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Tag Archives: Cheese

Categories Recipes, Snack

High-Protein Dairy Dip with Roasted Peppers

High-Protein Dairy Dip with Roasted Peppers

Author Shani - Lemon Tree Nutrition
Protein, being one of the 3 macros, not only helps us build tissue, maintain good health and support a good immune system but can also assist with weight management by keeping us fuller for longer. This high-protein dip is super satisfying and can help with cravings and munchies.
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Prep Time 10 minutes

Equipment

  • Food processor or blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 container cottage cheese 500 grams
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2-3 pieces jarred roasted red peppers drained
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Chopped chives for garnish optional

Instructions
 

  • In a blender, place the cottage cheese and onion powder and blend until smooth.
  • With a paper towel, pat dry the drained peppers to remove excess moisture. Add the peppers to the blender and blend again until smooth.
  • Taste and add salt & pepper to taste.
  • Place in a serving dish and garnish with chopped chives or keep refrigerated in an air-tight container. The dip will keep good at roughly the same time as the stated expiry date on the cottage cheese container.

Notes

Cottage cheese comes in a variety of fat % content. This recipe works well with any type of cottage cheese.
Dip your veggie sticks and enjoy as a satisfying snack or you can spread it over toast, bagel or crackers as a substitute for cream cheese.
For a thicker dip, prior to blending place the cottage cheese in a cheesecloth for a couple of hours to drain excess liquid.
Categories Dine, Recipes

Homemade Pizza

Homemade Pizza

Author Shani - Lemon Tree Nutrition
If I had to choose one food that I could eat quite often, it would be Pizza. I enjoy making the dough from scratch at home, choosing toppings from what I can find in the fridge. Plus it does not get fresher than that. I love the sizzly sounds as it comes out of the oven and the endless options I have for toppings. Making homemade pizza is easier than you may think and worth the effort.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Baking 20 minutes

Equipment

  • Mixer - optional
  • A large bowl
  • A cookie sheet or pizza stone - optional

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams 00 pizza flour or unbleached, all-purpose flour
  • 30 grams fresh yeast or 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1-1.5 cups warm water
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ cup virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 large jar tomato/pizza/pasta sauce of choice
  • 300 grams grated Mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • ½ onion very thinly sliced, layer separated
  • Good quality dried oregano

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, place 1 cup of warm water. To ensure the temperature is proper for the yeast and warm enough, you should be able to safely and comfortably dip your finger in the warm water for 30 seconds. Add the sugar and crumble the fresh yeast or sprinkle the dry yeast onto the water. Mix with a fork. Let sit until frothy (about 10 minutes).
  • In the mixer bowl with a kneading hook (or in a large bowl if you have no access to a mixer) place the flour and olive oil.
  • Once the yeast has some froth at the top, begin mixing the flour and oil at low speed, slowly pouring the yeast mixture into the flour. After about 1 minute add the salt and continue kneading until a ball is formed, which is a little sticky. If it is too wet or sticky, add a little flour. If too dry, add a bit more warm water.
  • Remove the mixing bowl from the mixer. Remove the dough hook. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap or a clean, slightly wet kitchen towel. Place at a warm spot and allow to rise for about 60-80 minutes until doubled in volume. If kneading by hand, place in a large bowl and cover.
  • Once the dough has doubled remove the plastic cover or towel. Prepare a surface to roll the dough on, sprinkled with flour to avoid sticking to the surface. Cut the dough into 4 equal parts and begin rolling each section into a thin layer.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the cool oven and heat them together. If using a cookie sheet, sprinkle some flour on the cookie sheet. Place the dough on the cookie sheet or heated pizza stone.
  • Spread ¼ of the pizza sauce on the dough. Top with ¼ of the thinly sliced onion, oregano, and mozzarella. Sprinkle ¼ of the Parmesan cheese last.
  • Place in the bottom rack in the oven and bake for about 10-20 minutes until cheese is golden and the dough is cooked (time depends on the thickness of dough and if using a cookie sheet or pizza stone).
  • Repeat with the other 3 pizza doughs.
  • This pizza freezes well and can be kept in the freezer for up to a month in an air-tight container. When ready to enjoy a slice of pizza, remove the desired amount from the container and place in a preheated oven to 350 F until the pizza is hot.

Notes

Feel free to add your favourite toppings. Overloading the pizza with topping may result in soggy pizza dough. My favourite toppings are onion, sweet potato (cubed and roasted) and goat cheese in addition to the basics offered here.
You can omit the tomato sauce, replacing it with a generous coating of olive oil before placing the toppings.