Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Pita Pizza

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Make Delicious, Hot Pita Pizza in your toaster oven! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make healthy Toaster Oven Pita Pizza. This is the easiest, fastest way to make delicious, healthy pizza. Make this pita pizza recipe in less than 10 minutes from start to finish. Bake these pita pizzas for 4 – 5 minutes in your toaster oven. You can also bake these pita pizzas in your regular oven. Add pizza toppings of your choice and make a perfect pizza you will love!

These Pita Pizzas are perfect a simple lunch or dinner or for a big pizza party! Make customized Pita Pizzas that will make everyone happy! Watch this cooking video and make delicious, healthy, hot Pita Pizzas today!

Yield: 2 pizzas

Pita Pizza

Ingredients

  • 2 pita breads, whole wheat
  • 1/2 cup pizza, tomato or pasta sauce (or as desired)
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (regular or vegan)
  • Your choice of topping (see below)

Instructions

  1. Preheat regular or toaster oven to 400 degrees.
  2. For regular oven: Cover baking sheet with foil. Place pita breads on the baking sheet, scooped side facing up. For toaster oven: No need for a pan. You will be placing directly on the baking rack.
  3. Spread 1/4 cup of sauce evenly over each pita bread, leaving about 1/2 inch border without sauce.
  4. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese over sauce.
  5. Layer and arrange your choice of toppings over the cheese and sauce.
  6. For regular oven: Bake about 10 minutes or until the pita bread reaches desired crispness and cheese starts to bubble and brown. For toaster oven: Place each pizza one at time on the rack of a toaster oven. Toast until the cheese starts to brown and bubble (about 3 or 4 minutes). Serve while hot!

Notes

Choice of toppings:
Onions, chopped (any color)
Bell peppers, sliced or chopped (any color)
Mushrooms, sliced
Veggie or regular meats (cooked)
Beans, cooked
Pineapple, tidbits
Tomatoes, sliced
Olives, pitted and sliced (black or green)
Zucchini, sliced thin
Herbs, fresh (oregano, basil)
Garlic powder
Parmesan cheese
Crushed red pepper flakes
Cheese, shredded, variety
Many others... use your imagination!

You can use more or less sauce and toppings as desired. Your pizza will be as healthy as the toppings are.

Vegan cheese may not brown and bubble. When using vegan cheese remove the pizza when the crust starts to brown and the toppings are cooked.

Cut these pita pizzas in quarters for delicious appetizers!

See a cooking demonstration of this Pita Pizza recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer
Category: Toaster Oven or Regular Oven

 

Baked Falafel

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Yield: 4 servings

Baked Falafel

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 - 15 ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup flour, whole wheat
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup parsley, diced
  • Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Sauté the onion in 1 teaspoon olive oil until the onion is soft.
  3. Add the garbanzo beans, garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, lemon juice, and egg to a blender or food processor. Blend on low or pulse until everything is minced but not pureed. You want it a little chunky with some texture.
  4. Add parsley and mix on low until it is combined.
  5. Pour the mixture in a bowl. Add the flour and baking powder. Stir together to make a dough.
  6. Make 1 1/2 inch balls with the mixture and place them on the baking sheet.
  7. Flatten each ball into a thick patty with a fork.
  8. Bake about 20 to 30 minutes, turning the patties over halfway. They are done when they are slightly crisp on both sides and cooked through.

Notes

You can use Italian or curly parsley. I use Italian parsley.

These falafel are delicious served in pita bread with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and tzatziki sauce.

© Karen Breyer

 

Crockpot Corn Tamale Casserole

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Yield: 6 servings

Crockpot Corn Tamale Casserole

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
  • 2 - 3 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
  • 2 - 10 ounce cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 15 ounce can white beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 15 ounce can corn (drained)
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced or chopped (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup tomatoes, diced (canned, drained or fresh)
  • Cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Sauté onions in olive oil over medium heat until the onions are soft.
  2. Spray the inside of the crockpot with cooking spray.
  3. Add to a large bowl: sautéed onions, cornmeal, diced tomatoes with chilies, beans, corn, water, eggs, 1/4 cup black olives, garlic, cumin, and chili powder.
  4. Mix ingredients together and add to the crockpot.
  5. Sprinkle tomatoes and 1/4 cup olives over the mixture.
  6. Cook on high 4 - 5 1/2 hours until the edges are lightly browned. Do not overcook.
  7. Serve.

Notes

Great served with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

You can use any white beans. I often use white kidney beans or great northern beans.

Adjust the amount of black olives to your taste.

See a cooking demonstration of this Crockpot Corn Tamale Casserole recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

Check the crockpot a little early to make sure it does not burn.

You can cut this recipe in half, just decrease the cooking time by 30 minutes.

You can also use a 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes and a 4 ounce can of diced green chilies in place of the 10 ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chilies.

See a cooking demonstration of this Crockpot Corn Tamale Casserole recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

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