Pioneer Woman's Pizza

I spied this recipe the other day on my most-favorite website, The Pioneer Woman, and decided right there on the spot that I must try it. What could be better than caramelized onions on a pizza? So on my next outing to the grocery store, I picked me up some prosciutto and came home to make the pizza crust.

Now let me just tell you, the pizza crust is easy and delicious. I've been looking for a good recipe, and my only complaint is that you need to make it about 2 hours before you start the pizzas. But trust me, it was so good it was worth the wait.

The picture above shows the results of following the recipe exactly. Wow. She wasn't lying. That was one good pizza. But I will admit that because there is no sauce on the dough, it was just a *tad* dry for me. So I made it again last night, with a very thin layer of Sweet Baby Ray's sauce under the cheese and we liked it even more. So much that we didn't share it with the kids - they were content to eat corn dogs!

The star of this pizza is the caramelized onions, so if you really like them, do as I did and cut up 2 onions to throw on the pizza. More is better, right? And if prosciutto scares you or you just don't want to pay $6 a pkg, by all means use bacon or deli ham. Just use it sparingly, because the onions are what makes this pizza pop!

Now that I have finished my review, I'm off to see if Dan forgot his lunch of leftover pizza and to eat it if he did. It's even good cold.

On Reinstating Old Resolutions

I'm back on the wagon. Your comments from my last post helped put me there. Now I can't say that my family will never eat anything out of a box again (can we say "cereal'?) but I am resolved to quit buying the vast amounts of groceries from the middle of the store. I'm sticking to the fresh fruits and vegetable, fresh meat and dairy items. With a little bratwurst thrown in when the weather is warmer!

I was sizing up my pantry for all the things we shouldn't be eating when I noticed the box muffin mix. I checked my muffin recipes, and most call for 10-12 ingredients, whole ingredients like flour and fruit. Then I compared the box mix, which contained 25 ingredients, and only the first 3 or 4 could I even pronounce. That's disgusting!

So I need your help. What box mixes and the like have you replaced with homemade recipes?

Here's mine for the day:

Homemade "Cream of _____ Soup" recipe

2 c. non-fat dry milk crystals
3/4 c. cornstarch
1/4 c. Instant chicken bouillon
2 tbsp. dried onion flakes
1 tsp. dried thyme, crushed (optional)
1 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1 tsp. pepper

Add 1/3 c. of mix to 1 1/4 c. water and heat and whisk until thickened. Works great in casseroles!

How do you eat healthy?

Missy just reminded me this morning of a resolution I made about 2 years ago to eat more whole foods. It was shortly after my brother had a heart attack and I was convinced I was next, because, you know, (well maybe you don't) my family paid for the heart center at the local hospital.

And I did really well for some time. No more hydrogenated oils, I made more things at home from scratch and I felt like I was making at least a little bit of difference in my health.

And then came couponing. I have been actively couponing for about 6 months now, and I realize how much unhealthy food I have bought in the name of saving money. I mean, you can get some really amazing deals on prepared meals and jarred sauces and the like. But now I'm thinking I've exchanged good health for a buck.

So, my question is to you, my readers. How do you eat healthy on a budget?