Hi there!
I’m psyched right now because:
1.) My parents and 2 of my siblings are flying in to visit me tomorrow! The last time I saw them was in February when I was in Jersey for a few weeks because my grandma was sick and in the hospital. I’m really looking forward to seeing them under happier circumstances and to show them around my new Bay Area home.
2.) It’s only Tuesday night and my work week is pretty much over already. I’m sure I’ll be taking care of a couple of things here and there (because that inevitably happens when you work from home), but I’m pretty much done with work until next Monday and am looking forward to a nice lonnggg 4th of July weekend with my hubby and family!
And speaking of 4th of July, if you’re looking for some healthy recipe ideas to try out over your holiday, check out this Girls Gone Sporty article: Healthy Picnic Foods for Summer Soirees. It includes my Greek pasta salad – yum!
Moving on to today’s recipe, let’s talk pizza. In the Northeast, you can get some pretty damn good pizza. Growing up in New Jersey, “grabbing a slice” is something that was done often. One of my favorite types of pies at this one pizzeria nearby was baked ziti pizza. That’s right, pasta on top of dough with cheese and sauce = one carbolicious, scrumptious bite to eat. I can’t remember the last time I ate it, and when this little tidbit dawned on me last week, I knew I had to do something to change that. Hey, last week I talked a lot about doing a cleanse, so today I’m talking about pasta pizza to balance things out a bit. 😉 Besides, you know I healthified (making that word up – I’m aware) it a bit by using whole wheat dough & pasta and adding spinach!
Pasta Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 whole wheat pizza dough
- 10 oz mozzarella grated or cubed (I did half and half)
- 7 oz short shaped pasta preferably whole wheat - ziti, penne, rigatoni, etc. (I used a mix of two kinds to use up the end of 2 boxes)
- 2 TBSP shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 TSP dried oregano
- About 10 fresh basil leaves chopped
- 2 medium vine ripe tomatoes chopped
- 1- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce use more if you like it saucy
- 2 large handfuls of spinach
- [Whole wheat] flour for rolling dough out
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, roll out dough on a flour dusted surface using a flour dusted rolling pin. Place on a pizza pan.
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Once pasta is done cooking, drain while also wilting spinach: Place the spinach in a pasta bowl or on a plate, then allow hot pasta water to drain through the strainer and onto the spinach, instantly wilting it.
- Return pasta to the pot, then mix in the marinara sauce, wilted spinach, tomato and 1/2 of the mozzarella (I used the shredded cheese for this part). Spread over pizza dough.
- Add the rest of the mozzarella cheese, sprinkle the parmesan on top, and season with oregano, chopped basil, salt & pepper.
- Cook the pizza in the oven until the dough is lightly browned and the cheese is bubbly, around 15 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly, then cut into 8 slices. Enjoy!
Pasta with pizza? Ummm, yum!!
Have fun with your fam!
Thank you!!
Very good information. Lucky me I found your blog by accident (stumbleupon).
I’ve saved as a favorite for later!