Easy Sausage Pita Pizza
PIN IT!This easy sausage pita pizza is the perfect lunch or after-school snack!
In two days, I’m going to be hopping on a plane, flying for over 24 hours, to Singapore. In two days, I’ll be saying goodbye to my husband and dog for 16 days. In two days, I’m going to be halfway around the way and boy, am I excited.
Well, not just excited, ECSTATIC. Southeast Asia is an incredibly special place to me. After just spending a week in the Philippines last April, my life has been forever changed. I’ve never met so many incredible people in my life. They are beautiful, resilient, happy, proud, humble, forgiving, loving and triumphant. I came back from the trip a different person, a better person, and I owe that all to them.
I’m getting all sappy, I’m sorry. But this trip isn’t like my other work ones. The first week in Singapore will be all business, attending conferences, eating fancy meals and staying in five star hotels. But the second week in Thailand? It’ll be a little difference. Instead of big comfy beds and room service, I’ll be living in a mud hut with 8 other ladies. The biggest amenity we’ll have is indoor plumping. I am so incredibly happy though, because I’ll be there making a difference.
I’m going on behalf of The Giving Lens, a nonprofit geared towards teaching underprivaledged children the skills of photography. This will inspire them to go to school and learn a craft, which will keep them educated and excited about their futures. The NGO we’re going to stay with is even more dear to me. They focus on helping girls who are at a high risk for sex trafficking. I can not talk about it without sobbing, but I’m beyond ready to help these girls and protect them from all of the evil in this world.
As you can tell, I’m a giant mess of excitement and anxiety. That’s why this easy sausage pita pizza is on my menu for this week. It’s very easy and very filling, and since I didn’t eat until 6pm yesterday, that’s a good thing. Most of that has to due with a slight stomach flu, but even still, I’m a chicken with its head cut off. So please be patient with me these next few weeks as posts may be sporadic and, well, crazed.
If you want to follow along with my adventures, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!
Easy Sausage Pita Pizza
Serves about 2.
Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: About 6 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 whole wheat pita bread
- 1/2 package soft goat cheese (about 2 ounces)
- About 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- About 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- About 1/2 cup fully cooked Jimmy Dean Sausage Crumbles
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
- Green onions, chopped
For the directions on how to make this delicious pizza, check out the recipe on SheKnows.com!
Nutritional information per serving (1/2):
Calories: 322.25
Fat: 15 grams
Carbohydrates: 21 grams
Fiber: 4 grams
Protein: 15 grams
Weight Watchers Points: 7
Claire
Tags:easy pita recipes, pita recipes, pizza recipes, quick and easy pita recipes, sausage pita pizza
Mixed Berry Milkshakes
This mixed berry milkshakes are perfect for any of your special Valentines! (Or just yourself if you’re celebrating single appreciation day).
Happy Valentine’s Day my amazing friends and fans! I hope your day is filled with gut-busting, stomach-wrenching, heart-exploding, can’t-breathe love. And if it’s not, well I hope you enjoy a few bottles of wine, a few boxes of chocolate and all of the anti-love, heartbreak movies on Lifetime you can handle.
My husband, he freaking rocks. We’re on a budget, but he surprised me this morning with an Arrested Development themed Valentine’s Day, complete with a menu inspired by the show and candy beans. He knows me so well, and that trumps some stupid fancy dinner any day.
Plus, I can totally enjoy my meals while wearing yoga pants and an over-sized sweater and not have to force my body into spanx or skinny jeans. I don’t have to put on make-up, style my hair, wear uncomfortable shoes OR even shower. But, for the sake of my darling husband, I’ll do that. And I might put on some mascara, but that’s pushing it.
Part of me wishes we were going out, mainly because I love trying new places, but I’m also just as happy being at home. I’m trying to soak up this last week before I’m gone in for 14 days in Southeast Asia. Don’t get me wrong, I’m THRILLED about my upcoming trip, but it’s definitely the longest I’ve ever been away from E (besides our long-distance stint in college). It’ll be hard.
I’m not complaining, I absolutely can’t wait for two weeks away from the stove, but being away for that long will make this Valentine’s day just a bit more special. And I get to enjoy it all while wearing yoga pants. Did I mention that part yet?
Mixed Berry Milkshakes
CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE!
Serves 3.
