Pizza is one of those foods that works for just about everyone. From meat eaters to vegetarians, kids, adults and everyone in between. Year-round, its the perfect entree for family or party events.
Brion & I always enjoy pizza, preferably homemade. Usually my go-to toppings would be veggies, chicken or seafood, but nothing says it can’t be ground meat.
One of the things that seemed to improve on the flavor of this pizza was the caramelized onions. It takes only a few extra minutes but is worth it. For the sauce, I tried a blend of prepared lite Alfredo & marinara and then used a combo of cheeses instead of just one. Its always interesting to me what develops when you ‘step out of the box’.
Of course, if you have time to make a full fledged pizza crust it will take it all to the next level. But, I never hesitate, when I’m too busy, to use a purchased, refrigerated pizza crust. Pizza is just good, so do what works for you!
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Hamburger & Caramelized Onion Pizza
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Rating: 5
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Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp butter, divided
- 1 large sweet onion, sliced
- 200 grams fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 454 grams lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- Homemade OR purchased PIZZA CRUST
- 1/4 cup EACH prepared Alfredo sauce & marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
- 4 pieces sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
- 15-20 green olives, sliced
- 80 grams cheddar, shredded OR use 200 gm of your choice of cheese instead of the ones listed here
- 55 grams Gouda cheese, shredded
- 65 grams mozzarella chese, shredded
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp butter, divided
- 1 large sweet onion, sliced
- 200 grams fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 454 grams lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- Homemade OR purchased PIZZA CRUST
- 1/4 cup EACH prepared Alfredo sauce & marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
- 4 pieces sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
- 15-20 green olives, sliced
- 80 grams cheddar, shredded OR use 200 gm of your choice of cheese instead of the ones listed here
- 55 grams Gouda cheese, shredded
- 65 grams mozzarella chese, shredded
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Rating: 5
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Instructions
Pizza Crust
For my PIZZA CRUST RECIPE, you can find it in either JULY or AUGUST 2019 blog entries on this site. It is a yeast dough so it will take a bit of time to prepare (but worth it).
Pizza Toppings
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In a skillet, melt 2 Tbsp butter & add onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 20-25 minutes or until onion is browned & caramelized. Remove onion mixture from skillet; set aside.
Add 1 Tbsp butter to skillet & saute mushrooms until tender & moisture has evaporated. Remove from skillet; add to onion mixture. Place ground beef & garlic in skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5-6 minutes or until browned. Drain off fat. Stir in caramelized onions, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, salt & pepper.
Assembly
Spread Alfredo/marinara sauce blend over either homemade or purchased PIZZA CRUST. Sprinkle with a small portion of your cheese blend. Top with ground beef mixture, red pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, sliced green olives & remaining grated cheese. Bake 15-20 minutes or until crust is nicely golden brown.
Recipe Notes
- To grill pizza, heat one side of gas grill on medium or charcoal grill until coals are ash white. Place coals to one side in charcoal grill. Place pizza onto grill opposite coals. Close lid; grill, rotating once 12-15 minutes or until heated through & cheese is melted.
Quiche has always been an incomparable, one dish meal in my opinion. It’s kind of a whole food with protein, vegetables, dairy and carbohydrates. Quiche’s convenience wins hands down. After mixing the basics … eggs, milk or cream … any ingredients will work from leftovers to freshly cooked. You can use just about anything that you have in the refrigerator.
While some recipes are crust-free, most quiches have some kind of foundation. Potatoes, rice, cauliflower all make nice ‘crust’ options. Quiche makes a great choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. To keep it interesting, I’m always trying to find ways to tweak the ingredients to make it taste just a bit different each time.
Two of Brion’s favorite foods are broccoli and rice. I decided to make a rice/cheese crust, which I pre-baked so it would get a little crispy. Then, when it bakes with the filling, it holds together quite nicely. The seasoning plays a crucial part in the quiche.
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Shrimp Quiche Casserole
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Rating: 5
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Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Rice Crust
Preheat oven to 350 F. Blend crust ingredients. Using the back of a large spoon, press into a greased 8-inch round baking dish & bake for 15-20 minutes.
Filling
In a skillet, melt 1 Tbsp butter; saute garlic & mushrooms, stirring for about 5 minutes. Stir in onions, cook for another 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
Pour 2 cups water into skillet & bring to a simmer. Cook shrimp for about 1 minute or JUST until pink. Reserving 1 cup of the liquid, rinse shrimp under cold running water. Shell & devein shrimp; arrange over rice in baking dish.
