Pizza crusts keep well in the freezer; also try English muffins, Mediterranean flat bread, or pita bread.
Ingredients:
¾ cup Simple Cheese Sauce (see recipe below)
1 cup pasta sauce or 8-ounce can seasoned tomato sauce
¼ cup sliced olives
¼ cup mushrooms
1 cup finely diced onions, green, red, and yellow bell peppers, etc.
1 cup shredded white Sliceable Cashew Cheese or pine nuts (see recipe below)
1 pizza crust, baked or (see below directions for making your own crust)
Directions:
Spread pizza crust with 1 cup of Simple Cheese Sauce, covering entire surface. Spoon the pasta sauce over the cheese and swirl it gently into the cheese.
Scatter surface with mushrooms, olives, and vegetables of choice. Just before serving, bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes. (See directions below if you have an unbaked pizza crust.)
Hint: This can be assembled several hours or a day ahead and baked just before mealtime for a quick entrée. The assembled pizza freezes well, if desired.
Option: A nice finishing touch: sprinkle shredded white Sliceable Cashew Cheese or pine nuts over the top.
Pizza crust-This bread recipe is the right amount of one loaf, and works in most bread machines. This recipe makes 2, 12-inch pizza crusts.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons applesauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3 cups whole wheat bread flour
1 tablespoon gluten flour
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
Directions
Place ingredients in bread machine according to manufacturer’s directions. Except remove dough after kneading (before baking) as you want to divide dough into two balls, and roll each into a 12- inch circle. Stretch onto an oiled pizza pan. Spread with warm cheese sauce and tomato sauce and let rise in warm place for about 40 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Simple Cheese Sauce
Ingredients & Directions
1 cup raw cashew nuts
2 cups water
1/2 large or 1 small red bell pepper (or 1/4 cup canned pimentos or red peppers)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 tablespoons food yeast flakes (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Blend smooth (about 2 minutes) and then bring to a boil, stirring until thick. Use for pizza, lasanga, burritos, etc. For Lite Cheese Option: use only 1/2 cup cashew nuts plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
Makes 3 cups.
Sliceable Cashew Cheese
Ingredients & Directions
2 cups water
3 tablespoons agar flakes (or 3 teaspoons agar powder)
1 cup raw cashew nuts
2 tablespoons pimentos or 1/2 red bell pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon food yeast flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Boil together the agar and water for 1-2 minutes. Place in blender with all the remaining ingredients and blend for 1 or 2 minutes until very smooth. Pour into containers and chill. Slice when firm. This recipe makes a yellow cheese. Leave out the pimentos for white cheese. It may be frozen–shreds best when partially frozen. Makes a great topping for pizza or lasagna because it melts when heated. Makes 2 cups.