Pizza Pizza

After not ordering pizza at California Pizza Kitchen a few nights back, my hubby requested a homemade, guilt-free version for dinner. The big question, of course, is what to do with the crust. Internet research yielded a host of pizza crusts made from mashed cauliflower, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and a multitude of other ingredients sans flour. While many of these crusts contain very few carbs, they don't really look like pizza crust to me. (I may yet succumb to curiosity and attempt a cauliflower crust, but I'm not sure when.) So, when I came across this version http://skinnypicnic.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/pizza/, I was happy to see ingredients that sounded like pizza - low carb baking mix containing almond flour, yeast, and even a little sweetener for better taste. I'm happy to report that the result was pretty good. The crust had the correct taste and texture, though I like mine a little crispier. (On the other hand, the guys like a softer crust and both agreed this one was as good as many "regular" crusts I'd made in the past.) My only issue with the recipe is the time and temperature for baking. The instructions say to add the toppings and bake at 500 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. As I was leery of this temperature, I checked the pizza a couple of times and took it out after 10 minutes. I wonder if the crust would have been crispier if I had pre-baked it before adding the toppings, and then just returned the pizza to the oven to melt the cheese well. (I even considered baking the crust, and then flipping it over to bake the other side, but that might make it too crispy for the guys.)

In addition to tasting good, this pizza is very filling. Even tall, dark, and shaggy couldn't eat more than three pieces (leaving a few for lunch tomorrow). This is a trait we've noticed about much of the low-carb food: we feel fuller longer. It is easier to eat less because the food is satisfying. Tonight's toppings contributed to that satisfaction since we had a veggie lover's delight complete with sautéed onions, peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini, plus a few cloves of roasted garlic and plenty of mozzarella cheese. All in all, pizza night was a success. It looks like our Friday night routine of pizza and a movie is back in business.