healthy makeovers!

This weekend was full of the kids favorites - pizza, french toast...(ok, my favs too - I've mentioned before that I have the palate of a 7 year old).  Just because I want my kids to eat healthier and make good choices does not mean they have to go without their favorite foods.  I have figured out that, as I've mentioned before, if you make things "from scratch", and get away from pre-packaged & take-out food, then you can control the quality of ingredients used and make your un-healthy favorite dishes into something yummy, healthy and food you feel good about eating and serving your children.  I've already done a post or two (or three?) about the different pizzas I make, but wanted to share the pizza crust recipe I've used the past few times and it always turns out well.  And before you say "I don't have time to make pizza crust" - check it out.  It's very simple AND it can be made ahead....sometimes I'll prepare the dough, cover it in a little olive oil, then wrap it in plastic wrap and throw it in the fridge.  Then a few days later, I'll have the dough all ready to go.  Or, I'm sure you could prepare your crust, (go ahead and flatten it out) and then freeze it.  Which is what I should do...why haven't I thought of that earlier?  See, blogging is good for the mommy brain...Anyway, before I digress....

Pizza Crust Ingredients (original recipe here) -

1 cup warm water (110 F/45 C) *I basically guess at temp and it's never a problem, you just don't want it so hot that it                                                                   kills your yeast)
1 T. sugar
2 1/4 t. active dry yeast (I use one "packet")
2 T. olive oil
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour   * Sometimes I mix whole wheat and bread flour - it's whatever you prefer - using all whole wheat is healthier
spices/herbs of choice (garlic powder, basil, italian seasoning are the ones I use)

Stir water, sugar and yeast together until dissolved.  Add olive oil and salt.  Stir in flour and seasonings until well blended - you can also wait and put your herbs/spices on top of your dough, which is usually what I do, that way, the kids have less seasonings and I have MORE!  Let dough rest for 10 minutes.  (I usually sit the bowl on top of the pre-heating stove with a dish towel over it).  Pat dough into pan or pizza stone (I spray a little Olive Oil Pam on my fingers and spray my pans). 

I spread mine very thin (it will rise a little while baking) and make 2 pizzas from this dough recipe.  If you want a thick "hand tossed" type crust, make one.  Less bread = Less carbs! 

Pre-bake crust for 5 minutes for thin, about 7 for thick, then add your favorite sauce/toppings and bake for another 7 minutes or so at 425 degrees.  You don't have to pre-bake the crust, but I like it a little crisper.

I use a reduced fat blend of cheeses and mini turkey pepperoni.

As you can tell, everyone in my house wants something different!  I wanted a spinach pesto pizza on half....but do you notice anything missing?  Yep, no spinach.  Pulled the bag out of the fridge and it was...well, let's just say, it was gross.  So, it was pesto and feta.  Still yummy!  The other half has peppers from the garden!

This morning, my 7 year old asked for french toast.  This is super easy to make a healthier version - I used whole wheat bread and dipped it in a mixture of Egg Beaters, with a little skim milk and lots of cinnamon!  She put a little powdered sugar on hers, and I added a sprinkle of walnuts and heated some Sugar Free Cherry Preserves and put on mine.  I would love to eat another plate just like this one.  And I used my fine china, so minimal clean up (paper plates! gotta love 'em).

So, while some kids are raised on soy milk and tofu and bean sprouts (and more power to you), my kids  eat regular crap like everybody else.  So, my job is to make the crap a little healthier - yeah, that just sounds disgusting!  But, you get my point.  And I think it's helping, b/c the last 2 or 3 times they have been off with friends or relatives and they ordered out pizza, my kids have talked about how "gross" it was, and the crust was "yucky".  Yet, my youngest two kids always eat my pizza without complaint.  My oldest....well, I just don't know about her - she's being very picky nowadays.  Something about turning 9...

What are your favorite food "makeovers"?  I'd love to have some more ideas!