there in the good old day. The place is called The Last Pizza Show. If you're ever in Graham (first of all, why would you ever be there?) you've got to check this place out. The owners still come out and talk to you. If you sit at the bar they'll chat with you as they make the pizza. This is where I was introduced to Hamburger Pizza. I'm sure you're saying, ya, whats the big deal. We'll this pizza is made with Mustard as the sauce.
Here is one of my dirty little secrets. I ADORE mustard. I'll take it any way I can get it. This comes from a mutated gene from my grandmother who, no joke, at one time had over 30 different kinds of mustard in her fridge at one time. Did you even know there were that many different kinds of mustard?
Anyway, back to the pizza. For this meat lovers pizza the sauce is made from regular yellow mustard. Try it and see if it's not FANTASTIC!
Vegetable Pizza
1 pizza crust (this recipe makes two crusts)
1 tomato sliced
spinach
vegan cheese
pizza seasoning
bottled spagetti sauce
Layer your pizza crust with sauce, spinach, tomatoes, seasoning, and cheese. Add whatever you like, be creative! Try peppers and artichoke hearts, mushrooms and olives....I better stop. I find drizzling the cheese on last helps hold everything on. Bake at 350 till spinach is wilted.
Hamburger Pizza
1 pizza crust
1 1/2 c meat crumbles
yellow mustard
vegan cheese
pizza seasoning
Layer mustard, "meat," seasoning, and cheese. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.
This next weeks recipes are for those that think they have no will power or are too weak to become vegan. With food this good it takes no will power at all. Like I said, being vegan is enjoyable, it's not a tortuous exercise of will power unless you make it so. I would hate to be a vegan too if it meant eating tofu and gnawing on a raw carrot every day. So, welcome carnivores, brace yourselves strict vegans, I give you this weeks menu.
Week Two
Monday: Sloppy Joe's
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Meatloaf Sandwiches
Thursday: Nachos
Friday: Burgers & Fries
Saturday: Pizza
Sunday: Pepper Sandwiches
Bonus : Cheese
Now, before all my vegan friends have a conniption, I promise all these meals are vegan. And, I promise all the carnivores out there that you'll enjoy these meals! My favorite carnivore has tested and approved of them. So, belly up to the bar, grab your knife, and fork over your spare ribs. Now, prepare for a week of sumptuous indulgence.
Grocery List
1 pkg taco shells or tortillas
lentils - and lots of em'
2 cans refried beans or homemade
1 bunch leaf lettuce
4 large tomatoes
3 onions
1 bunch cilantro
fresh green chilies
1 sloppy joe season packet
1 can tomato paste (or 1 can sloppy joe sauce)
2 dozen rolls
1 bell pepper per person (different colors are great)
sprouts (or sprout your own. It's much more affordable)
chili sauce (I prefer homemade...no, that's the name of the brand)
sesame oil
1 bag tortilla chips
mustard
spaghetti sauce
spinach
flour
1 can stewed tomatoes
1-2 carrots
corn starch
5-6 russet potatoes
1/2 lb almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds
This weeks theme - pizza hut gets co-oped by Mike Tyson (didn't know Mike was a vegan, did ya?)
In a lot of the shops here in Amerikan Samoa they have "half moon pies." One day, on one of our excursions one caught my eye and called my name, "Jessica.....Jessica.....Eat me." I picked it up with full intention to obey but as I looked at the wrapper it said, "chicken." At first I thought it was a challenge to provoke me to drastic action but then I realized it was a reference to the content. I put it back and came home with a strong determination to devour a distant cousin.
I looked up the recipe on the web and came up with the heading, "half moon pie/pai fala." Well, being the studious student of the language that I am, I took pai fala to mean half moon pie. Actually fala means pineapple. Once perfected I invited my samoan friends to have what I thought was pai fala. I served up veggie pot pies. I received several disgusted looks as they bit in and realized this was not pineapple filled. Yet another failed leap over the language barrier. So, in an effort to redeem myself, these are called Pai "le" fala. In samoan "le" means "the" but it can also mean "not" (are ya seein my struggles?) So, here are pies that are not filled with pineapple.
Pai le fala/Half Moon Pie/Veggie Pot Pie
Dough (Makes 5 pies)
3 C Flour (your choice)
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 C oil
1 C "milk"
Salt
Filling
Veggies from Oodle Soup
Gravy
1-2 tb oil
1-2 spoonfuls of flour
Broth
In one big bowl mix all the ingredients for the dough. Get your hands in there. Mix it all together till it makes a big round ball.
In a sauce pan make a rue (put in the oil and flour to make a paste) then add the broth a little at a time to make a gravy. Season it till its the way you want it.
Divide the dough into five balls. Roll out each into flat circles. Spoon the cooked veggies onto half. Its hard to tell how much to put in because to much will make it explode and to little is just not fare! Use your best judgement. Now spoon the gravy over. Once the filling is in place, fold the other half over the top and crimp the edges with a fork till its just like that bad hair year you had back in the 80's. You'll also want to prick the tops to let out steam. bake on a cookie sheet at 350 for 30-45 minutes or till they are golden brown.
Note on dough:
This dough is also AMAZING as a thin crust pizza (recipe to follow) just roll it out, place on a cookie sheet or pizza stone and bake till it starts to turn golden. Then add toppings and bake again. You can make the crusts in advance and put them in your freezer for a quick pizza.
Note on filling:
Don't limit yourself to veggie pot pie, this dough is your oyster, so to speak. Fill it as you will. Try pizza pockets or even a sweet filling like raspberry preserves or blueberry pie. Matthew's favorite was a "Mulberry preserve" filled pie.
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