Pizza with Sourdough Crust

We haven't made pizza at home in a long time. It seemed like a hassle to try to make a no-guilt crust so we just skipped it altogether. However, now that I keep a sourdough starter the door has re-opened to many recipes I had previously passed over, including one for homemade pizza. If you have a sourdough starter, you too can make a nutritious pizza that the whole family will love!

If you don't have a sourdough starter yet, it is easy to keep one! Read my quick start guide for more information.

Baked Chicken Legs

My dad is on an eternal search for tasty foods. He laments that everything he cooks is tasteless and is often annoyed with the entire obligation of having to eat in general... That being said, he does occasionally attempt to make something that tastes really good and these chicken legs are an example of one of his successes. According to my dad, the key to the success of this method is to use a baking rack that allows you to cook the legs in a vertical position. See the attached link for an idea of the types of racks out there.

Spicy Potato Wedges

I know I say this a lot, but these are delicious!! Super easy side dish and you can adjust the heat.

3 medium to large Russet potatoes (you could use sweet potatoes too)
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tbsp Italian seasonings
1/4 tsp cayenne (red) pepper - more or less to adjust heat level, this is probably a "medium"
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp maple sugar
About 1/2 cup olive oil

How To:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
1. Season: Measure out all seasonings and combine in a baggie or bowl. Wash potatoes really well and then cut into wedges (quarter potato and then cut each quarter into wedges (1/8ths). Add to baggie or bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and mix to coat.

2. Cook: Arrange potatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or foil. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes until potatoes are done. Serves about four to six.

Comments: I think you could arrange these potatoes on a dish and then cover with chili and grated cheddar cheese and have a most excellent homemade chili cheese fries. This was my husband's idea, actually, and so I'm adding a "guy stuff" label to this post!

 

This recipe was featured on Busy Monday and Just Another Meatless Monday.

Sausage & Peppers

2-3 turkey Italian sausage links
2 cups Marinara Sauce or 2 small cans of Hunt's tomato sauce
1 bell pepper, chopped medium to large
1/2 onion, chopped medium to large

Brown sausage on all sides, add peppers and onions and cook til soft. Add Marinara Sauce or Hunt's sauce (cans swished with water as needed). If using Hunt's sauce, you will need to season with oregano and basil, maybe salt and probably pepper. Simmer until sausage is done, about 15-20 minutes. Serve as-is, over rice, or on a dense roll.

This is very fast to do, especially since the onions and peppers are rough-chopped. Cook time is the longest part. My grandma made sausage and peppers and this makes me think of her.

I have to add a belated follow-up comment. I just made this recipe this morning for lunch today or tomorrow. I needed to use up two italian turkey sausages and some leftover marinara sauce from earlier in the week. After taking the photo, I actually cut the sausages in half (to serve more than two people) and left it to simmer on the stove for about an hour on the lowest possible setting, stirring occasionally. At lunch time my husband remembered we had saved two Italian rolls in the deep freeze from our last visit out East. While we generally try to avoid white flour, we do make exceptions and Calandra's rolls are one of them! If you can make this sausage & peppers recipe and enjoy it on a dense Italian bread, like a Calandra's roll, I think you will really be blown away by how delicious this simiple recipe is.

Photo shows the sausage simmering on the stove top.