I Never Met a Pizza I Didn't Like #Almost Homemade Pizza recipe by #Author Denise Swanson

Raise your hand if you love pizza! My hand is waving along with a lot of you. I adore pizza, from the yeasty crust to the tangy sauce to gooey cheese; I could probably have it every day and be happy. Unfortunately, pizza from the local pizzeria or in the frozen food aisle doesn’t mesh with my Healthy, Inexpensive, and Tasty food philosophy.

     Granted, it’s tasty, but healthy and inexpensive not so much. Two small slices from my favorite restaurant is 228 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 20 grams of Carbs. And a large three ingredient pizza costs pretty near thirty dollars.

This lead me to making my own pizzas, which I admit is not quite as tasty as the one from the pizzeria, but I can eat it every Saturday night without breaking the bank and guilt free. 

  

PIZZA

1 package pizza crust mix—I use Kroger which usually cost less than sixty cents. Betty Crocker is also a good brand but is slightly higher.

1 jar pizza sauce – I like Mid’s or Del Fratelli which usually cost less than a dollar thirty-five.

Turkey pepperoni—I usually pay about three dollars for this.

Black olives—I usually find a can of these for about a dollar.

Sweet Yellow Pepper—I paid a dollar and a quarter for one.

Fat Free Mozzarella—I can usually find this for less than three dollars.

Total price of large pizza is $10.20, add in there is no tip or delivery charge that’s pretty big savings.

Nutritionally, a quarter pizza 300 calories

Preheat oven to 475. Using the package mix, the crust is super easy to make. Put the contents of the package into a bowl, add hot tap water, mix and form into a ball. Spray it with Pam, cover and let sit in a warm spot for five minutes. Spray your hands with Pam and spread the dough to the edges of the pan.

Top with sauce, add pepperoni, sliced olives, and chopped pepper. Sprinkle with mozzarella. 

Bake for 13 minutes or until bottom of crust is golden brown.

My husband likes extra cheese so we do half and half.

Here's a bit about my new book:  Tart of Darkness.

 Right when Dani thinks she's hit a dead-end in her career, she unexpectedly inherits an enormous old house in a quaint college town. This gives her the perfect opportunity to pursue her true passion—cooking! So Dani opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students attending the nearby university, as well as providing personal chef services and catering events for the local community. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives.

But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects! She'll have to scramble to clear her name and save her business before the killer reappears—perhaps to silence the new chef forever.

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