Recipe: Quick Veggie Pizza

     As a Private Chef, I am always modifying recipes. Its always a challenge, which I love. It is not as simple as adding fish for a superior fat-burner to add to one's diet. They may despise fish! One thing nobody ever turns down is pizza! So, here is a quick and easy recipe that won't add the carbs that usually one trip to dominos will add. This is very light and crispy for the thin-crust lovers!

Ingredients: Serves 2 or 4 (if using it as a snack)
• 1/2 cup of low-fat plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup of a/p flour
• 1/2 cup of wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tbsp. low-fat/skim milk
• 2 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
• salt to taste
• 5 oz. can of tomato pieces, drained
• 3 oz. mushrooms
• 1 sm. bulb of fennel*
• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 oz. Gouda cheese, grated
• 6 black olives, pitted
• 6-8 basil leaves

* If you aren't sure about the fennel, leave it off. If you think buying one will go to waste, chop the rest up and throw on salads.

Method of Preparation:

1. For the dough, knead together the yogurt, flour, baking powder, milk, 2 tbsp. oil, and 1/2 tsp. salt.

2. Preheat the oven to 400 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Wipe mushrooms with damp cloth, slice, and also slice fennel** very thin.

4. On a lightly floured work surface, rollout the dough to a thin rectangle and transfer it to the baking sheet.

5. Pierce with the fork several times.

6. Distribute the tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, sliced fennel, season, and sprinkle with red pepper flakes and cheese. Drizzle with the remaining 1/2 tbsp. oil over the top.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes on the middle rack. Garnish with olives and basil.

** To properly cut fennel: Trim the fennel because you want just the bulb, Wash, Cut it into 4 quarters, and then into thin slices.

For Added Spice:
Add chiles! Eating spicy foods will flood your brain with endorphins, the messenger chemical that eases pain and lifts your spirit. A good mood translates into a more active and slender you! Spiciness also heats up fat cells, causing them to move.

     If you have some picky eaters then take away add what you like bell peppers, feta, kalamata olives. Get creative! Also, this is a great kid-friendly recipe to create family time around food.