Prep time: >5 minutes
Blend time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups strawberry Arctic Zero frozen dessert
- 3 ounces (about 1/3 cup) frozen mixed berries
- 3/4 cup 2% milk
- 7 Hershey’s kisses
- 2 tablespoons freshly whipped cream
- Chocolate tortilla chips (I used about 8 chips)
Directions:
- Place the frozen dessert, mixed berries, milk and Hershey’s kissed in a blender. Blend on high until smooth and thick.
- Pour the milkshakes into mason jars and top with one tablespoon of whipped cream each. Garnish the shakes with crumbled tortilla chips and more berries.
Nutritional information per shake:
Calories: 225
Fat: 9 grams
Carbohydrates: 26.3 grams
Fiber: 2.2 grams
Protein: 7.6 grams
Weight Watchers points: 5
Cinnamon Roll Hot Cereal
This amazing cinnamon roll hot cereal is perfect for brunching, snow days or Valentine’s Day!
You know what I love? Cinnamon rolls. Rich, gooey, decadent rolls oozing with icing and luscious cinnamon filling. Just writing that had me drooling all over my keyboard. As much as I want to eat cinnamon rolls everyday, I legitimately can’t handle another embarrassing skinny jean episode that I had two days ago.
I realize I’m going to have to talk about such incident, and I’m not quite ready yet. So why don’t we hop into this healthy, fiber packed, wheat-free cinnamon roll hot cereal. But if calling someone hot cereal is weird, just call it oatmeal. It talks like oatmeal and walks like oatmeal, so might as well call it oatmeal! Only it tastes better because it’s made with Bob’s Red Mill whole grains, and that makes all of the difference.
I’m not lying when I say that this tastes EXACTLY like a cinnamon roll. The only difference is this won’t cause you to split your jeans while you try to pull them up. While your husband was walking by. Oh yeah, that happened. And the thing is, I haven’t gained any weight. I’ve actually lost a few pounds. So why, dear universe, must you cause my favorite pants to split in front of the man I’m always trying to impress?
That’s why I’m replacing all of my favorite foods with low-calorie replacements, like wheat-free oats in place of cinnamon rolls and one mini chocolate chip instead of a big, fluffy batch of cookies. I’m still waiting for someone to invent a way I can lose weight while eating high fat foods. It can happen, right? I mean, we totally sent someone in space, figure this out!
Cinnamon Roll Hot Cereal
CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE!
Serves 4.
Prep time: >5 minutes
Cook time: About 8 – 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill 8-grain hot cereal
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Fresh strawberries for garnish
Directions:
- Mix the milk and water in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil (watching carefully, otherwise it’ll pour over). Add the 8-grain cereal and whisk to combine. Reduce the mixture to low and cover. Cook for about 6 – 8 minutes, stirring every minute or so, or until all of the liquid is evaporated and mixture is thick.
- Pour the cereal into four bowls. Drizzle each cereal with glaze, 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts and sprinkled cinnamon. Garnish with fresh strawberries and enjoy!
Nutritional information per bowl (about 1/3 cup cooked oatmeal):
Calories: 306
Fat: 9 grams
Carbohydrates: 51 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 8.25 grams
Weight Watchers Points: 8
Claire
Tags:breakfast recipes, brunch recipes, cinnamon recipes, oatmeal recipes, overnight recipes
Mini Whole Wheat Strawberry Donuts
These adorable mini whole wheat strawberry donuts are the perfect breakfast for all of your special Valentines!
I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, even on those many February 14ths where I found myself single and a bit angsty. Probably because in my family, you get Valentine’s Day presents and care packages no matter how old you are or who you’re dating. Plus, in my family, it’s very hard not to constantly feel loved. I think growing up with so much love, it’s hard not to get excited about a holiday centered around the emotion.
I’ll admit, the whole thing is a little cheesy. Mushy cards written by people sitting in cubicles drinking bad coffee, over-priced flower arrangements that die the next day, crappy chocolates and truffles not worth the $50 they cost. But even though the flowers always die too soon and the chocolates never taste quite as good as the ones I can make, I still am over the moon excited when I get them. What can I say, I’m a sucker for sweets and pretty bouquets.
