Cauliflower Pizza

This has generated a lot of interest on Facebook, where I mentioned in a few places that I got the kids to try it and they liked it (well, Shaylee really liked it, Ethan said he could taste the cauliflower but that is probably only because he knew it was in there).  Mark thought it was way better than the traditional crust pizza I also made.  I admit I snuck a bite to compare and he was right.  The flour (well, whole wheat and spelt) crust was bland and it was the pizza Shaylee put together so there wasn't much sauce on it, so it was kind of dry.

I used to make this before when I was low carbing.  I heard there is a similar recipe on the Dr. Oz site but it has little cheese and it is a low fat one at that.  You need fat, baby!    Cleochatra from  Low Carb Friends was the one who first came up with the recipe and shared it with the world.  It caught on like wildfire because it was good, gluten free, it was the perfect neutral base for pizza, it was very low in carbs (suitable for induction for those on Atkins) and what isn't there to love about a good tasting pizza that has a vegetable for its base!  If you get the excess moisture out of the cauliflower, you will be able to pick it up and eat it like pizza (sometimes even if you don't).

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

• 1 cup cooked, mashed cauliflower (make sure it isn't too watery; it doesn't have to be packed down)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
• italian spice to taste (I usually don't bother)

Mix well and pat into a pizza pan.  I usually cover with parchment paper to make for easier removal otherwise you should grease the pan.  It will cover a 12 inch pan  just pat it down well and make sure it is thin and even.  

Bake at 450 degrees for about 12 to 15 minutes or until it is golden brown.  

Take it out of the oven, cover in sauce and top how you like (meat, veggies, cheese, ect... make sure there is nothing that needs cooking, like meat as it is not in there long enough to cook the second time around).  Put it back in the oven under the broiler until the cheese is melted.  

Remove, let sit about 5 minutes, slice and eat!!  Yum yum!  It's even good cold, as I am experiencing right now.  

I also made garlic fingers but they weren't as good.  I just put some garlicy butter and cheese on top before the second bake.  I used granules so real garlic would of been better as would the addition of bacon!

This would make a very good freezer meal.  I used to make the crusts and freeze them so they would be ready to top when I wanted pizza.  Cauliflower is only $1.99 this week at Sobeys so I bought three mainly for this reason.  I may have to buy more!  I plan to cook it and freeze in one cup portions as it is also good for other recipes, as I will soon share :)

Meal Plan Monday January 10th, 2011

Two weeks in a row, I'm on a roll, lol!!

Ok, I didn't do that great with following the plan last week.  I did stick to not running out to buy things for our meals and I tried very hard not to waste.

This morning I did a big grocery shop and boy, are prices increasing!  The price of food is going up and our income is going down since Marks hours are being cut.  Sour cream that is usually $2.49 is now $3.89!  (the only kind that doesn't have icky ingredients)  Cream cheese is around $4 a package.  Kefir went up to $4 for a 454ml container, which I indulged in and dropped it right after having a couple tablespoons, meaning there is only about a tablespoon left, grrr!!  I know I should be making it but I'm scared my grains are dead.

Produce is getting more expensive, of course, due to the time of the year and more things needing to be shipped in. I really wanted cauliflower because there are so many awesome low carb recipes you can make with it.  Well, they don't have frozen anymore and the conventional heads from Mexico are the same price as the organic heads from the USA, $3.99.  I hemmed and hawed and ended up buying a head.  I am not doing the greatest for buying local but it is hard when you are on a restricted diet and there isn't much in season that is low carb.  Eventually you just get tired of cabbage, lol!!  Sometimes we just have to do the best we can, especially when on a very tight budget.

So here is my marvelous Meal Plan for the week:
Monday: Niece's birthday party (I am expecting not to be able to eat anything so I'll come home and have some of this wonderful bone broth I have brewing in my crockpot!)

Tuesday: Steak, fried mushrooms and onions, riced cauliflower

Wednesday: Spaghetti squash with sauce and fresh Parmesan cheese with leftover steak slices (meatballs for the family)

Thursday: Turkey (I have a few in the freezer that need to get used up!), cranberry and rhubarb sauce (which I will somehow make low carb without artificial sweeteners with frozen berries I stored this fall), mashed cauliflower

Friday: Pizza! (cauliflower crust for me, regular for rest of family, make extra to freeze for lunches)

Saturday: Low carb turkey hash (will create when time comes ;) ).

Sunday: crockpot chicken or leftover turkey, cabbage, mashed turnip

There.  Once again, I may or may not stick to it but I hope I do because it sounds good to me!   And yes, I really am going to make that head of cauliflower stretch!