Mini Eggplant Crust Pizzas I’ve made these before, but never this bite-sized and they turned out great! I basically just rolled egg plant slices in egg white, then fine coconut flour, topped it with organic tomato paste, fresh mozzarella and then a bit of crumbled sausage and baked these little guys at 350* for about 25 minutes (check that cheese is slightly browned). And voila! Yummy primal finger food!
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Mini Eggplant Crust Pizzas

I’ve made these before, but never this bite-sized and they turned out great! I basically just rolled egg plant slices in egg white, then fine coconut flour, topped it with organic tomato paste, fresh mozzarella and then a bit of crumbled sausage and baked these little guys at 350* for about 25 minutes (check that cheese is slightly browned). And voila! Yummy primal finger food!

Stacked: Food Well Built The new chain Stacked: Food Well Built has opened its first of three locations in Del Amo Mall in Torrance, CA (my hometown and only about 10 minutes from where I live now). This place aims to change the way we all order food by having an iPad at every single table and at the beer and wine bar tops. I’d walk by this location many times as I perused the mall and always wondered “what the heck is Stacked?” Even Googling wasn’t much help, because for a long time their website was not very informative. I assumed it would be another Counter just by the sounds of it (“food well built”). This place offers customized burgers, pizzas, salads, sausages, ice cream cookie sandwiches, and shakes. Talk about overwhelming! A couple friends and I decided to share sweet potato fries, Chris got the Bleu Cheese Burger, and Shan and I shared the BBQ Carnitas Pizza (with a gluten-free crust) - yes, I went non-paleo! Then I got a little ice cream sandwich where I picked a snickerdoodle cookie, vanilla ice cream, and an oatmeal cookie (think Diddy Reese style). Needless to say, I went in light on my feet and I left with a food baby. I don’t even feel guilty for my food choices because these are a rarity for me. For my first visit to Stacked I wanted to indulge, while my future visits (because there are so many choices and customizations) will be healthier and primal.
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Stacked: Food Well Built

The new chain Stacked: Food Well Built has opened its first of three locations in Del Amo Mall in Torrance, CA (my hometown and only about 10 minutes from where I live now). This place aims to change the way we all order food by having an iPad at every single table and at the beer and wine bar tops.

I’d walk by this location many times as I perused the mall and always wondered “what the heck is Stacked?” Even Googling wasn’t much help, because for a long time their website was not very informative. I assumed it would be another Counter just by the sounds of it (“food well built”).

This place offers customized burgers, pizzas, salads, sausages, ice cream cookie sandwiches, and shakes. Talk about overwhelming! A couple friends and I decided to share sweet potato fries, Chris got the Bleu Cheese Burger, and Shan and I shared the BBQ Carnitas Pizza (with a gluten-free crust) - yes, I went non-paleo! Then I got a little ice cream sandwich where I picked a snickerdoodle cookie, vanilla ice cream, and an oatmeal cookie (think Diddy Reese style). Needless to say, I went in light on my feet and I left with a food baby.

I don’t even feel guilty for my food choices because these are a rarity for me. For my first visit to Stacked I wanted to indulge, while my future visits (because there are so many choices and customizations) will be healthier and primal.

Went out last night (usually a granny on weeknights and I’m feeling it now waaah) and pizzas were ordered that I did not touch! High-five!
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Went out last night (usually a granny on weeknights and I’m feeling it now waaah) and pizzas were ordered that I did not touch! High-five!

Cauliflower Crust Pepperoni & Onion Pizza After putting it off for months, i finally attempted a cauliflower crust pizza! I scoured the internets for the very best recipe I could find and that got the best reviews and comments. And I found this one by The Low Carb Examiner (I doubled the recipe). Recipe looked and sounded amazing but I still tweaked a little bit. What you need: 2 cups riced cauliflower 2 eggs 2 cup mozzarella cheese (I used Trader Joe’s Organic kind) 1/2 cup almond meal/flour Oregano Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb Fennel Pizza sauce/Marinara (I used Fresh n Easy Marinara) Uncured & Nitrate Free Pepperoni White onion What you do:  Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a bowl combine riced cauliflower, eggs, almond flour and cheese. I used my hands to mix it together (make sure to wash your hands before kids!). Mix until it is manageable and moldable and then put on a VERY WELL GREASED cookie sheet (I would definitely recommend a pizza stone or to use parchment paper if you have some!!!!) and press evenly on pan. Don’t make it too thin but don’t make it too thick either. Pop in the oven for about 15-20 minutes (I went for 20 minutes). Then take it out and place your sauce, cheese, and toppings. Then place back in oven under broil on HIGH for about 5 minutes (until cheese is melted and slightly browned). Take out, let cool for a bit, then slice up and enjoy! Verdict? My lovely helper aka as the friendboy LOVED it. It was SO good and really did taste a LOT like real pizza. BUT my only issue was that although the “crust” was fairly sturdy, it stuck to the pan in the middle areas, so some of the sturdier bits got left behind on the pan, therefore, making it difficult to hold up like a pizza. So that is why I put to grease your pan VERY WELL because I don’t think I greased mine enough. Perhaps could try using coconut oil (which is thicker) to grease the pan, or use a pizza stone like I suggested. I also found that adding the almond flour helped in drying out the crust because otherwise I think it would’ve been bit too moist. ___________________________________________________________________ I do realize cheese isn’t paleo, but it technically can be primal (dairy is in limbo in primal eating, really varies on how well one can digest it). Feel free to use grated goat cheese which is lactose-free.
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Cauliflower Crust Pepperoni & Onion Pizza

After putting it off for months, i finally attempted a cauliflower crust pizza! I scoured the internets for the very best recipe I could find and that got the best reviews and comments. And I found this one by The Low Carb Examiner (I doubled the recipe). Recipe looked and sounded amazing but I still tweaked a little bit.

