Garlic Lover's Pizza

Being that I was snowed in this weekend and had not prepared (eg, had not gone food shopping - I spose that is the epitome of a single person's mindset) I was relelgated to use whatever ingredients were in my house to sustain myself through the storm...it was that or slowly wilt away as the single woman snowed into her house (and I would like to hope that a family is in my future so I ignored the latter thought...lol).

Debating what to cook, I went into my freezer and found some whole wheat dough...and I had leftover shredded mozz...so the odds of making a pizza were looking pretty good.

I will say that being single at this moment left me feelng a bit empty.  While I date, and while there is somebody who I have decided to give a second chance (although verdict is still out on him so I am in the hunter assessing its prey mode...), days like these  -when the snow is coming down hard and the couch has a permanent body mold of you by the end of the night because all you want to do is curl up and watch movies and eat (aka human hibernation) - make we wish I had my personal life more figured out...but more on that later.

In lieu of a man (including my current man who was on-call this weekend - he's a doctor), I break open some red wine and begin cooking my Garlic Lover's Pizza (no sauce), which is as follows:

• set oven to 350 F for pre-heating
  
• whole wheat dough or regular dough (I like Trader Joe's whole wheat premade dough - http://www.traderjoes.com/index.html) rolled out to desired thickness
• crushed garlic or powdered garlic
• ~8oz 2% shredded mozzarella cheese
• parmesan cheese
  
• Broccoli bits and/or spinach and/or sliced tomato
  
• (optional) sliced cooked chicken
• cooking spray (to grease the sheet if you don't have a pizza stone)

After rolling out dough on a greased cooking sheet or floured pizza stone, spread the shredded mozz and top with some parmesan.  Add the garlic powder or crushed garlic to desired taste (careful not to add too much garlic because it can make the food taste bitter) and spread all over pizza.  Add the veggies and/or chicken (I used chicken on half my pizza for some added protein).  Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 20 min.

When I eat home made pizza, I tend to pair it with red wine...last night I had Jacob's Creek shiraz (http://www.jacobscreek.com/main.php?country=Australia)...holy delicious-ness :)  I was in pizza nirvana...

Health benfits are fantastic even though you are indulging in pizza:

• whole wheat dough - packed with fiber and some protein
• garlic - supposed to be a great antioxidant (repairs broken cells and proteins) and has been shown to have cardio-protective effects
• cheese - high in protein and calcium
• broccoli - high in calcium and Vit C, and supposedly protects against cancer
• chicken - need I explain again? ;) high in protein which is a great fat burner and keeps you sated longer

Make sure you and your loved ones eat and enjoy this together because you will have garlic breath after...as for me, well my couch is my current company until I can leave my house again so I am safe to eat my potent creation.

Let me know how you all liked it (if anyone is out there reading this...anyone??)!!  Enjoy

For more information, or is you have Qs...or even if you just want to know more about me, please email me at LunchLadyCynthia@gmail.com