Preheat oven to 325 F. (If you have turned it off after pre-baking crust). In a heavy saucepan, melt remaining butter & stir in flour. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, without browning; gradually whisk in reserved liquid & milk. Cook, stirring, for about 20 minutes or until thickened.
Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese, lemon zest & spices until cheese is melted. Stir into vegetable mixture & pour over shrimp in rice crust.
In a small bowl, stir together remaining 1/4 cup cheese & bread crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over 'quiche'.
Bake for about 40 minutes or until quiche is 'set'. Cut into wedges & serve.
The best thing about quiche is their ability to taste just as good reheated as they do fresh from the oven. I love quiche, which of course, if you are following my blog you already know that. A classic dish made popular in the 1970’s, is so simple and yet can be the star of an elegant brunch or quick mid week supper.
Very often, quiche is thought of as ‘taboo’ due to all the fat it may contain. When you think about it, pizza is full of fat and we certainly don’t stop eating it. Quiche is totally customizable in terms of how healthy you want to make it.
As far back as I remember, I have always enjoyed ‘all things vegetable’. My mother grew a large garden on the farm, so vegetables always played a big part in our family meals.
Brussels sprouts seem to be an unlikely ingredient for quiche. It is one of those vegetables most people either love or hate. My husband, Brion, kind of ‘sits on the fence’ when it comes to both quiche and brussels sprouts. So I derived a plan to help make it work. I thought if I make the crust from rice, which he loves, that would be a good start. The sliced brussels sprouts, wild mushrooms and onions are all sauteed first to bring out the natural flavors. Add some bacon and Gouda cheese — what’s not to love?!
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Brussels Sprouts & Wild Mushroom Quiche
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Rating: 5
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Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Rice Crust
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Preheat oven to 350 F. Blend crust ingredients. Using the back of a large spoon, press into a baking dish & bake for 15-20 minutes.
Filling
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In a saucepan, cook bacon until nearly crisp. Remove bacon to a paper towel. Add sliced brussels sprouts, mushrooms & onions to bacon drippings; saute until until tender-crisp. Blot veggies on paper towel.
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Preheat oven to 350 F. Layer bottom of rice crust with vegetables, bacon & cheese. Whisk together eggs, half & half & seasonings. Pour egg mixture carefully over veggies, bacon & cheese. Bake 40 minutes. Quiche should be puffy & golden & set in the middle.
Recipe Notes
- For extra flavor you may prefer to roast the brussels sprouts instead of sauteing them.
- Don't hesitate to use the cheese or cheese combo of your own choice instead of the Gouda in this recipe.
It seems logical, since new potatoes and fresh dill are available, to make some of these special little quiche.
When I think of salmon, dill immediately comes to mind. One of the few herbs you can purchase fresh in the supermarkets year round. Dill is a very pretty herb with its feathery leaves or fronds. It has a fresh, grassy flavor that is often referred to as anise-like. A member of the parsley family, it can bring out the flavors of other herbs.
Dill is a commonly used herb in Middle Eastern and North African cuisine. Fresh dill is often added to seafood dishes, yogurt sauces, vinegars, potato salads, fresh baked breads and soups as well as making a very gourmet looking garnish.
Quiche had become popular in England after WWII, but it wasn’t until the 70’s and 80’s that it really caught on in North America. Today we have many variations in our quiche fillings. There are also crustless recipes of quiche but some would argue that those can only be classed as ‘baked custard’.
Hot or cold, I have always enjoyed quiche. Brion probably could take it or leave it but I think this SALMON, NEW POTATO & DILL QUICHE will be real tasty.
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Salmon, New Potato & Dill Mini Quiche
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Rating: 5
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Votes: 2
Rating: 5
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Instructions
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt. Cut in white & yellow Crisco shortening until it resembles small peas. In a 1 cup measure, place egg & vinegar; combine. Add enough COLD water to fill cup. Pour all at once over flour mixture, mixing quickly, until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. This should only take a couple of minutes; DO NOT OVER MIX PASTRY.
Preheat oven to 400 F. Roll pastry out on a lightly floured surface. Cut 8 circles about 5 3/4" in diameter (providing your mini tart shell pans are 4 3/4" size). Line mini tart pans with pastry & place them on a baking sheet. Place a piece of parchment in each shell, fill it with dry beans & 'blind' bake pastry crust for 6-8 minutes. Decrease oven temperature to 325 F.
Divide grated cheese between tart shells; slice cooked new potatoes over cheese. Top with cubed salmon fillet, green onions & fresh dill. In a small bowl, combine eggs, milk & spices; beat well. Carefully pour equally over each tart. Place in oven & bake for 35-40 minutes or until filling is set & slightly golden. Cool in tin before removing to serve. If desired, sprinkle tops with a little bit more shredded Gouda cheese.
