If you had to describe our family, it would not be one that spends a lot of time at home. Our children are on the go and we travel, a lot. But, as the Coronavirus began spreading in other countries throughout February, we began to realize it was headed our way. Yes, we did stock up on our pantry essentials. Thank god!!! Then, on March 23, 2020, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) issued a stay-at- home order. Suddenly, we were spending a lot of time at home, which gave me time to try some new recipes. I was excited to open one of my favorite apps called Paprika, which is a simple to use recipe manager. What makes Paprika great is when you see a recipe that you like, you just copy the link and paste it into the app (in the browser area) and then click download. The app automatically downloads the recipe into your recipe book.
I’ve made a lot of delicious meals that I typically never have time to make and I’m excited to share two of my favorites. I’ve tried many recipes for pizza over the years and never really found one that actually tasted delicious, until now. This Crispy Pan Pizza does have a crispy crust and is super easy to make. The only downside is that you have to plan in advance. This baby takes 2 days to prepare, although only about 10 minutes of prep time. We added jalapeño, basil, and pepperoni but you can add any toppings that you want. I believe what makes it so good is putting the cheese down before the dollops of sauce. This is definitely a must try!!
Another dish that I love is Crispy Brussel Sprouts. All that you need is Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, Goat Cheese Crumbles, Olive Oil, and Balsamic Vinegar. You can buy them already shredded in a bag at Whole Foods or you can buy them fresh. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. If they aren’t shredded, rinse and then cut into 4’s. The smaller you cut them the more they will crisp. Put all the cut Brussels sprouts in a quart size ziplock back and pour olive oil and Morton’s seasoned salt (or your favorite seasonings) to coat. I then cut up bacon (I buy the pre-cooked kind from Costco). Pour the bag of seasoned Brussels sprouts onto a baking sheet and toss the bacon on top. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes. I flip them periodically. When they are crispy enough for your liking take them out of the oven and sprinkle goat cheese on them. Finish with a zigzag drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
