Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner! Eating healthy does not mean you give up all your favorite foods. Sometimes it means you just have to be a little creative and make better ingredient choices.
As you plan your snacks for the big day, I want to share with you one of my favorite pizza recipes. I adapted this recipe from a cookbook I bought at a local book store while traveling in Florence, Italy, titled Classic Italian by Carla Bardi.
The recipe is fresh tasting and full of these healing vegetables:
Mushrooms. Mushrooms are a powerful immune-boosting food with powerful anti-cancer properties.
Onions. Onions can give your body a powerful immune boost. High in trace minerals zinc, manganese, iodine and selenium.
Tomatoes. Tomatoes increase the alkalinity of the blood and helps remove toxins.
Artichokes. Artichokes are filled with the phytochemical lutein; vitamins such as A, E, and K; amino acids; and enzymes. They are wonderful for bringing balance to the gut.
Spinach. Spinach packs high amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron and calcium. Leafy greens can help create a more alkaline stomach composition.
Zucchini. Zucchini contains a variety of vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds and is particularly high in Vitamin A and potassium. Test tube and animal studies indicate that zucchini extracts may help kill or limit the growth of certain cancer cells.
Veggie Pizza
This is a vegan pizza that is loaded with fresh veggies.
Ingredients
1 quality pizza dough
1 cup crushed tomatoes (La San Marzanno brand is a good choice)
1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
4 mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/4 cup onions, chopped
1/4 cup black olives, sliced
Artichoke Hearts (optional)
2 cups fresh spinach (or more, I load it up)
1 cup vegan non-dairy mozzarella cheese
2 Tbs of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh Basil
Directions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Oil a 12 inch pizza pan
- Lightly knead the pizza dough on a lightly floured work surface. Press it onto the pizza pan using fingertips to spread.
- Spread the crushed tomatoes. Add the following ingredients in this order : zucchini, mushrooms, onion, black olives, artichoke hearts, spinach, sliced tomato, vegan cheese, salt and pepper and then drizzle with olive oil. Put in the oven.
- Bake 15 minutes. Add torn fresh basil. Bake another 5-10 minutes or until done.