This year, we’re spending a very low-key Valentine’s Day at home. Due to a very crappy January, we’re on a bit of a budget this year. Which means no fancy dinners, expensive bottles of wine or over-priced flower arrangements. And to be honest, I’m kind of okay with that. A night in with my hunny, watching some sappy Nicholas Sparks movie, drinking $10 Cabernet sounds like a piece of heaven to me.
Especially if I don’t have to cook. Don’t get me wrong, I love cooking, but when you do it from 9 -8 every single day, you can get a little burnt out. Which is why I am, with much trepidation mind you, letting my husband take the wheel this Valentine’s and make me a very special (and hopefully not burnt) dinner.
I think just to prepare myself, I’ll make a big batch of these mini whole wheat strawberry donuts on Thursday morning. That way, if he burns the chicken or over cooks the rice, we’ll have these pretty little donuts to enjoy. Because you know what goes really well with cheap wine? Strawberry donuts. It’s a little hidden secret I’m letting you all in on.
Mini Whole Wheat Strawberry Donuts
CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS RECIPE!
Yields about 12 mini donuts. Inspired by Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Prep time: About 5 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Ingredients:
For the donuts:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup 2% Chobani Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons light cream
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- About 3 tablespoons chopped fresh strawberries
For the glaze:
- 1 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon strawberry jam
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sprinkles
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a mini donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder together. In another bowl beat the egg, vanilla, light cream, Greek yogurt, applesauce, brown sugar and white sugar until fluffy. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir to combine. Carefully fold in the fresh strawberries.
- Fill a pastry bag with the donut dough and carefully pipe into the mini donut pan, filling about 3/4 the way full.
- Bake for about 11 – 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool slightly.
- To make the glaze, beat the sugar, heavy cream and strawberry jam. Dip the mini donuts into the frosting about 3 times to liberally coat. Sprinkle the top with Valentine’s Day sprinkles.
Nutritional information per donut:
Calories: 122
Fat: 1.8 grams
Carbohydrates: 24 grams
Fiber: >1 gram
Protein: 2.4 grams
Weight Watchers Points: 3
Claire
Tags:breakfast recipes, donut recipes, mini recipes, strawberry recipes, Valentine's day, Valentine's Day recipes
Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Before we dig into this beautiful funfetti chocolate chip cookie pie, I need to do a bit of shameless self promotion. My book, the one I spent months developing, one of the few things that gave me purpose after the fire, the one that has a big chunk of my heart and soul in it, is available for pre-order!
Part of me is excited and part of me is horrified. I’m so scared that people won’t love it. I’m awake at night sweating over every little detail. What if I forgot an ingredient? What if a baking time isn’t right? What if the copy editor forget to check page 245? What if the amazing chocolate chip cookie bars come out dry instead of moist for Barbara Adams in Madison, Wisconsin and she tells all of her friends what a horrible book it is? These are legitimate fears I face, friends. Even though I’m scared, I’m equally as excited. A book, A REAL BOOK, will be in the shelves of stores and online with my name on it. That feels…just…surreal.
Let’s move onto something a little less scary, a funfetti cookie pie! On a scale of things that give you anxiety, this is probably a negative 5,500,345. I mean really, how can anything with the words funfetti and cookie cause you anything but glee?
Now, as you can probably tell by the pretzels, sprinkles, frosting and, well, cookie base, this recipe isn’t healthy or low-fat. At all. But it’s Monday, Valentine’s Day is in 4 days, so why not live a little aye? It’s a scientific fact, when Mondays include sprinkles, pretzels and cookies, it’s going to be an incredible one.
And if it’s not, at least you have a cookie pie to drown your sorrows in.
I seriously can’t believe Valentine’s Day is 4 days away. I swear it was just New Years Eve. I swear I just woke up with a bunch of resolutions I had full intentions of following. Before you know it, St. Patrick’s Day will be here and then it’s practically Memorial Day. If I wake up tomorrow and it’s the 4th of July, I give up.
Mainly just because I’m nowhere near bikini body ready. Like, at all.
Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Serves about 10.
Prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: About 18 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup red chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup sprinkles
- About 1/2 cup frosting
- Chocolate covered pretzels, chopped
- Sprinkles for garnish
FOR THE DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE THIS FUNFETTI COOKIE PIE, CHECK OUT SHEKNOWS.COM!
Nutritional information per slice:
Calories: 420
Fat: 27 grams
Carbohydrates: 62 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Protein: 7 grams
Weight Watchers Points: 14
