summer fun...

we're wrapping up our summer; really, we are! we had our friends over for a day and the boys built rockets (too busy to get good photos!), while the girls baked cookies.  could've been the other way around, but everybody had fun... especially the cookie-partakers! (of which i might have been one...)

i'm not gonna lie, i'm pretty nervous about diving back into school.  especially with an adorably-ornery blue-eyed almost-three-year-old.  but since we said we'd school through the summer and largely didn't, (well, formally, anyway!), we'd best get our buns in gear!  so it's planning week, and next week is officially get-back-in-the-groove week, and the NEXT week, well, we plan to start studying.  our curriculum.  for real!  but there will still be rocket-building.  and cookie-baking.  and the journey continues.  :)

datz deli {Gulfcoast Family Destination Dinner}

one of our favorite family pastimes is our monthly outing to a local restaurant; we write a dining out column for Gulfcost Family Magazine.  we're fortunate our kids are "little foodies," so they're as adventurous as we are.  i never remember to blog the outings, but this one HAD TO BE DONE.  Datz Deli in Tampa had my interest when everyone whom we know loves food, mentioned it to us.  we fell in love.

called a deli, it has more a pub-like atmosphere, with endless beers on tap, an amazing selection of nachos, sandwiches, and other delights.  self-billed as a "restaurant for foodies," they don't disappoint.  they spoiled us rotten, and our girl's still talking about the goat brie she loved - and we're still dreaming about the gjetost - a danish "caramel" cheese that amazed us. 

the home-made potato chip nachos were delish, but i loved the "plain" ones that came with the kiddos' sandwiches, drizzled with blue cheese glaze.  oh, my mouth is watering...

'though we went for lunch, they spoiled us and let us order meatloaf from the dinner menu, and may i please tell you that their meatloaf was better-than-you-know-what absolutely to-die-for yum?  (sorry no pic - it was gobbled up too fast...)

they have a gorgeous selection of wines, meats, desserts, and cheeses available for purchase.  i'm not usually one for cake at restaurants (it never tastes as good as homemade) but this... well, it was better.  my oldest partook, broke my heart :) by announcing that THIS red velvet cake would be his birthday request.  ah, well...

most of all, though, i loved the idea of their chef's table, where one can do a lunch or dinner pairing meal, prepared tableside... we're saving for a fabulous date night, i can tell you!

love that they have wiki-stix for the kids to occupy themselves...

fun family date... yay!

Fresher Veggie Pizza {With Jordyn's Whole Wheat Dough}

...so our sweet friends ky and jordyn loved on our kids for us while we shot a wedding over the weekend.  jordyn used her fabulous whole wheat pizza dough and the whole lot of them decorated pizzas.  YUM - and we missed it!  lucky us, jordyn left the leftover dough ( :) ) and today i whipped up a pizza for lunch.

first, a few dough-making images from baking day.

our friend was impressed that anna knew to scrape the flour with the back of the knife.  :)

can you smell it yet?

a little tip: we didn't bake ours right away.  we stored it in gallon-size ziploc bags, but be sure to pop it in the freezer to prevent premature rising (and subsquent ziploc bag explosion...)

chopping the veggies finely helps them get tender in the oven.

there is nothing that doesn't taste good with fresh ground pepper (almost.)

normally everyone waits for me to take photos before we eat, but not this time!  yummy, hot, delicious.

i have been reading a lot about raw eating and am intrigued; i think next time i might cook the dough first and then top with all the veggies; i do think i'd like it in the oven just long enough to melt the cheeses though... all about compromise!  :)  and here's the recipe...

Fresher Veggie Pizza on Jordyn’s Pizza Dough (recipe below)

2 small zuchinni
1 red pepper
6-8 cherry tomatoes
½ red onion
2 large cloves garlic
3 Tbsp fresh grated parmesan
¼ cup crumbled Queso Fresco
2-3 sweet-hot peppers (I like Peppadew but any will work)
Olive oil
Sea salt and pepper

Liberally brush pan with olive oil and press dough out with fingers, leaving “dimple marks” as you go. Finely chop all veggies and sprinkle evenly over dough. Next, sprinkle with dry herbs, if desired, and/or cilantro oil. Season to taste with sea salt and pepper. Top with cheeses and a liberal drizzle of olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes (watch for doneness of crust.)

And for Jordyn's whole wheat dough, click here.  DELISH.

Enjoy!!  {{hugs}} --angela

whole foods day with our friend Jordyn

so jordyn and kyle our our sweet friends who share our love for good food, good music, and So You Think You Can Dance.  they introduced us to Z Grille, a fabulous downtown St. Pete, where i ate the best meal of my adult life (trust me, if you're in the area, order their egg of the day and the Chicken Waffle with cheddar chipotle grits and pink peppercorn butter over a caramelized onion waffle, and life is golden!). 

with a little begging sweet talk , i was able to get jordyn to spend the day with us and prepare some of her favorite recipes with the kids.  it's our goal to get back to healthier eating and more whole foods, and this recipe fits the bill.  i think it will be perfect with some greek yogurt and fresh fruit for a weekday yogurt parfait!

 

delish if eaten warm...

 

it takes much to share.

isn't our friend jordyn pretty?!

Jordyn’s Homemade Granola

(When she and Kyle first got married Kyle would make Jordyn homemade granola every weekend because his recipe ended up being their favorite over hers!)

3-4 Cup Old fashioned oats

Peanut or other nut butter – approximately 2-3 Tbsp (opt.)

*To do this recipe without the peanut butter, use more honey)

¼ cup Honey

Sea Salt to taste

2 Tbsp Coconut oil (or vegetable oil)

Mix in a bowl and spread loosely on a cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until crunchy. Toss occasionally while baking!  To customize your flavor, add ingredients of your choice such as:
toasted nuts
dried fruits
dried coconut

if you'd like a taste of jordyn's excellent food sense and some delish recipes, visit her at her blog, The Healthy Housewife.