Single Servings: December '08

Whole Wheat and Honey Pizza Dough & Exquisite Pizza Sauce: That's right, homemade frozen pizza! Make four or five mini pizzas, pre-bake those for 5 minutes (allow to cool), top however you like, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. I’d recommend putting them all in one resealable freezer bag as well. They can go straight from the freezer to the oven. Cook at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for about 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted (mine took almost 20 minutes, but I don't always take my oven at its word when it claims to be at a certain temperature).

Big Ed's Cajun Shrimp Soup: So easy and very filling, although I ate more like one and half servings which is why I recommend making three servings versus two. I couldn't find clam juice (or, I should say I didn't have the patience to spend more than 60 seconds looking for it), so I used seafood stock instead (I mean, it was right there). Serve with a salad.

NOTE: Change serving size to three. 

Apricot Chicken: This recipe says to microwave the chicken, but you can bake instead at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 20 minutes with the apricot mixture. Sauté the cashews and bell pepper on the stove top for 5 minutes at medium heat, then mix with chicken.

Make it healthier: Add snow peas and broccoli to your veggie sauté.

Baby Spinach Omelet: Breakfast for dinner--it just tastes so good sometimes. I've even been known to have a cup of decaf with my meal to make it more believable. Serve with a side of fruit.

Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding: With such basic ingredients, you're likely to have everything you need for this recipe anytime you have a craving. 

Plan on about two hours to get yourself ready for the week:

• Do step #2 in directions for Whole Wheat and Honey Pizza Dough.
• While yeast is sitting, mix ingredients for Exquisite Pizza Sauce. 
• Finish Whole Wheat and Honey Pizza Dough, but instead of rolling into one pizza crust, divide dough into four or five mini-rounds. (Bake as directed, then let cool before adding toppings.)
• Get a head start on Big Ed's Cajun Shrimp Soup: peel and devein your shrimp; chop bell pepper, onions, and garlic--store in fridge; mix together tomato juice, clam juice, and water--store in fridge; and measure and mix dried spices--store in small glass dish, covered. You can also choose to make this soup completely; whether refrigerated or frozen, it reheats nicely.
• Combine first seven ingredients in Apricot Chicken recipe and chop bell pepper--store separately in refrigerator.
• Slice chicken for Apricot Chicken into strips--refrigerate or freeze.
• Prepare rice for Apricot Chicken.
• Wash and store any remaining veggies.
• Grate cheese for pizzas, then assemble with toppings.