Rustic Crust Pizza Night

I love baking, but there are certain things that intimidate me to bake. Pizza has always been one of those things because I just knew in my heart that I would mess up the crust. With Rustic Crust, you don't have to worry about this! The crusts come with pizza sauce and in a variety of flavors. Below, see my instructions for a Cheesy Spinach Pizza using the Rustic Crust Cheesy Herb Flatbread. 

Get your Cheesy Herb Old World Pizza Crust here.

                           Spread the sauce                          

  
Get your mozzarella cheese and spinach 

Add cheese  

Add spinach 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Then Eat!

The cool things about Rustic Crust? There is no trans fat or added sugars. There are also no GMOs, and the grains that make the rust crust are not bleached! Eager to have a taste. Visit their website here for more info! 

Recipe: Quinoa Salad Stuffed Avocados

Monica Auslander, creator of Essence Nutrition Registered Dietitians, gives us a great avocado recipe that is lite and easy to make. See ingredients and instructions below. 

Ingredients:

1 Avocado

1/4 cup dry quinoa

1/2 cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup chopped spinach

1 Tbsp water

1 Tbsp dijon mustard

1/2 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp honey

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

Cook the quinoa to package instructions and set aside.

Dice the cilantro and spinach.

Combine with mustard, lemon juice, honey, cumin, and garlic. Add one tablespoon of water to the dressing until it is homogenous. Add tomatoes and chickpeas to the quinoa.

Pour dressing over the quinoa mixture until it is evenly coated. Cut the avocado in half and remove pit. Top with even parts of quinoa salad.

DIY Try: Dr. Whitney Bowe's Avocado Face Mask

According to Dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, avocados are rich in antioxidants and and fatty acids that reduce wrinkles and hydrate skin. Below is her recipe for a DIY Avocado Face Mask. 

1.       Combine ½ avocado and 2 tsp honey, and mash until the consistency is like a paste

2.       Spread a light coat over your face and neck

3.       Leave for 10 minutes and then wash off using warm water

DIY Try: Delicious Freezer Chocolate with Marzipan Filling

1 cup cacao powder (sifted to remove lumps)

1/4 cup carob powder (sifted to remove lumps)
1/4 cup cashew butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut oil (warmed to clear liquid at room temp)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix in bowl, pour in mold or dip things like fruit in it and put in freezer. Ready in one hour.

Marzipan
1 1/2 cups almond meal
1/4 cup maple syrup

Grind almonds into a fine power in a coffee grinder to make the almond meal. Then mix with the maple syrup and knead into dough.  You can eat immediately or use it as a filling for the chocolate that has hardened.  Stores in refrigerator for long time.  For a whiter-looking marzipan, use skinned or blanched almonds.

Note: This chocolate gets hard within 30 minutes of being in the freezer.  It can be kept in the freezer indefinitely, but needs to be eaten right away when taken out because coconut oils melts at room temperature.  Pure raw coconut oil is really good for you.

Visit www.loveonaplatebook.com for more info on this book and authors Cara Brotman and Markus Rothkranz.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher from LOVE ON A PLATE: The Gourmet UnCookbook by Cara Brotman and Markus Rothkranz. Copyright (c) 2014. Photo credit :  (c)Markus Rothkranz from LOVE ON A PLATE by Cara Brotman and Markus Rothkranz. 

Recipe: Low Fat Tiramisu

I love sweets! It's true. And one thing I am learning to love as much as sweets is baking. I am so excited about this yummy (and low fat) recipe for Tiramisu Pastry Pups from Kim Lassiter, Founder of Symply Pure and Decadent Bakery.

You Need:

2 pkg.  (3 oz. each) ladyfingers, split, divided

2 Tbsp.  Coffee liqueur 

1 Tbsp.  organic sugar

1 cup  boiling water

2 pkg.  (8 oz. each) Neufchatel Cheese, softened

1/2 Organic cup  sugar

1/2 Tbsp.  coffee liqueur or fresh organic brewed coffee

2 cups  LITE Whipping cream

1 tsp.  unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1/2 cup of 10x sugar

1 package of powder gelatin or three sheets of gelatin soaked in cold water

Directions:

ARRANGE 1 pkg. of the ladyfingers on bottom of 13x9-inch dish. Dissolve instant coffee and 1 Tbsp. organic sugar.  Mix the sugar and 1/2 cup of fresh brewed coffee in a bowl. Brush 1/2 cup of the coffee mixture over ladyfingers in a dish.

BEAT Neufchatel Cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and add 1 package powder or three sheets of gelatin. Add 2 tsp of the coffee liqueur 1/2 cup organic sugar and liqueur, mixing until blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. 

Whipped Topping 2 cups of LITE whipping cream in a mixer whip on high speed until it has a medium peak add 1/2 cup 10x

SPREAD Neufchatel Cheese filling into a silicone mold. Refrigerate for two hrs. After two hrs pop out of mold and top with remaining ladyfin ladyfingers; brush with remaining coffee. Top with whipped cream. Dust with cocoa powder and serve.

Tips 
(optional) Drizzle chocolate sauce or chocolate syrup on plate with fresh berries for decor