As we get older, and finally realize that we no longer have the metabolism of a teenager, we make changes. Some of us start by going to the gym. What others of us neglect in our quest for a slimmer waistline is a healthier diet. I found, in this regard, fast food to be enemy number one. My favorite is pizza. Bad news for me as I can do some serious damage to a pizza buffet.
Deciding not to hasten my end this way, I stopped eating fast food. My biggest challenge? How to give up pizza! Solution? I started making my own on the weekends. Result? While this is going to sound distinctly Un-American, I haven’t eaten fast food in over a year. (Unless of course you count those Veggie Burritos from Chipotle.) Here’s what you need and how (besides a little will power).
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flower
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/8 cup corn meal
- 1 cup sauce
Mix the flour (one key to this is whole wheat) and water (another key is no oil). For ease, skip the yeast step and go right to rolling the dough. Take a wood chopping board, rolling pin, lay down the corn meal, and get to rolling. This is going to be a thin crust so if you get holes the first time, ball your dough back up and try again.
Next comes the sauce. Like spicy? Add Sriracha (Rooster Sauce). Like savory? Add a dash of soy sauce. I even sometimes mix my pasta sauce with the healthy kind of refried beans.
Next are toppings. I use soy cheese (the third key). My other favorites are black olives, mushrooms, and onions. However, I have been known to top with tuna, avocado, tofu, tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, wheat germ, shrimp and pineapples.
Last are seasonings. Without all the fat they become very important to taste. Put them right on top. I use sea salt, rosemary, pepper, basil, oregano, cumin seed and garlic powder to name a few.
Cook at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and enjoy!
Work In Progress 
season the dough..lol :)… you don’t cook the avocados do you??
John – I’d be interested in reading what you’ve written. It’s not really any one thing that got me venturing in this area. I’d say for some folks fast food might be okay every now and then. Maybe not. I find it easier just to quit stuff like that cold turkey. Having said all that, one specific thing that has stuck in my head is a book my wife read over a long weekend getaway at a resort in Tucson, Arizona titled “In Defense of Food. An Eater’s Manifesto” . She read me the good parts by the pool. The gist for the book’s message is that we should eat actual food, not too much, mostly plants. What’s actual food? If your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize it as food, it likely isn’t. Thanks for reading and contributing.
Hi Owen,
I have written some blogs regarding fast food, yet I didn’t actually publish them. I’m curious what has you venturing in this area. Share at some point if you can.
John