Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Recipe

In celebration of my Italian heritage "let us eat pizza!"

Oh, the sweet smell of memories ~smile~ The inviting aroma of homemade pizza instantly transports me back to memory lane. Food & Nostalgia, I find myself conjuring fond memories and happily reminiscing. I truly believe that my mom, Felicetta "joyful one" considers kneading dough a joyful exercise, not a chore. An abundant amount of Italian love goes into everything she makes. 

There is a real sense of pride, satisfaction and love when you cook for family, friends, neighbours, co-workers - people. Especially if you're Italiano.

Food is so much more than something we need to sustain life and nourish our bodies. Food has a remarkable way of drawing people together. Don't you agree? 

Italians take great pride in social interactions. Whether it's northern or southern Italy, the family or famiglia is very important.

Italian Proverb: "A tavola non si invecchia" Translation: "At the table (with good friends and family) you do not become old"

Take a look at this adorable short 1 minute movie clip - The Princess and the Frog - Good Food Brings People Togethter

Viviamo Senza Glutine! Living Without Gluten!

Following a gluten-free diet is not a decision based on fad but one of necessity for many individuals. The reality is that 1 in 133 Canadians are affected by celiac disease and experts estimate that 6 to 15 percent may suffer from non-celiac gluten sensitivity or intolerance.

  Gluten-Free Italiano: "When the moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie that's amore!" - Dean Martin

Mama Mia! "This is too good to be true." is exactly what came to mind after reading the directions on the package. I'm not a frozen pizza kinda gal so this was a great option. Who would have thought that making a pizza crust could be so easy. I honestly wasn't sure I was going to get positive results from the Namaste pizza crust mix. This just wasn't the traditional method of making an Italian pizza crust. It was easier than making an authentic batch of pizza dough! I was pleasantly surprised with the results.


Preheat the oven to 450 F

Combine 1 1/2 cups pizza crust mix with 1 tsp. oil and 1 1/4 cups water. Beat with electric mixer for 3 minutes. Batter will be the consistency of cake batter. Scrape batter onto pizza pan and spread with spatula. It is very important to spread batter to at least 14 inches. 

Baking directions:

Bake for approximately 20 minutes on lowest rack.  Pull the crust out and add sauce and toppings, then bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

I lightly brushed the pizza crust with extra virgin olive oil and added some of my favourite fresh vegetables and herbs. 

Ingredients:
Some of my favourite pizza toppings include:

Tomato pesto sauce (I made homemade tomato sauce & pesto)
Fresh Basil
Peppers
Mushrooms
Artichokes
Sundried tomatoes
Black olives
Mozzarella Cheese (optional) or Daiya deliciously dairy free

Pesto Sauce:

Ingredients:

3 cups of packed fresh basil leaves
1 cup pine nuts (option: you may roast them in the oven as well)
1 cup fresh Italian parsley
3-4 garlic cloves (option: may add more)
1/2 tsp of salt
1 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Grana-Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions:

In a food processor or blender add basil, parsley, pine nuts, garlic, salt and start blending. Add extra virgin olive oil in a slow steady stream. Blend till smooth.

Tip: Make extra and freeze

Add Cheese (optional)

The crust had a slightly golden crisp edge, flexible center and a lovely taste. The pizza crust mix is also yeast and sugar free!

I give Namaste two thumbs up for its simplicity, taste, texture and cooking time.  

Buonissimo! 
But..Mama's is always best :)

Boosting Metabolism Naturally

Reset Your Appetite & Kick Your Metabolism Into High Gear

The body thrives and your metabolism sparks when you shift gears and make significant changes to your diet. Get satisfied with natural nutrition!

Don't Skip Meals: When you skip meals your metabolism actually slows down. If your body isn't getting enough nourishment, it begins storing FAT.  Give your metabolism a boost first thing in the morning, eat breakfast! The word "breakfast" literally means breaking the fast. The first meal of the day is the most important because it supplies the body and brain with the necessary nutrients after a night's sleep. Start your day with an easily digestible meal that nourishes the body.

Don't Starve Yourself: Avoid starvation mode - Eat balanced meals for superior energy, stamina and for mental and emotional balance. Try not to go more than four to five hours without fuel (eat something) Get Stoked! Staying within your recommended calorie intake will keep your internal furnace burning brightly. 

Stay Hydrated: Prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of water, which allows your metabolism to keep running efficiently and effectively. Drinking water flushes toxins and keeps your body functioning optimally. Tip: Coconut Water has tremendous health benefits and effective in relieving dehydration. Coconut water is the best hydrating and energizing beverage with the highest source of electrolytes.

Fire Up The Engine: "Fill'er Up!" One of the biggest mistakes individuals make is rush out the door without fuel (food/eating). Imagine trying to drive your car to work with no gas. You won't get very far, right? Your body is like a machine, so fill it with premium octane-fuel and fire up your metabolism for the day!

Go Green: Green tea is a thermogenic agent, which means you burn more calories. The powerful antioxidants found in green tea also aids in energy production and the chemical in green tea or green tea extract, known as EGCG is known to speed up your metabolism.

Spice It Up: Studies have shown that spicy food actually has many health benefits including increasing your metabolism. Here's a little spice and a kick of flavour ~wink~ ginger, cayenne, mint and cinnamon, tumeric, capsicum(cayenne pepper). Burning more fuel, means more energy in your tank. 

Foods To Eat For A Leaner Body:

Lighten your load so you can feel fresh and clean during the summer's long days.

Balancing Flavors and Cravings

The key to creating delicious and satisfying dishes is learning to balance all five flavors. The ratio may vary according to the dish you are creating. Your cravings will subside and you will be left feeling satisfied and content!

Balancing The Flavors:

• Sweet
• Sour
• salty
• Spicy/Pungent
• Bitter

Secrets to balancing flavors:

1. Excess sour is balanced by sweet
2. Overly bitter is balanced by sour
3. Fats tone down pungent/spicy and mellow or too much sweetness
4. Salt and sour bring out flavors
5. Sweet is toned down by fats

Foods and Flavors:

Sweet: apples, bananas, dates, mangos, stevia, agave nectar, raw honey
Sour: grapefruit, lemon, lime, raw apple cider vinegar, grapefruit
Salty: Celtic sea salt, Nama shoyu, kelp, dulse, miso , celery
Spicy: hot peppers, garlic, cayenne pepper
Bitter: Kale, lettuce, culinary herbs, dandelion greens

Flavor Combining For International Cuisines - Culinary Herbs & Spices:

Italian: basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic
Mexican: cumin, coriander, cilantro, chili powder, hot pepers, garlic, lime
Indian: cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, curry, tumeric, garam masala, ginger
Thai: cilantro, lemongrass, cumin, curry, ginger, coconut
Chinese: licorice, ginger, soy sauce, miso, vinegar, garlic, fennel, cinnamon, cloves, honey