Recipe Notes
- Smoked or fresh raw, ground salmon can be used instead of salmon fillet.
MENU
WILD MUSHROOM & GOUDA QUICHE — SHRIMP & VEGETABLE QUICHE
FRESH SPINACH SALAD — FRUIT KABOBS & HONEY YOGURT
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Summer Picnic Menu #2
Quiche is great whether it is served hot or cold making it a nice picnic meal.
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Rating: 5
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Ingredients
Wild Mushroom & Gouda Quiche
- 1-9" 'deep dish' pastry shell, thawed
- 2 Tbsp margarine
- 1 green onion, sliced
- 454 grams wild mushroom 'blend' (enoki, crimini, oyster, portobello, button)
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 2 cups broccoli florets,
- 1/3 cup red pepper
- 2 Tbsp bacon bits
- 100 grams Gouda cheese (smoked or plain), shredded
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp thyme, dried
- 1 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to your preference)
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Shrimp & Vegetable Quiche
- 1-9" 'deep dish' pastry shell, thawed
- 340 grams frozen shrimp, cooked & thawed
- 1 1/2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped
- 3/4 cup red pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 40 grams Italian cheese blend, shredded
- 70 grams cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp fresh basil 'paste'
- 1/2 tsp EACH dry mustard, dill weed, garlic powder, & onion powder
- 1 tsp vegetable salt OR regular if you prefer
Fruit Kabobs with Honey Yogurt Dip
Ingredients
Wild Mushroom & Gouda Quiche
- 1-9" 'deep dish' pastry shell, thawed
- 2 Tbsp margarine
- 1 green onion, sliced
- 454 grams wild mushroom 'blend' (enoki, crimini, oyster, portobello, button)
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 2 cups broccoli florets,
- 1/3 cup red pepper
- 2 Tbsp bacon bits
- 100 grams Gouda cheese (smoked or plain), shredded
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp thyme, dried
- 1 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to your preference)
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Shrimp & Vegetable Quiche
- 1-9" 'deep dish' pastry shell, thawed
- 340 grams frozen shrimp, cooked & thawed
- 1 1/2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped
- 3/4 cup red pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 40 grams Italian cheese blend, shredded
- 70 grams cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp fresh basil 'paste'
- 1/2 tsp EACH dry mustard, dill weed, garlic powder, & onion powder
- 1 tsp vegetable salt OR regular if you prefer
Fruit Kabobs with Honey Yogurt Dip
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Rating: 5
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Instructions
Wild Mushroom & Gouda Quiche
Preheat oven to 350 F. Slice green onion & mushrooms. Saute in margarine; add garlic, stirring often. Allow to cook for 5 minutes uncovered so moisture will evaporate. Cut broccoli into florets; add to pan along with red pepper & bacon bits. Cook another 6 minutes; remove from heat. Whisk together eggs, milk & seasonings.
Sprinkle 1/2 of the Gouda cheese in quiche shell. Top with vegetable mixture; then remaining Gouda. Gently pour seasoned egg/milk mixture over all. Bake about 40 minutes or until quiche tests done. Since quiche is made with milk instead of cream (to lighten up on the calories) it tales a bit longer to bake.
Shrimp & Vegetable Quiche
Preheat oven to 350 F. Microwave vegetables ONLY, for a few minutes to soften SLIGHTLY; lay on paper towel along with thawed shrimp to take up some of the moisture. Whisk together eggs, milk & seasonings.
Sprinkle Italian cheese blend over bottom of quiche shell. Top with shrimp, vegetables & cheddar cheese. Gently pour seasoned egg/milk mixture over all. Bake on middle rack for 50-60 minutes or until just 'set'. Cover crust with foil, if necessary, to prevent over browning.
Fresh Spinach Salad
In a large salad bowl, combine salad ingredients. Toss with salad dressing just before serving time or let each person put their own on at the picnic.
Fresh Fruit Kabobs with Honey Yogurt
In a small bowl, combine yogurt & honey (cinnamon if using). Prepare fresh fruit of choice, cutting into bite size cubes. Thread onto 8" wooden skewers. Place in serving container along with sealed container of honey-yogurt dip.
Recipe Notes
- If you prefer, quiche can be made individually for easy serving.
Today, July 25th, we celebrate my sister Loretta’s birthday.
‘To have a sister like you is like finding a treasure in ones life’. ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LORETTA’, you deserve all the best!’
In the fall of 2001, Brion & I, joined by Loretta, made our first trip to Europe. Before that our holidays had pretty much been in the USA. This was a whole new learning curve that has forever changed the meaning of travel for us. Our destination was France, starting out in Paris, then renting a car and driving to the west coast then on down through southern France.