What you need:

  • 2 cups riced cauliflower
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cup mozzarella cheese (I used Trader Joe’s Organic kind)
  • 1/2 cup almond meal/flour
  • Oregano
  • Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb
  • Fennel
  • Pizza sauce/Marinara (I used Fresh n Easy Marinara)
  • Uncured & Nitrate Free Pepperoni
  • White onion

What you do: 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a bowl combine riced cauliflower, eggs, almond flour and cheese. I used my hands to mix it together (make sure to wash your hands before kids!). Mix until it is manageable and moldable and then put on a VERY WELL GREASED cookie sheet (I would definitely recommend a pizza stone or to use parchment paper if you have some!!!!) and press evenly on pan. Don’t make it too thin but don’t make it too thick either. Pop in the oven for about 15-20 minutes (I went for 20 minutes).

Then take it out and place your sauce, cheese, and toppings. Then place back in oven under broil on HIGH for about 5 minutes (until cheese is melted and slightly browned). Take out, let cool for a bit, then slice up and enjoy!

Verdict? My lovely helper aka as the friendboy LOVED it. It was SO good and really did taste a LOT like real pizza. BUT my only issue was that although the “crust” was fairly sturdy, it stuck to the pan in the middle areas, so some of the sturdier bits got left behind on the pan, therefore, making it difficult to hold up like a pizza. So that is why I put to grease your pan VERY WELL because I don’t think I greased mine enough. Perhaps could try using coconut oil (which is thicker) to grease the pan, or use a pizza stone like I suggested. I also found that adding the almond flour helped in drying out the crust because otherwise I think it would’ve been bit too moist.

___________________________________________________________________

I do realize cheese isn’t paleo, but it technically can be primal (dairy is in limbo in primal eating, really varies on how well one can digest it). Feel free to use grated goat cheese which is lactose-free.

Mini Eggplant-Crust Pizzas

This idea stemmed from a previous side dish I made using eggplants which you can find here. I decided to prep the eggplants the same way I did in that previous recipe, but this time do a twist on it afterwards. Now you all remember those little frozen pizzas that were pretty tasty yet so bad for you? Well this in my humble opinion is a proper replacement!

What you need:

  • Eggplant
  • Egg white
  • Almond Meal/Flour
  • Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb
  • Garlic powder
  • Tomato & Basil Marinara (any whole ingredient tomato paste or marinara will do)
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (or your choice of cheese)
  • Garlic & Herb Chicken Sausage (Trader Joe’s)

What you do:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Dice your sausage and cook on a pan (or prep whichever toppings you will use). Slice your egg plant and dip each slice in egg white and then roll it in almond meal (that’s mixed with Mrs. Dash and Garlic Powder) to coat them. Place the slices in oven for about 20-25 minutes. Then remove the slices from oven, and raise oven heat to 450 degrees. Meanwhile, top your eggplant slices with the marinara, followed by cheese and then the sausage pieces. Then put slices back into the oven for about 25 minutes.

Watch it so that the cheese lightly browns on top. Let cool for a few minutes then serve!I served mine up with baked sweet potato fries with artichoke bruschetta for dipping!

Verdict? It was soooo good and the topping options are pretty much whatever you would top a pizza with so have fun with it! The eggplant has such a firm and neutral flavor that it passes great as a crust! I definitely recommend this for pizza cravings you may have!

Flourless (Caflouti) Beef & Onion Pizza

I had been lurking over all sorts of Cauliflower Crusts like Leah had been and have also been meaning to try it out, but then as I was creeping on Mark’s Daily Apple, I stumbled upon a gem that is Chicken Curry Caflouti, a completely flourless crust (meaning not even almond/coconut flour was used!). I was intrigued by the fact that Mark said it would probably work decent as a pizza crust. So on I went to attempt this feat.

What you need:

  • Cage Free Eggs (I used 2)
  • Unsalted Butter (I used 2tbsp - melted)
  • Heavy Whipping Cream (I used 1/4c - you can use half and half or coconut milk too)
  • Seasonings of choice (I used onion powder, ground pepper and Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning - just pinches)
  • Organic Uncured & Nitrate-free Grass Fed Beef Hotdogs (I used one link - but you really can use any toppings)
  • Yellow Onion (I used 1/4)
  • Organic Tomato Paste
  • Organic Raw Mild Cheddar Cheese (I used about 1 1/2 oz or so - you can your cheese of choice)

What you do:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix in the eggs, cream, and butter and whip it until frothy. Then sprinkle your seasonings into the mix and whip again. Grease your pan with some of the butter and pour in your mix. Heat in the oven for about 30 minutes.

In the meantime, cut up your hotdog link into small pieces (or you could be a real pizza person and use sausage, I just didn’t have any, don’t judge me!). Also, prepare any vegetables you are using. Shred your cheese if you are using a block as I did.

After the crust has cooked for 30 minutes, take it out, and add your tomato paste, cheese and then your toppings and put back in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Take it out and feast your eyes on this little beauty.

Let it cool for a few minutes so it’s easier to slice up if needed and enjoy!

Verdict? Well, it got the stamp of approval by my non-primal male roommate!

Oh wow…..this is delicious…..and no flour? Leave me the recipe on the fridge please.

Clearly the crust is not as dense as a regular pizza crust, the crust is more airy and fluffy but nonetheless delicious. Something I’ll do different next time? I’ll spread the crust mix in a flatter pan because it rises fairly quick! So for the same amount I used this time, I’ll spread it across a pie dish or a flatter baking pan - not a small loaf pan. Reason is because the middle of the crust didn’t harden up as much as I would have liked it to like the rest of the crust, which made it hard to hold like a pizza slice. But other than that I was very proud of how it came out!