Paleo Pizza day at Montessori

Inspired by Everyday Paleo and requested by the USVI Montessori school!  When I was asked to come teach the teenagers how to make a gluten free pizza, I couldn't have been more excited to share how easy it it is to prepare gluten and grain free foods.  Kids need to know that eating gluten free is just the first step to cleansing the body of gluten and reducing inflammation.  They are on the right track working with Jane to understand how good food can improve your health and wellbeing.  I took this opportunity to introduce a little Paleo into there cuisine vocabulary.  It was exciting to see how much they all enjoyed decorating their pizzas and tasting the difference between GF and Paleo crust made with almond flour.  Not sure what the final vote was on which they liked better but I know from their immediate response that they sure did enjoy eating them.

As I mentioned to the students, cooking is an art so have fun with it and get creative.  If you are missing an ingredient look in your kitchen and you'll find something that will work just as good, for instance, if you don't have or like yellow squash maybe you have an eggplant instead or if you don't have fresh rosemary use oregano.  This may look like a lot of ingredients and steps but it should only take you about 20 minutes of prep time and 40-45 minutes baking time and it is well worth it!!  Have a Pizza making party with all your friends... Tons of fun guaranteed!

Crust Ingredients:

• 2 cups almond meal
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablesppons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped (or dried)

Toppings:

• 1 lb mild italian pork sausage or ground beef
• 2 yellow squash or zucchini, diced
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 2 small tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup jarred roasted red peppers, diced or fresh red peppers, sliced
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives

Sauce:

• 1 can organic chopped tomatoes
• 1 can organic tomato sauce
• 2-3 tablespoons organic tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon basil
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt or powder
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon thyme

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix all crust ingredients together until it becomes very thick.  Using your hand to form the dough into a ball
3. Lightly grease a pizza pan or cookie sheet with olive oil.
4. Place ball of dough in the center of your pan and use your hands to push and pat the dough down into the shape of a circle, making the dough as thin as possible.  Approx 12 inches across.
5. Bake the crust for 20 minutes
6. While crust is cooking prepare your toppings and sauce.
7. Brown the sausage or hamburger meat in a large skillet and chop all veggies.
8. Put all sauce ingredients in medium size pot on medium high heat.  Lower heat as soon as the sauce begins to simmer.  Simmer for 20 minutes and add any other spice/herb of choice.
9. After the crust is done, remove from oven and evenly spread the sauce over the crust.
10. Add the sausage and all remaining toppings of choice evenly over th sauce.
11. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes.
12. Get creative with toppings... try chicken, artichoke hearts, broccoli... ect. and Enjoy!

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