Fast Dinner: French Bread Pizza

So, I have been completely neglectful on my food posts lately.  Here's a fast dinner for 2+(or lunch) to kick things back off.

French Bread Pizza.  Three words; just delicious.  Eat by its self or with a side salad.

Here's what you need:
1 loaf of French bread or a thick similar style loaf
1 small can of pizza sauce
Toppings, I used pepperoni
Mozzarella cheese, grated

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Slice loaf of bread long ways and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Spread pizza sauce on each slice.

Sprinkle pepperoni (or other toppings) about.

Cover generously with Mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until melty, golden and delicious looking (see picture).

Green Smoothie: Spinach, Tropical Fruit and Greek Yogurt

What do you call an alligator in a vest?
An Investigator.

Ok, I know, I know...alligators have nothing to do with smoothies.  But the color of this smoothie kind of reminded me of the swap we visited in south Georgia to see gators, so there you go.

Green smoothies are a fantastic way to get some extra daily veggies in.  Swap out your breakfast or lunch for one.  I know its green, but just close your eyes and get over that because it tastes delicious.

Here's what you need:
1 cup of Frozen Tropical Fruit (I used Wawona Spectrum Blend from Costco)
2/3 cup of orange juice
2 heaping spoonfuls of plain Greek yogurt (I used Kirkland Brand Plain Nonfat, also from Costco)
2 large handfuls of spinach

Quick Salsa Fresca

This is a great quick way to whip up a Salsa Fresco.  We served this up with some fish tacos the other night.  We also had a cabbage salad which had cilantro in it, so I skipped it here, but you could definitely add cilantro to this recipe if you wanted to.

Another great thing about this Salsa Fresca, is the next night, I added some olive oil to the leftovers and used it to marinate and cook some chicken breasts in.  Very tasty.

Here's what you need:
1/4 a large purple onion, diced
1/3 a red pepper, diced
2 roma tomatoes, sliced and quatered
fresh lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
optional, cilantro

Ok, ok, ok...I'm a slacker

Call it vacation, call it being a total slacker, call it lame....

Sorry for the lack of posting, sometimes other things just take over.  Next week, I plan on being back full force....so, get ready, hold your breath, etc. etc.

In the meantime, I want everybody to check out this new Chipotle video The Scarecrow (if you haven't already).  My love for Fiona Apple just grows and grows with this new under taking.  Read more here.

Berry Kale Smoothie

What's the formula for PI?
Eh, apple or blueberry?...

For the past couple of weeks, I have made the switch to smoothies for breakfast (and I'm totally lovin' it!).  I was surprised by how full a smoothie, packed with greens and greek yogurt, keeps me going well into lunch time.

This one is full of berries and kale, but the kale can be easily substituted for spinach and the berries for peaches.  Go with what you have on hand, and what your taste buds feel like.  The fruit you add hides most of the flavor of the greens.

Here's what you need for 1:
3/4 cup of orange juice
3/4 cup of fruit (I used blueberries and raspberries)
2 large dollops of plain greek yogurt
2 large handfuls of greens (I used kale)
3-5 ice cubes

Quick Black Bean Quesadilla with Red Pepper

What is an astronaut's favorite sandwich?
Launch meat.

Step away from your typical lunch of a turkey sandwich.  This quesdailla is just as fast to make.

Here's what you need for 1:
2 tortillas
1/2 cup of rinsed and drained canned black beans
1/4 cup of shredded cheese, I used colby jack
1 teaspoon of unsalted butter
1/3 of a large red pepper or 1/2 of a small one, sliced
1 teaspoon of sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce, if desired

Peach, Blueberry and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad

"This guy is standing on the street, and he has a giant peach for a head.  And a man walks up to him, and says, "Ummm....you have a giant peach for a head.  What's up with that?  And the guys says, "Funny story, actually.  A genie came up to me and granted me three wishes.  And for my first wish, I asked to be rich. 
And a guy came up and handed me a briefcase with a million dollars, and I'm a millionaire, a millionaire.  For my second wish, I asked for the most beautiful woman in the world to fall madly in love with me.  Mila Kunis walked up to me, said "I love you" and we are getting married in a month.
For my third wish, I asked to have a giant peach for a head."

-Matthew Perry

Summer is quickly winding down, so I am trying to get in as much fruit as I can!  For lunch today, I fixed a quick berry salad with creamy goat cheese.


Here's what you need (for 1 salad):
1 handful of spinach
1/2 a handful of watercress
1/2 a peach, sliced
a few blueberries
2-3 teaspoons of plain goat cheese
dressing of choice or 1-2 tablespoons of aged balsamic vinegar