Grilled Pizzas!

One of my best friends introduced me to grilled pizza a few years ago.

I was hooked from the first bite and even shared about them in 2012!

I promised I'd share about them soon and I guess I failed on that.

Or that soon is apparently almost four years later...whoops!

These pizzas are well worth the wait though.

They are a step up from your regular pizza with a smokey grilled flavor.

And while basic pizza toppings like pepperoni are always good,

unique flavors like these below are by far my favorite!

The Goods:

Pizza Dough

Dates

Prosciutto

Thyme

Mozzarella Cheese

Tomatoes*

Baby Greens or Arugula*

(*Not Pictured)

Cut dough in half, stretch out and then grill both sides on cast iron grill pan.

Add your topping to each pizza dough.

I did date, prosciutto and thyme on one

and fresh diced tomatoes and prosciutto on the other.

Grill with top covered for 5 to 10 minutes, 

until bottom is crisp and cheese is melted.

I added a bunch of baby greens and more fresh tomatoes to the one without dates.

Fresh tomato, prosciutto and baby greens.

Date, prosciutto and thyme.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmy!

Now go make yourself some grilled pizza.

You and your stomach will be very happy!

Date and Prosciutto Grilled Pizzas

1 Package Premade Pizza Dough

5 to 6 Dates, Chopped

4 Slices Prosciutto, Chopped

4 to 5 Sprigs Thyme, Leaves removed from stems

1 to 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1. Cut dough in half, stretch out and then grill both sides on cast iron grill pan.
2. Add your topping to each pizza dough.
3. Grill with top covered for 5 to 10 minutes, until bottom is crisp and cheese is melted.
4. Cut and devour immediately! 

This post contains affiliate links meaning I may get a paid for certain purchases.

Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili

Growing up, my mom used to make a delicious chili using ground beef.

I didn't eat beef for many years, so I modified her recipe to use ground turkey instead.

I almost always have some of that kind in individual portions in my freezer,

but I was intrigued by this turkey chili recipe, so I decided to give it a try!

The Goods:

Ground Turkey

Sweet Potatoes

Onion

Tomato Sauce

Diced Tomatoes

Pinto Beans

Garlic

Chili Powder

Garlic Powder

Cumin

Salt

Pepper

Red Pepper Flakes

Peel and dice your sweet potatoes and set aside.

Brown your ground turkey and drain the grease.

On top of the ground turkey, place sweet potatoes, pinto beans and diced onion and garlic.

Now add your tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and spices.

Mix everything up in your slow cooker...

And cook on low for about 8 hours, 

until sweet potatoes are fully cooked and tender.

Serve yourself a bowl of this hearty chili.

Top with your desired garnishes, dig in and enjoy!!!

This chili was a hit!

I loved the addition of sweet potatoes,

so I'll absolutely be making this again! 

Turkey Sweet Potato Chili

(Adapted from I Wash You Dry)

1 Pound Ground Turkey

1 Large Sweet Potatoes, Peeled and Diced

1 Onion, Diced

1 15 Ounce Can Tomato Sauce

1 15 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes

2 15 Ounce Cans Pinto Beans

1 Clove Garlic, Minced

1/2 Teaspoon Chili Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Pepper

1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

1. Brown your ground turkey and drain the grease.
2. On top of the ground turkey, place sweet potatoes, pinto beans and diced onion and garlic.
3. Now add your tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and spices.
4. Mix everything up in the slow cooker and cook on low for about 8 hours, until sweet potatoes are fully cooked and tender.
5. Top with your favorite chili garnishes, dig in and enjoy!

Vodka Blush Sauce with Bucatini

I've had this recipe a looooong time - a few years at least. 

I can't even remember where I originally found it,

but it's been in my recipe binder just waiting to be made.

While doing my weekly meal planning I've passed it many times,

but I recently had a HUGE craving for some kind of pasta,

so I finally whipped out my recipe for Vodka Blush Sauce!

The Goods:

Bucatini Pasta

Olive Oil

Vodka

Marinara Sauce

Chopped/Diced Tomatoes

Heavy Cream

Garlic

Salt

Red Pepper Flakes

Fresh Basil

Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley

Fresh Oregano

 Parmesan Cheese (Not pictured - oops!)

(Full Recipe at bottom of post!)

Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add garlic and red pepper flakes.

Saute for about 30 seconds - until garlic is starting to get fragrant. 

Add marinara sauce, stir, add the chopped tomatoes and stir again.

Next measure out your vodka and add to the sauce.

Add a whole bunch (that's how I measured at least) of fresh herbs!

I used fresh basil, flat leaf parsley and oregano.

Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.

Cook the sauce for about 15 minutes...

Until it looks something like this!

Now add your cream.

Give it another good stir and your sauce is almost done!

Let it simmer 5 more minutes.

At the last minute, I decided the sauce needed something more.

So I added a whole bunch (again - how I measured!) of fresh parmesan.

While the sauce was first simmering, I started my pasta.

I chose to use bucatini, but any pasta would be fine.

Just cook according to the package directions.

OR if you have time - make your own!

Once your pasta is cooked drain it well.

Then add the pasta to your sauce and fully combine together. 

And that's it folks! 

Serve with a little more fresh parmesan and herbs.

This recipe is so easy to make and can even be enjoyed by little ones.

The vodka cooks off, but leaves an amazing taste to the sauce.

I didn't time how long it took me, but I'm betting it was around a half hour.

Vodka Blush Sauce with Bucatini

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 heaping teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 large box (26.5 oz) chopped tomatoes

1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce

2 tablespoons (+/-) fresh flat leaf parsley

1 tablespoon (+/1) fresh basil

1 teaspoon (+/-) fresh oregano

1/4 vodka

1/2 cup heavy cream

fresh parmesan to your liking

salt to taste

1 pound bucatini

Note: the herb measurements should be your guideline,

but as shown above I didn't accurately measure those myself. 