The hotel we were staying at in Paris looked out over a ‘pedestrian only’ street. When we arrived it was evening and the street was dark and pretty much deserted. The next morning we heard a lot of hustle-bustle in the street below. When we looked out, the sight was just incredible! The street was lined with shops which were now open for business. It was the most beautiful sight to look down on with all its colors and activity. During the next few days we enjoyed everything Paris to the fullest.
Down from our hotel we came upon a little street vendor selling crepes of all things. The taste was amazing! Fifteen years later, they have joined our ‘taste of a memory’ food list, knowing that so much of it was time & place.
Crepes are such a great meal. Simple to make with so many options whether it is a savory or sweet version. One of our favorite savory choices is a Seafood Crepe, which I feature in my ebook, ‘LIVING LARGE ON A LEAN FOOD BUDGET’. For a sweet treat, you might enjoy to try these Strawberry-Citrus Crepes.
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French Crepes
Crepe batters can be stored in the fridge for a day ---- cooked crepes in the freezer.
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Ingredients
Parmesan Herb Crepe; add to ingredients of Basic Crepe batter
Chocolate Dessert Crepe; add toingredients of Basic Crepe batter
Basic Dessert Crepe; decrease milk in Basic Crepe to 1 1/3 cups & add the following
Seafood Filling
- 340 grams shrimp/scallop combo, raw
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 1 medium zucchini, diced small
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced, sliced
- 1 small green or red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup water chestnuts, finely diced (optional)
- 1/4 tsp ginger, ground
- 4 1/2 tsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
Gouda Sauce for Seafood Crepes
Strawberry-Citrus Filling
Ingredients
Parmesan Herb Crepe; add to ingredients of Basic Crepe batter
Chocolate Dessert Crepe; add toingredients of Basic Crepe batter
Basic Dessert Crepe; decrease milk in Basic Crepe to 1 1/3 cups & add the following
Seafood Filling
- 340 grams shrimp/scallop combo, raw
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 1 medium zucchini, diced small
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced, sliced
- 1 small green or red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup water chestnuts, finely diced (optional)
- 1/4 tsp ginger, ground
- 4 1/2 tsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
Gouda Sauce for Seafood Crepes
Strawberry-Citrus Filling
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Instructions
Crepes
Place all ingredients in blender; whirl for 1 minute at high speed. Scrape down sides, whirl for another 15 seconds. Pour into a bowl & cover; refrigerate 1 hour. Heat a non-stick griddle to 350 F. Measure about 3 Tbsp of batter per crepe onto griddle. With back of spoon form batter into an 8-inch circle. Cook until golden on each side then lay on a wire rack to cool.
Gouda Crepe Sauce
In a small saucepan, melt margarine; sprinkle with flour & seasonings. Mix well; add milk & broth, stirring until sauce becomes thickened. Add cheese & blend.
Seafood Filling
In a large skillet, saute zucchini, onion & garlic in oil for several minutes. Add mushrooms, green pepper & water chestnuts; cook 1 more minute. Combine ginger, soy sauce & water in a cup; add to vegetable mixture along with seafood. Gently stir fry ONLY until seafood is cooked. Reserve 1/2 cup Gouda sauce & add the rest to mixture.
Divide filling between crepes; roll crepes & place on serving plates. Spoon remaining sauce over each of the filled crepes. Place each meal in microwave (covered) for 15 - 20 seconds on high. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.
Strawberry-Citrus Filling
In a small saucepan, combine water, cornstarch, lemon juice, orange juice & sugar; blend well. Over medium heat, bring to a boil, stirring constantly until mixture thickens & becomes clear. Remove from heat & set aside to cool. Slice strawberries either by hand or using an egg slicer. In a small dish, combine yogurt & honey.
In a large bowl, gently fold about 1 1/2 cups citrus glaze together with sliced strawberries (I used about 3 large strawberries per crepe). Lay 12 crepes on work surface & place equal amounts of strawberry/glaze mixture on one half of each crepe. Fold over opposite side then fold in half again. Place 3 crepes on each of four serving plates. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Serve Honey/Yogurt on the side as well as any extra citrus sauce you have left from filling.
Recipe Notes
- I have been making crepes for a long time but have never bothered to buy a 'crepe' pan to cook them in. A non-stick griddle has always worked great for me. Using a 1/4 measuring cup, first to pour a circle of batter on the griddle then with the bottom of it, keep enlarging the crepe to the size you want.
- Being able to make all your crepe ingredients the day before then putting it all together on the day served is such a bonus.