So, What Have You Been Cooking Lately?

I get asked that question a lot! As of late I haven't had much "reason" to cook in that it is official now...we are empty nesters! If I talk about it too much I'll start to cry so let's keep moving!

We had a nice long weekend at the beach for our Anniversary and needless to say we ate out a lot! My shorts are uncomfortable today so that proves it! 

Once we unpacked I did my usual grocery store run but I still didn't feel any inspiration....until I spotted the "home made" pizza dough in the bakery section! 

Kudos to whoever thought that up because it is truly delicious! 

I tried the multi grain dough for the first time and I am already craving it again! 
(oh wait...I get to have leftovers tonight!)

I hope you'll give this a try!
 Let me know what you think of it! 

I started the toppings by sautéing the mushrooms in a little bit of Olive Oil for just a minute or two!

Then I quickly added the baby spinach

I only stirred it around for a second because in no time at all it had shrunk to almost nothing!

I cut up the grilled chicken into bite size pieces

I spotted this new pizza sauce and decided to give it a try! It looked really good but I still wanted a splash of the real stuff so I mixed them. I did...I admit it!

If you will let the pizza dough sit out and come to room temperature it is MUCH easier to handle!

Here is the Artichoke sauce

Then I added the regular pizza sauce

Topped it with some parmesan cheese

I added the chicken and then the vegetables came next

I love sliced Roma tomatoes on a pizza!

The fresh mozzarella is one of my most favorite parts!

Then I topped it all off with the 6 Cheese Blend they make for pizzas

Baked it at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes and then I turned the heat up to 400 degrees to finish it off! Mainly because I was hungry! 

Hope you Enjoy!

Mushroom, Spinach and Chicken Pizza

1 Multi Grain pizza crust

1-2 T Olive Oil 

1 jar of Reese Artichoke Pizza Sauce

1/4-1/2 Cup regular pizza sauce

2 grilled chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

( ours was marinated in greek spices)

1 Cup grated parmesan cheese-divided

1 small carton sliced fresh mushrooms, washed and drained

1 6oz. bag Baby Spinach, stems removed

4-5 Roma tomatoes, sliced thinly and drained on paper towels

Sliced fresh mozzarella cheese

Italian 6 Cheese Blend

red pepper flakes if desired

Place pizza dough on a greased pizza pan. Sauce the mushrooms for 2 minutes in the olive oil and then add the baby spinach. Stir until mixed in and remove from heat. Lay out on paper towels and squeeze out the excess liquid as best as you can. Top the prepared crust with desired sauces. Add 1/4 C of the parmesan cheese. Top with the grilled chicken, the spinach and mushroom mixture and the sliced tomatoes. Next tear of the mozzarella and distribute evenly and top with all of the Italian 6 cheese blend. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and then turn heat up to 400. Bake until done. Let sit for a minute before slicing. 

Bon Apetit! 

"The Tourist"!!!

 Ok....so, tonight we were extra tired! It sounded like our best option was to stay home and "do nothing"!
 eat in and watch a movie!!! If we could find one that is!!!
 Of course I had said the usual to Miller..."sure wish you would have your friends over here and do something!" of course...I got the same generic response! and of course...they are ( as usual )  somewhere out on 119!! The highway that will forever haunt me as I was the first of my group of friends to move out there and HATED it!!! ( 1979 )  hated it ONLY because I was the first one to live out there...and I hate being the first!!! and all of my friends used to make fun and say "Oh, well I guess I will have to pack a lunch to come out and see you! " And then,  for years....my children have begged us to move out there!!! OH WELL!!! Almost done!!! 2011....2012!

fresh basil from the garden

For once...we were right!!! Now granted...when I saw that sun peek out from behind the clouds around sunset... my heart backpedaled fast!!! and I made Jim run to the front windows and get a good look...then run to the back windows and get an even better look! and then luckily, my brain took over and  I realized that it was ok to skip one friday night at Bottega! A little bit later... it really hit me...I was Oh SO GLAD to be HOME!!!!

still figuring out what all to add to the pizza!

It's almost perfect!

And making homemade pizza, nonetheless!!! Our movie choice was excellent! My daughter and her husband were watching it as well in Anniston so we trusted their decision!! :)

In fact-we liked it so much that we named our new homemade pizza after it!

"The Tourist"! 

 It was so incredibly delicious that I knew I had to share it with you! Just wish I had shared the actual pizza itself as I'm so full now I can't even believe it! The fact that a movie finally kept my attention the ENTIRE time...definitely deserves to have a pizza named in it's honor!

WOW!!! it was divine!!

Hope you enjoy it!!!

1 ready made pizza crust....( I love the Pillsbury in the can when you're tired...or  even when you aren't!)
3/4 C Cento Pizza Sauce
2 grilled Apple and Chicken Sausages sliced thinly
1 can sliced mushrooms, drained and chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, diced and steamed slightly in microwave
lots of fresh mozzarella cheese, diced and spread all over
parmesan cheese
3 tomatoes sliced thinly
6 basil leaves, torn and spread over pizza
2 C shredded mozzarella cheese

spread dough onto greased pizza pan...spread sauce evenly..sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Spread sliced, grilled sausages over top, sprinkle with green bell pepper, mushrooms and fresh mozzarella....Top with tomato slices, sprinkle basil on top and cover heavily with shredded mozzarella!!
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until slightly brown! let sit for 5 minutes before serving...If you can!!!
Enjoy!!!

seriously...I can't even remember the last "new" movie we've watched or the last time we've stayed in on a Friday night...it finally felt right...even as we near the empty nest stage! I think I've been fighting that and I don't know exactly why except that I think in the back of my brain I think we are having to "give up " something! Which couldn't be further from the truth! Tonight..we gained alot! Time alone...Enjoyable time...time in our house which we never have since we both work...and time to sit and relax and watch a movie!!! That's unheard of in our vocabulary!!! On top of all that!!! We invented and named a pizza in it's honor!! The Tourist!!!

on top of all that!!!! we must go to Venice soon!!! this movie so made me want to travel!!!!