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to the package directions. (You should start the pasta once your sauce is simmering the first time.)
2. In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil then add your garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Add marinara sauce and chopped tomatoes, then stir to combine.
4. Add the vodka and stir again.
5. Add the fresh herbs, stir once again. 
6. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes.
7. Add the heavy cream, stir and simmer 5 more minutes.
8. Add the freshly grated parmesan and stir.
9. Drain your pasta fully, add to the sauce and combine fully.
10. Serve with more fresh parmesan and herbs.

Chopped Italian Salad

For as long as I can remember,

I've always loooooooved salads.

And what's even better,

is when I can make a salad a whole meal!

Awhile ago I blogged about Giant Salads

that I make and eat for lunch often.

They're always filling and I love eating them. 

In fact - I'm planning to have them this week.

But today...

I want to tell you ALL about a super easy and incredibly tasty

CHOPPED ITALIAN SALAD!!!

The Goods:

Romaine Lettuce

Salami

Mozzarella

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Red Onion

Garbanzo Beans

Artichoke Hearts

Kalamata Olives

Peppernchini

Lemon

Italian Dressing

Chop up your lettuce, salami, mozzarella, tomatoes, cucumbers, 

red onion, artichoke heart, kalamata olives and peppernchini.

Put in a large bowl, add dressing and fresh lemon juice.

Toss to combine and serve in a large bowl.

That's it!!!

I decided I needed something besides salad,

so I made up a batch of the yummy rolls featured in this post!

Homemade Soup: Vegetable Soup!

Now that it's practically Summer, it's pretty warm out

so I doubt many of you are in the mood for some soup.

That's a shame because I recently made an AMAZING Vegetable Soup.

I researched recipes online for awhile and I didn't find anything I loved.

So, I combined two recipes (here and here) and sorta just did my own thing!

So take a look below at how I made my Homemade Vegetable Soup.

The Goods:

Frozen Lima Beans 

Frozen Corn 

Frozen Peas 

Spinach 

Garlic 

Onion 

Leeks 

Broccoli 

Green Bean 

Carrots 

Tomatoes 

Potatoes 

Parsley 

Salt 

Pepper 

Vegetable Broth

Chop and measure everything out.

Cook the leeks, onion and garlic.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add the potatoes, carrots, green beans and broccoli.

Season with salt and pepper again!

Cook for three or so minutes.

Add the broth.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add the tomatoes, corn, peas and lima beans.

Stir and then add the spinach and stir again!

Season with salt and pepper once more!!!

It made A LOT!!

It was so light and delicious.

And I cannot wait to make it again!!

If soup isn't your thing during the Spring and Summer, 

remember this recipe and make it when you are in the mood for soup! 

Robyn Recreates Olive Garden Favorites

Yup, you read that right!!
I have recreated not one, but TWO Olive Garden dishes that are favorites to many!

While I haven't had Olive Garden in years, I still remember what their signature salad tastes like. I used to go there just because of their amazing salad and breadsticks.

The salad was all about the dressing and I think I got pretty darn close to the real thing. I was reassured when a girlfriend I had over that night agreed that it was pretty spot on! 

Sadly, their breadsticks wasn't something I made - I haven't taken that on yet!
(Who knows, maybe soon?)

The second Olive Garden knock off I made is something I made twice in one week and just couldn't get enough. I made Zuppa Toscana Monday night and again on Friday, which was perfect for the cold evenings we've been having.

And the finished product...

So, so, SO good!!!

Since I didn't make breadsticks, I did the next best thing and made savory monkey bread muffins. They were amazing and not a single one was leftover!!!

The 1st Tomato of 2013!

I was starting to think that the cherry tomato plant I bought this year was in fact a plant for some other variety of tomato. Why? Well, because I'd had a cluster of tomatoes growing for what seemed like FOREVER and they just kept getting bigger, but not turning that orangish red color where you know it's time for picking!

I was really convinced it was another variety. That is...until YESTERDAY!!! 

While outside watering yesterday morning, I noticed that overnight a couple of the lil tomatoes had started to ripen! I was SO happy to know I'd be enjoying tomatoes soon.

And soon really did come soon because I got to enjoy my very first tomato of 2013 this evening after work. Judging by how fast this one got ripe, I think the others will be ready tomorrow, or Thursday at the latest!

Grain Greek Salad

One of my go-to lunches (and favorite lunches in fact) is a Greek Salad grain mixture. You can use any grain you'd like - but I tend to prefer quinoa and have recently decided I liked the combination of quinoa and Israeli couscous. The vegetable chopping takes a little time, but I always make a BIG batch and get to enjoy the salad all week! It's so easy once it's made and I'm full for hours after eating it. 

Take a look at the salad making process and you'll be amazed at how simple AND delicious it is!

The Goods:

Quinoa

Israeli Couscous

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Lemon

Salt

Cherry/Grape Tomatoes

Persian Cucumbers

Green Onions

Feta

Kalamata Olives

Cook the grains...

Israeli Couscous

And Quinoa for me!

Chop the Cucumbers

Chop the Green Onions

Chop the Tomatoes

Chop the Olives

(I ran out of Kalamata so used Green Queen ones too!)

Add the Feta! 

And the Quinoa.

And FINALLY the Israeli Couscous.

Toss it all together with fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Add a little salt for flavor if necessary. 

The finished product! 

This salad can be eaten alone, or enjoyed on a bed of mixed greens tossed in fresh lemon juice as I usually do!

Grab some spring mix.

Toss it with more fresh squeezed lemon juice.

And add the mixed grain salad on top!

Dig in and enjoy!!!

YUM!