The Simplest Pizza -- Ever!

I have a serious problem. I'm addicted (and I mean ADDICTED) to pizza. I could eat it everyday, for every meal. Actually, if I could eat it every day for every meal, I'd die an extremely happy (albeit chubby) woman.

In my single days, I did eat more than my fair share of pizza. I ate by the slice at little shops in Manhattan, and from pizza delivery joints in Los Angeles. I loved it all: thin crust, deep dish, hand-tossed, even frozen. I was an equal opportunity pizza eater. But that all had to come to an end. I got married and the thought of ordering pizza for dinner every other night was just out of the question. Not to mention the fact that most pizza is not only fairly void of nutritional value, but just chock full of calories.

I had to find a way to satiate my pizza cravings, post-marriage. I didn't think that hiding in the closet with pieces stuffed in my pockets was going to work, so I invented my own home-style pizza. A pizza that is somewhat better for you than what you can find in the freezer at your local grocery store, and definitely better for you than what you can order from outside. And best of all, it tastes so good, you can make one for each family member and they will love you! Everyone will be waiting for pizza night. I used to serve this to my friends in grad school after we'd come home from a night out. It's cheaper and faster than waiting for delivery, and much better for you, too.

Ingredients

2 - 3 tablespoons tomato sauce

2 tablespoons shredded cheese (any kind you like... I use a white mild cheddar)

1 table spoon shredded parmesan

1/2 clove garlic, diced

2 - 3 button mushroom caps, sliced (or any other topping you'd like, e.g. bell peppers, olives, pre-cooked cubed chicken, or pepperoni)

garlic salt

cracked black pepper

1 whole wheat pita

crushed red pepper (optional)

diced serrano chili (optional - only for the super spicy!)

1. Warm pita in toaster oven for about 1 minute. You don't want the pita to become crispy, just warmed through.

2. Remove pita from oven and spread tomato sauce over pizza. Shake garlic salt (minimal) evenly across tomato sauce. Shake crushed red pepper across tomato sauce for extra heat, if desired. If you want it really spicy (desi-style!), distribute diced serrano chili across tomato sauce.

3. If you don't like raw garlic, I advise you skip this step. Spread 1/2 clove of diced garlic across tomato sauce.

4. Evenly placed sliced mushrooms across top of tomato sauce, as shown below:

5. Top with shredded cheese (both parmesan and other). Add fresh cracked pepper as desired.

6. Return to toaster oven for 2 to 3 minutes, or the cheese is melted to the level you like.

7. Remove from oven, plate, slice (if you want!), and enjoy!

I put mushrooms on this because they are fairly high in protein content compared to other low-cal toppings, but you can add almost anything you want onto this pizza. Just watch that you don't add too much cheese which can really load on the fat and calories. I promise you won't need it, because it tastes so good without it. The whole wheat pita delivers a boost of fiber. Most importantly, it just tastes fabulous!