Friday, August 19, 2011

Easy Italian--Spaghetti and Pita Pizzas

I love Italian food so much, and lately everything I eat tastes fancier and yummier with a few sprinkles of goat cheese and some fresh basil leaves (straight out of the back yard) on it.

Spaghetti:

To make this healthier, remember to use whole wheat noodles. Read the package carefully, because sometimes noodles labeled as "wheat" are not the healthy "whole wheat." If you are trying to get used to whole wheat, try angel hair or some other fine pasta, rather than trying to choke down some thick spaghetti.

For sauce, check out the new Giada lines of pasta at Target. Also, Bertolli has some good sauce. Whatever kind of sauce you use, read the label very carefully and make sure sugar is not listed as an ingredient. Sugar is hiding in a lot of sauces, and is unnecessary and can sabotage your efforts to lose weight.

After you cook the sauce, you can add in crushed tomatoes or chopped fresh tomatoes for extra flavor.

Of course, sprinkle with goat cheese, add a few cherry or grape tomatoes, maybe some capers and black olives, and a few leaves of fresh basil. Yum-o.


Pita pizzas:

A few years ago, my friends introduced me to this wonderful easy Italian dinner. Top some pita bread (look for whole wheat or low carb for a healthier option) with some tomato sauce (see above), Italian blend cheese (mozzarella, parmesan), and top with your favorite toppings. Throw in the oven on broil and watch very carefully to make sure it does not burn. It is wonderful and takes about five minutes to cook.

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