There aren't very many of you here yet, but I want to thank you for reading, and for encouraging this new little blog project of mine. Some of you have told me that I'm inspiring you to add some healthy vegan meals to you diet, even if you aren't totally vegan (yet!). This makes my heart sing! In the coming year, I plan to bring you lots more great food, and plenty of good reasons to go vegan, one meal at a time. The more you do it, the better you'll feel, and the better off our beloved planet will be. It's all baby steps, and I'm especially proud of those of you who are bravely exploring something so new to you, even though your families might think you're crazy. Keep going! You're doing great!
Let's celebrate with one of the first vegan dishes I came up with when I started my own vegan journey, while living in a travel trailer in Oregon. Pizza!!! Rick and I used to own a pizza shop in Seattle, and we still adore pizza. But going vegan presented the "cheese challenge," and cooking in a trailer made elaborate dishes almost impossible. I came up with this easy version of pizza that can even be done in a big covered frying pan if that's all you have. These days, back at home in Taos, I use my oven. Make this pizza on work nights, for something easy but wonderful. It's also great for parties, because you can keep making them until everyone is full. Tortillas make a nice thin crust, and Daiya cheese comes to the rescue where all other commercial faux cheeses have left me stranded.
I'm trying to keep things gluten free these days, as an experiment for myself, and because so many people seem to be gluten sensitive. I want you all to eat! So I've used rice tortillas in this recipe, but of course you can use any kind you like. Ezekiel makes a terrific sprouted grain tortilla that I also love.
This recipes is as easy as it gets. I've listed the ingredients and toppings I used for these pictures, but of course you can use anything you like. I started with the "sun-dried" tomatoes as inspiration, because I'd just made a test batch in the new little dehydrator a friend gave me for Christmas. They came out great, but the kind on the jar are just as good.
Tortilla Pizzas
Brown Rice Tortillas
Olive Oil
Spaghetti Sauce
Daiya cheese
Sliced Mushrooms
Sliced Black Olives
Sun-dried Tomatoes
Dried Basil
Lightly oil a baking sheet with olive oil. I just got a Misto (because I asked for it, and my husband paid attention), and I love it beyond reason. It sprays a fine mist of oil without weird chemical propellants. Bravo Misto!
Spray or brush a little oil on the tortillas.
Sprinkle a little Daiya on each tortilla. Pop in a few olives, and then top with another tortilla. You'll have sort of a double crust, "glued" together with cheese. Oh so good!
Spray the second tortillas with oil, and spoon some sauce around, almost to the edges. Add a little more Daiya (I find that a little goes a long way with this stuff), then olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms. Top with more Daiya and a sprinkle of basil or other herbs.
Bake at 350º for 12-15 minutes. The Daiya will "melt," but it won't look like regular cheese, so be careful not to overcook your pizzas. Let them cool for a minute or two before slicing.
Here's to a healthy, compassionate, and fabulously delicious 2012! Happy New Year!!!
