Spring Pizza

Aaaaaaand.... It's Spring!

I think we're a month behind schedule though... do May showers bring June flowers?

Anyway, we're finally getting a few greens growing up here in New York, so I decided to make the most of them with a spring pizza, since I already had a shell hanging out in the fridge, ready to be topped.

I got the bunch of fresh spinach at Gade Farm here in Guilderland.  The tomatoes I found at Hannaford, by a company called Backyard Farms.  They're a regional company, so the produce is coming from nearby, and their website claims to use environmentally-friendly greenhouse technology.  I have to say, they actually tasted really good.  Like middle-of-the-summer good.

I loooove the contrast of the goat cheese to the sweet tomatoes.  And, even better, this pizza was so easy to throw together for a quick, light, veggie-licious dinner.  Just a little chop-chop, and you're ready to go.

Spring pizza

a pizza shell
a few garlic cloves, minced or crushed (to taste)
olive oil
1/4 red onion, sliced
3 or 4 small tomatoes, diced
a bunch of spinach, chopped, stems removed
goat cheese

1. Prepare your pizza crust by slathering on some olive oil, and sprinkling your garlic.  A little salt and pepa never hurts, either.
2. Scatter your tomato pieces as evenly as you can.  This will act as your "sauce" so be generous!  Then add on your spinach, onions, and finally, the goat cheese.  Feel free to spring on a little parmesan if you'd like, too.
3. Bake at about 400 for about 10 minutes, just to crisp everything up.   Yum!

This pizza is at its best right out of the oven.  You should be able to get a lunch out of it, too.  But more than a couple of days will make it soggy, so eat up!

Chicken on a Stick, Etc.

This weekend, I had chicken on a stick, and it was delicious.

Please excuse the terrible photography...

I had this because it was my birthday, we were in Boston, we had just witnessed the Bruins sweep (and I learned what that meant), and somebody literally brought it out of the restaurant and into the street for me.  Someone I had never even met!

Chicken on a stick with Joe.

The Bruins are sweeping!

I love birthdays.

While still in Boston, we got yummy donuts and breakfast sandwiches at this little place.

I can't say the service was great, but the donuts were.  AND we were entertained while we waited..

AJ is enjoying his breakfast sandwich.

I also got some thoughtful gifts from friends and family that know me so well...

Awesome shampoo, conditioner, and soap by Aveda.  Besides just being lovely, Aveda uses "green" ingredients and packaging.  Does Adrienne know me or what?

A Nook!! Book recommendations pleeeeaaaaassse!!

Additionally, this weekend was Mother's Day, and I picked up some pampering products for my mom, who is also a nature-dork like me.

The lovely-smelling soap came from the Schenectady GreenMarket, which is now outside!  There's nothing like walking around the market on a sunny Spring morning.  The body oil and loofah are from The Body Shop, another green company, and the maple candies are from a local maple producer (I bought them from a fundraiser at school).



So the morals of this story are:

Always eat your way through cities as you visit them (and take pictures).

Take the time to pick out personal gifts for the people you love, and it will be appreciated.  When you can, support local businesses and companies that make the effort to be healthier. Your gifts will be that much more considerate, and often more original.



I'll be back soon with some food... there's finally a few veggies coming up in Upstate New York.  I made a yummy Spring Pizza tonight (recipe to come!) aaaand maybe some asparagus by Thursday?

Gade Farm Store, Guilderland, NY