Monday, May 12, 2014

Greek Pizza (3 recipes in 1)


Originally posted:  Monday, January 30, 2012

Greek Pizza (3 recipes in 1)

I have been trying to duplicate this recipe since I first tasted it at a birthday party where they served us all Cali Pizza Kitchen pizzas (YUM!  Amazing!).  That restaurant is far from my house, and sit-down places aren't really fit for my wallet or my two small & spirited children, so I set out to duplicate it.  I Googled and Googled, and this was what I came up with---- I think it came about 90% to the actual thing.  My kids also LOVED it.  HAPPY!

Here's the final result:


***If you want to make the non-vegetarian version, you just sub grilled chicken for the avocado  :)
***My main note, is you should just let each person scoop the salad and sauce on their piece as they go because it can get soggy!

Greek Pizza
+ Greek Salad and Tzatziki Sauce
Greek Pizza
  • 1 lb. pizza dough
  • 2 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, grated
  • 2 avocados, sliced
  • 3 cups Greek Salad (see recipe below)
  • 3/4 cup Tzatziki Sauce (recipe follows)
  • 1 ounce Feta cheese (about 1/4 cup), crumbled
1. Preheat to 450° F.
2.  Roll and spread the dough into one 13-inch or two 9-inch circles and place on a floured pizza stone. If you are more comfortable working with one piece of dough at a time, you can shape and dress the second piece while the first is in the oven. If making 2 pizzas, split all the topping measurements in half.  
Bake crust by itself for 12 minutes, take out.

3.  Brush the dough with olive oil to within an inch of the edge, and spread the grated mozzarella to within 1/2 inch of the outer edge.

4. Transfer the pizza(s) to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese at the center is melted and bubbly.

5. Meanwhile, prepare the Greek Salad and Tzatziki Sauce. Place the sauce in a squeeze bottle or a Ziploc bags and use a snipped corner to squeeze out.
6.  Use the peel to remove the pizza(s) from the oven. Slice as desired. Spoon the dressed salad over the pizza(s). Sprinkle with feta cheese, then drizzle with half the Tzatziki Sauce. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve immediately, with the remaining sauce on the side.
Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
  • 2 (8 ounce) containers plain yogurt
  • 2 cucumbers - peeled, seeded and diced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled
Directions
  1. In a food processor or blender, combine yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dill and garlic. Process until well-combined. Transfer to a separate dish, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour for best flavor.

Greek Salad 

From The California Pizza Kitchen Family Cookbook by Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, Wiley 2008
Makes 3 cups 
  • 1 large or 2 small, peeled, and diced 3/8 inch English cucumber
  • 2 medium, seeded and diced 3/8 inch Roma tomatoes
  • 1 medium, chopped Red onion
  • 1/2 cup, drained and halved lengthwise Pitted kalamata olives
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon minced Garlic
  • Pinch Dried oregano leaves
  • Pinch Kosher salt
  • Pinch Ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Extra-Virgin olive oil
1. Combine the cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and olives in a large mixing bowl
2. Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and add to the vegetables.  Stir well.
3. Use immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours

Eye Patch for Little Girls... no elastic needed!


Originally posted: Sunday, February 19, 2012


My 4.5 year old daughter has astigmatism, and at her annual exam Monday, we were told the left eye needs a stronger prescription.  GAH.  This girl had to wear glasses at 3 years old and now they aren't even improved!?  No matter.
The doc said we need to start patching her right eye 45 min per day and the left 30 min per day.  She needs to color, string beads, writing--any hand-eye coordination.  (Using the mouse on the computer, anyone?)  ;)
Anyway-- I went to Target to find a patch at the pharmacy--- $6 for a pack of 20 disposable!  I'd read moms who say kids HATE these because they really hurt coming off.
So, Google.
I found this woman who made a pair for her daughter that goes RIGHT on the glasses!  No annoying elastic to fiddle with--and best of all---she could make it fun and pretty looking.

I just finished making one for Zoe and she was all about it.

You can use the same patch for each side--just turn it upside down.  Love this!
And it cost me $1.89!

Need:
1 piece each:  black, hot pink, green, pastel pink felt + 1 button, thread, needle, scissors







CREDIT:  I followed this woman's blog post to make this:
http://lucykatecrafts.blogspot.com/2008/02/eye-patch-tutorial.html

My Laundry Solution

Originally posted February 2012-- now I have another little one, so we have 5 baskets!  My older two (4 & 6) have become expert sorters.  :)


So... I have no problem washing clothes... but between three part time jobs and two children under the age of 5, after it's clean, it usually sits in round, clean mounds.  Forever.


So, I got an idea yesterday.

My 4 year old is a great sorter.  And-- she has learned to read all of our names!

I bought a separate basket for each family member, wrote their name on it--and now, the laundry comes out, and my 4 year old sorts it!  This way-- MAYBE it's stay in clean mounds, but:
1. At least they are contained
2. They are SMALLER + sorted mounds

Let's see if it works!

(I also offered her 25 cents to fold her little sister's clothes and she did!!!! )

Chocolate Tart

Originally posted: 

Sunday, February 26, 2012

I saw this on the Today Show-- maybe around New Year's-- the chef was a hoot.

Anyway, I skipped making the crust and just bought a vegan one (I don't go for the lard...)

This is SO easy and delicious.

It is supposed to be served warm, but I really like it chilled:

1 crust (bake it 10 mins)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup milk (I used rice milk)
8 oz semi-sweet chips
2 eggs, beaten into submission

Heat a pan and add milk & cream.
Once it boils, take it off heat and whisk in the chips till totally melted and mixed.
Add eggs and completely mix in.
Scrape into pie shell and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  (If it's giggly in the middle and you want to serve it warm, bake longer-- if you want it chilled, allow it to cool, then chill at least 1 hour.)

Space saver: Replace closet door with curtain


Originally posted: Friday, March 23, 2012

Our girls share a room right now, and my youngest is insistent on sleeping ina  big bed--- so she crawls into her sister's, and her sister comes to us... so!

We are saving up for a twin bed  & mattress, but meanwhile, I thought I'd really maximize the space, so I have started some projects around the room.

This was one of them---- take off the closest door, and put up a curtain.  Now I can put two beds in an L shape.  If I had done that with the door on, it would only have opened halfway or less--getting caught on the corner of the bed.

Tension rod= $4.99 Target
Fabric= $4.02  80 inches at Hobby Lobby (go for the satin, it's cheap!)

I sewed hems up the sides, then made a casing for the rod, then hemmed the bottom-- done.
Took 35 mins.

If you want it to touch the ground, I guess get around 85".  :)

Stay tuned for some posts I'm moving from old blogs...

Am I the only one who has started a blog, then hated the name?

Is there ever a name you could love for more than 5 years, or 10?  I don't know, but so far I keep unliking the names I pick!  Sticking with this name though, since I've really dug in here.  Enjoy some Posts from the Past...

Happy Mother's Day


MOTHERS-- If today wasn't the greatest day, PLEASE remember... no one is posting pics of their kids yelling at them or having 6 tantrums or making demands. FATHERS/PARTNERS: All most of us want is for someone to take over for the day-- if you were able to achieve that in any small way-- hats off to you!  (Privates messages from several mama friends today-- you aren't alone! We should take down the expectation level--perfection is not possible!)

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms I know and love. And if it falls short (esp if you have many tiny needy kids)... Here's wishing you a drink, some Netflix, and some chocolate once they're asleep tonight. 


The best shot we got , lol!