Good Times, Good Food and Great Memories

Yesterday was a GREAT day. I have been looking for a second job, something to go to after I finish at the law office in the evenings and on weekends. I had my second interview yesterday afternoon at one of my favorite department stores in our small town & I was offered a sales position. I'm so excited....25% discount here I come! So that was a great start to the day. Then Mom and I just HAD to go shopping & I found three great new pieces for Fall. (Thanks to my wonderful new doctors, I've found actual knowledgeable treatment for my PCOS, my health has improved & I feel better than I have in 10+ years & I've lost 50 lbs since April - shopping is such a fun experience for me again!)

Once I worked through my shopping giddiness over my new outfit Mom and I headed to the theatre to see A Night in Rodanthe. Oh my, what a great movie. I know a lot of people have read the book, I didn't want to. I didn't want to have a clue before I saw this movie. All I'm going to say is TAKE A TISSUE, LADIES! Terriffic movie, movie popcorn and an afternoon with Mom - a perfect Saturday afternoon!

Next we headed over to our local crafting supply store HB so I could get a few ideas to spruce up my neice's bedroom. Her 25th birthday is coming up in a few days and I think I'll tackle a couple of projects in her her room as a birthday surprise. We took her in to give her a fresh start about a year ago and she is doing great. I'm so proud of her and I want her to know how special she is to us. She painted her walls a creamy gold and has black furniture with gold and white bedding, and accents of red. She is crazy about zebra print and would like it incorporated. So I'm thinking gold valances with zebra trim and whispy sheers. I have a plan! I think I'l also make her a coordinating monogramed pillow. I'll post pictures and let you know how it goes and what she thinks of it. I'm so excited and can't wait to get started! My crazy loveable niece...

After our afternoon of shopping, a great movie and getting our creative juices flowing we were starving! We returned home where we made my famous organic & gluten-free chicken pizza. When I was faced with all of my restrictions in April due to the Insulin Resistence, PCOS and Migraines, I thought my good, mouthwatering cooking days were over! Not so! I'm working on my PCOS and Insulin Resistence cookbook so people that don't know their way around the kitchen as well as I do won't be so overwhelmed! This recipe is delicious & a must try!

INGREDIENTS:

3-4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (I usually have a Whole Foods house smoked chicken in the freezer and use that - it's fabulous! This time my husband cooked off the chicken breasts with Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb Seasoning & Sea Salt in a bit of olive oil then sliced them into strips.)
1 green bell pepper sliced into rings
1 small red onion sliced into rings
10 baby bella mushrooms sliced
3 cloves minced garlic
10-15 sliced cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup sliced olives (I use organic mediteranian pitted black olives)
1 1/2 - 2 cups organic tomato sauce (I use organic portabello marinara)
2 pizza crusts (I use a mix from Bob's Red Mill for a gluten-free pizza crust & use flax seed to replace the eggs in the crust. It is delicious and so tasty! I love to smell the yeast and make my own crust!)
2-4 cups shredded cheese or soy cheese of your choice
Sea Salt & Black Pepper to taste

Preheat your oven according to the directions on your pizza crust, mine calls for a 450 degree oven. Saute the bell pepper, onion and mushroom slices with the diced garlic in olive oil until tender. Cut tomatoes and olives in half and set aside. At this point, I smear a little olive oil on my my pizza stone & slide it in the oven until it is screaming hot. Remove the stone or pan from the oven and if working with a raw dough, spread one crust onto the pizza stone & cook it for 9-10 minutes. If using a pre-cooked pizza crust, follow the directions on the package. Remove from oven and spread a thin but generous layer of sauce depending on your preference. Next sprinkle a thin layer of cheese, then half of the chicken strips, followed by a layer of the veggies, topping it all off with a thick layer of your cheese of choice (this time I used an Italian five cheese blend but I have used a soy cheese product before and it was delicious as well). I sprinkle a little sea salt, black pepper and oregano on top. Slide it in the oven and cook 10-15 minutes until hot and bubbly! Repeat for the next pizza. Enjoy!

The Result...