Noshing while sitting and writing for long hours can be problematic. As you can imagine, the challenge is even great for culinary mystery authors, especially when we test recipes like these goodies in No Roast for the Weary. Indulging is good for the soul, and we love to eat rich, delicious dishes and treats, but we can't do it 24/7. So, while we sometimes give Excess Calorie Man free rein, today I’m showing you one way this writer reins him in...
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Cleo Coyle writes two bestselling mystery series with her husband. To learn more, click here. |
🍕 A Writer's Snack
As a kid, I took for granted all of my pop's wonderful homegrown veggies. As an adult, I miss them (and him) dearly. This recipe makes good use of zucchini whether you grow your own (as my father did) or pick it up at the market.
These Mini Zuke Pizzas make a wonderfully quick, low-carb, low-calorie snack. They're kid friendly, too. My Italian-born mom and aunt used to make them for me when I was a little girl. In fact, I'm pretty sure those two could have written a book on 101 things to do with squash!
Today, I took a shortcut in my recipe and used jarred pizza sauce. Rao's Pizza Sauce is a nice low-carb option with no added sugar or seed oils (olive oil only, so it's Keto friendly, too). It's also vegetarian and great tasting. I can highly recommend it as a time saver.On the other hand, if you're game to make homemade, I've got a recipe for you. To
download my homemade, meatless Italian red sauce
recipe, made from fresh tomatoes, click here.
ORDER UP!
🍕 Cleo Coyle's Low-Carb
Mini Zuke Pizzas
Ingredients:
(amounts are up to you, follow examples in my photos...)
(amounts are up to you, follow examples in my photos...)
- Small to medium zucchini
- Pizza sauce (jarred or homemade)
- Mozzarella, shredded (whole milk or part-skim)
- Toppings (see note*)
*Note: Use your favorite pizza toppings from veggies to meat or vegetarian meatless, just be sure any meat used is already cooked. Topping suggestions: sauteed and chopped mushrooms; sliced olives; chopped bell peppers; regular or meatless pepperoni or cooked and crumbled sausage.
Directions:
Step 1: Cut the zucchini into slices of 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick. You want the slices thin enough to cook fast under the broiler but thick enough to hold their shapes for handling after toppings are added. Place the slices on a sheet pan.
Tip: for easy cleanup, line the pan with a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil, and lightly coat your liner with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Spoon pizza sauce onto each slice. To save time, use jarred. (As I mentioned above, I use Rao's Pizza Sauce.) Sprinkle on your shredded mozzarella and toppings. As also noted, because these pizzas are finished in a flash, make sure your meat toppings are already cooked. If using mushrooms or peppers, I would chop them finely and saute them in a bit of olive oil before adding.
Step 3: Place the pan of mini zuke pizzas under your broiler for 1 to 3 minutes. The time will depend on the intensity of your oven's broiler and size of your zuke slices. No matter what, keep a close eye on these because they cook very quickly and the cheese can burn fast. Can they be made in a microwave or air fryer? I don't see why not. Give it a try. Then remove and...eat with (guiltless) joy!
Tip: for easy cleanup, line the pan with a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil, and lightly coat your liner with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Spoon pizza sauce onto each slice. To save time, use jarred. (As I mentioned above, I use Rao's Pizza Sauce.) Sprinkle on your shredded mozzarella and toppings. As also noted, because these pizzas are finished in a flash, make sure your meat toppings are already cooked. If using mushrooms or peppers, I would chop them finely and saute them in a bit of olive oil before adding.
Step 3: Place the pan of mini zuke pizzas under your broiler for 1 to 3 minutes. The time will depend on the intensity of your oven's broiler and size of your zuke slices. No matter what, keep a close eye on these because they cook very quickly and the cheese can burn fast. Can they be made in a microwave or air fryer? I don't see why not. Give it a try. Then remove and...eat with (guiltless) joy!
F o o d i e
P h o t o s
☕ Serve with
Cleo's Cold Brew!
👇
Eat (and read) with joy!
Eat (and read) with joy!
CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating more than twenty years in print. With more than 1 million books sold, they have gained an enthusiastic following. Cleo's "relentlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) novels have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech; earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus; received Best of Year selection honors from multiple reviewers; and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live in New York City, where they write independently and together, including the nationally bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries.
CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating more than twenty years in print. With more than 1 million books sold, they have gained an enthusiastic following. Cleo's "relentlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) novels have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech; earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus; received Best of Year selection honors from multiple reviewers; and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live in New York City, where they write independently and together, including the nationally bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries.
National Mystery Bestseller
(Triple) #1 Amazon Category Bestseller
Fresh Fiction Readers' Selection
To Buy:
"EASILY ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS THAT I HAVE READ THIS YEAR...10 STARS!" —Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
"A KNOCKOUT STORY....one of the best books in this endearing series...a TERRIFIC READ..." —Dru Ann Love, Raven Award-winning reviewer, Dru's Book Musings
No Roast for the Weary is also a culinary mystery with a killer menu of delicious recipes. Click here or on the image below to see the free illustrated guide to our book's recipe section...
Click here or the image above for
Cleo's Free Illustrated Guide to the
recipes in No Roast for the Weary.
National Mystery Bestseller
(Triple) #1 Amazon Category Bestseller
Fresh Fiction Readers' Selection
To Buy:
"EASILY ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS THAT I HAVE READ THIS YEAR...10 STARS!" —Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book
"A KNOCKOUT STORY....one of the best books in this endearing series...a TERRIFIC READ..." —Dru Ann Love, Raven Award-winning reviewer, Dru's Book Musings
Cleo's Free Illustrated Guide to the
recipes in No Roast for the Weary.
Get a free Title Checklist of
Cleo Coyle's Books in Order
Click here or on the image below.
Get a free Title Checklist of
Cleo Coyle's Books in Order
Click here or on the image below.
Cleo Coyle's Books in Order
Click here or on the image below.
👇
