Pizza and a New Hair Cut

So what is new in the world of Tammie? I'm so glad that you asked!

First, let me just say that it has been years since I have been able to have pizza (FYI: I don't count all the crappy cardboard attempts at GF pizza that I have endured nor my last BJ's gluten-contaminated pizza but that's for another blog post...), I mean really good PIZZA! But now I have found it, and I'm going to share it with all of you...ready?

I've only got eyes for this pizza pie

Ta-da! Conte's GF Pizza Shells are awesome! I get mine at Whole Foods. They're so good that I now keep a couple of packages in the freezer at ALL times.

Here's what I do: I make a quick pizza sauce by mixing tomato paste with some agave and crushed garlic. Sometimes I add a little dried crushed fennel or oregano... it's all good. Then I spread it all over the frozen shell and top it with real whole milk mozzerella cheese. Now I know what you're going to say, "Hey, wait a sec - aren't you dairy-free? What gives?" Well, truth be told I am 90% dairy-free. Occasionally, I indulge in some real dairy goodness and will suffer the consequences. However, for some inexplicable reason I don't have any trouble with real-deal mozzerella, or feta for that matter. (Can I get a "Woo-hoo"?) And besides, I only have it occasionally - see how I can rationalize with the best of them? ;)

Pesto and sausage - perfecto!

So back to the recipe, I top it with the gooey-cheesy goodness and pop it straight onto the oven rack. I let it bake at 450 for about 10 minutes and when it comes out,  crown it with some fresh basil leaves from the garden. Voila! PIZZA!!!

Now, my husband is more into meat so I made him a pesto and sausage version that he said was delicious (pictured above because I scarfed mine down before I remembered to take a pic - sorry.) I've also tried just brushing the shell with olive oil and topping it with crushed garlic and some cheese. Excellent as an appetizer with wine.

These crusts are crisp on the outside but still slightly chewy on the inside - just like pizza should be. (And I think it's even better the next day reheated in the microwave!) No crumbly, dry, tasteless, cardboard crusts here folks. These are the real deal! It's just so exciting to be able to have pizza in my life again...*contented sigh* Yes, my life is small but my dreams are big...and my food is delish! (lol)

Trying to give you a serious thinking type of pose...ha!

So on to the other new thing in my life...I have a new hair cut! Yep, I decided to whack it off for summer and give my locks a break from the bleach. What do you think? BTW - I love black and white photography...it forgives all the imperfections - and a violet photo filter helps too!

Rice Dream Ice Cream Bites

I am hooked. Period.

Don't be afraid - they're actually really good!

Why have ice cream when I can have these little morsels of pure joy!

Usually I detest rice milk products. (Well, maybe detest is too strong of a word. How about mildly despise?) They are just watery and unflavorful to me. I say why bother when there's almond milk (sweet and smooth) or coconut milk (creamy and silky) to turn to for my dairy-free needs. So, the other day when it was 100+ outside and I was in need of a cold treat, I found these in the freezer aisle and decided to give them a try. They just looked so good (in spite of the whole rice milk thing.) Truthfully, I figured if I hated them - oops, I mean mildly despised them - I would just leave them for my husband to eat. He'll eventually eat almost anything in the fridge...

Only 11 left - what is a girl to do?

So, once home and feeling the California heat, I decided to try one. Mmmmm...dark chocolate followed by a light vanilla ice milk-like lightness. Perfection! Of course one led to two, and then three, and eventually 8...ok, maybe more like 15 BUT they're tiny so 15 make up one serving. Honest! I did however finish these little babies off in less than 72 hours...

I've yet to buy them again. I know doing so would be extremely dangerous...they're just that good! Take it from this rice milk (mild) despiser - you'll never know it's rice milk hiding in there, just pure awesomeness!