For the Body: I am always interested in new, different and healthy ways to prepare food. And, of course, how to incorporate more and more veggies into my and my family’s diet. This week I made a pizza for my family, however, I made it with a zucchini crust. It was so yummy and it’s a great way to get your veggies, not to mention, get veggies into your kids. It is also a lot lighter than your traditional pizza and is gluten/wheat/simple carb- free. The following recipe has been tweaked from here: http://www.foodandnewyorkcity.com/2013/09/skinny-zucchini-pizza-crust.html
Crust: 2-3 small zucchinis, 1 egg, 1 egg white, 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, 1 tsp garlic powder, black pepper to taste, a pinch of salt, 1/2 tsp cumin, any other seasoning you like
Toppings: 1 cup ground chicken or turkey seasoned, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, 4 Tbsp tomato or pizza sauce, 1/2 onion, 1 bell pepper, 1 tomato, 1Tbsp olive oil, 1/8 – 1/4 cup thinly sliced olives
Directions: First make the pizza crust. Shred the zucchinis and extract the maximum amount of water possible. You can either put in a cheese cloth and wring it until you just can’t wring anymore, or you can place in a strainer and press with a bowl to allow the excess liquid to come out. Place in a medium sized bowl and add the shredded cheese, egg, egg white, garlic powder, pepper, salt, cumin and other seasonings. Then line a pizza pan with parchment paper and press the mixture into it to form the crust. Bake in a preheated oven at 230C (450F) for 20-40 minutes (depending on your oven – here, in Brazil we use a gas oven and it took a good 40-45 minutes).
Cook up the ground meat and season it as desired. Cut up the onion, bell pepper and tomato and saute in the olive oil over low heat. I also add a little salt, but you don’t have to if you don’t like.
Once the crust is done, place the toppings in the following order. First the tomato or pizza sauce, then the cheese, onion/peppers/tomato mixture, ground meat, olives, and cilantro. I also put a bit of spinach, but it’s up to you.
Check out my facebook page for the nutritional benefits of Zucchini-good and healthy. Please leave a comment and the bottom and let me know what you think. Or if you have any other ideas or suggestions for other uses with zucchini.
For the Spirit: I love my morning quiet times. I also love my late afternoon prayer walks. Oh my goodness, they’re so refreshing. They’re a time for me to be renewed, to get centered and to be strengthened in my spirit. Most importantly though, it’s the time I come to meet with my creator. He lives in me, and without Him I am nothing. He and I are intertwined in an intimacy involving every fibre of my being (quoted by: Jesus Calling – Sarah Young). I used to struggle with my morning quiet times. I am not an early morning person. Just ask my mom and brother. They can tell you the horror stories of my morning attitudes and of me coming out of my bedroom, looking like a ghost. I have recently, however, found a system that really works for me. And not just for me, but for my whole family as well. I love my morning coffee. However, I don’t get around to having it until everyone has had their breakfast, made their beds, had their shower and gotten dressed. By that time I am wide awake and alert. I put on Youtube educational videos for Caue (my son) in my room and a short dvd for Hannah (my daughter) in her room. I then sit down with my tablet (which has my devotional book and Bible) and hot cup of coffee, close my eyes and enter into that place of peace, tranquility, stillness of spirit, soul and being. I lift my thoughts and prayers up to the Almighty and He sits with me in that time and strengthens me. I read His word and my devotional and am fully fed. And once again, I can sense that I am not my own. That He’s with me. That He’s in me. That He knows be better than I know myself. And life just becomes so simple, stress-less and free. I wouldn’t change that for anything.
How about you? Do you have a special place or a special time that you come away to be with your maker? How does God touch your heart and meet with you? I would love to hear your experience. Please leave a comment and let me know.
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