Lauren Alexander: Quick 3 Cheese Pizza

I have yet to meet a person who doesn't like pizza. However, I don't know many people who would give up meat. The following recipe is a great alternative way to make a delicious pizza, skip the meat, and still feel completely satisfied. Another plus is that with all the veggies that this includes, you can skip the salad and still not miss out on lots of good nutrition.

Quick 3-Cheese Pizza

1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust- I used Pillsbury thin crust found in almost any grocery storeVegetable cooking spray
1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips- I recently bought a bag of large sweet bell peppers from Costco so I cut up a yellow and orange pepper, too.1/2 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 plum tomatoes, sliced- I've used Roma, vine ripened, and heirloom and they all cooked the same and tasted equally delicious.1/2 (10 ounce) package fresh spinach, torn
1/2 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

UNROLL pizza dough, and press into a 15 x 10 jellyroll pan coated with cooking spray. You can also use a baking sheet as long as it's big enough to roll out the dough.
BAKE at 425 degrees for 5-7 minutes. You basically want to just start to brown the crust.

SAUTE bell pepper(s) and mushrooms in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 5-7 minutes or until tender. Do this while the dough is in the oven.
SPRINKLE bell pepper mixture, tomato, and remaining ingredients over pizza crust. I've found that if you put the bell pepper mixture and tomato down first, then spinach, and then the remaining ingredients, finishing with the mozzarella, you will get the best results.
BAKE at 425 degrees for 6-10 minutes or until cheese melts. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Special Event: Yiasou Greek Festival...

My absolute favorite festival of the year!!  The food at this festival by far beats any "festival food" due to it's authentic Greek roots.  Make sure to try the loukoumades, my addiction!  If you can't make it to the festival you can still take home some of the delicious food via their "drive thru"...genius.  See below for more info about that as well as festival hours and pricing:

A Taste of Greek Tradition. The first cookbook from the Holy Trinity community of Charlotte has been nationally recognized and won the prestigious Tabasco Community Cookbook Award for the Southeast Regional division in 2005. The cookbook is the creation of the Ladies Philoptochos Society of Holy Trinity Cathedral, a philanthropic organization formed to aid the poor (Philo - friend & ptochos - poor). This 6-year project was first released at the 2004 Yiasou Festival. Many of the pastries, appetizers and entrees served at the Yiasou Festival can be found in this beautiful hard-bound, hidden spiraled cookbook. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook have been designated for projects of the Philoptochos on local, national and international levels. A Taste of Greek Tradition can be purchased during the Yiasou Festival at the Hosanna Bookstore. Sale price is $22.00. Drive-Through – Drive up and pick up your favorite Greek foods on Winthrop Ave. between East Blvd. and E. Worthington Ave. Combination dinner plates, sandwiches and assorted pastry boxes will be available. For faster service print the drive-through menu, fill it out, and present it to an attendant servicing the drive-through line. Drive-Through Location Food and Pastries – Enjoy roasted lamb, Grecian baked chicken, “Athenian” baked fish, Grecian-style pizza, gyro and souvlaki sandwiches on pita bread, Grecian-style chicken sandwiches on pita bread, tiropita (feta cheese pie), spanakopita (spinach and feta cheese pie), Greek salads, baklava, baklava sundaes, galaktobouriko, loukoumades, frappe (Greek iced coffee), and more! Wine Tasting Booth – Taste some of Greece’s finest wines at this booth. Wine is available for purchase here by the bottle. Bakaliko” Grocery Store – Purchase Greek delicacies, including dolmades, pastichio, Kalamata olives, fine cheeses, and more.

Festival hours:

• 11 am to 9 pm Thursday, Sept. 8th
• 11 am to 10 pm Friday, Sept. 9th
• 11 am to 10 pm Saturday, Sept. 10th
• 12 noon to 8 pm on Sunday, Sept. 11th
•Admission is $2.00. Children 12 and under are admitted free, accompanied by a parent or guardian.
•School groups and senior citizens groups can make arrangements for free admission by contacting Helen Karras at the church office at 704-334-4771 by Thursday, August 25th.

Special Event: Grandparents Day

Don't forget Mimi and Papa or Grandpa and Grandma or whatever it is the kids call their grandparents this Sunday!  September 11th always brings back sad memories no matter where you were that day, so its nice to have a good reason to celebrate that day.  If you live in the same town, take them out to dinner or at least stop by to give extra hugs.  If they are out of town make sure to call just to remind them how very thankful you are for them.  


**Reminder:  the events calendar is now permanantly under the "Things To Do" tab above!

Morning Staging Area...

It takes a lot of work to get yourself and kids out the door in the morning!  You could probably walk into any home around 7:00am on a school morning and find book bags flying, breakfast being shoved in mouths, shoes lost, screaming, spilling, and a pile-up as everyone rushes for the car.  Is anyone already burnt out on the early morning rush??  Anyone noticing that they are not all that organized??  If there is any cause to be organized for it is school mornings.  The best way to do this is to have a designated area(s) for all the morning staples.  I am sure we all don't have the money to just remodel or add an addition so lets take a realistic approach to creating a space that serves as a school morning staging area.


First, take a look at these tips from  Sabrina Soto, Target Style Expert for Home and host of HGTV's "Get it Sold," the popular show in which she uses her organizing and decorating expertise to stage homes for potential buyers. {via DIY Life} 

Organizing pro Sabrina Soto. Photo: HGTV

-- Any space will work: No matter the size, any entry can serve as a mud room as long as you assign everything a place to live and make the space comfortable and functional. "It's important to keep this space organized and tidy as it is the first part of your home that guests will see," says Sabrina.

-- Clear out your space and de-clutter: Before you start this project, it helps to clear out the entryway to define what space you have to work with and see what the limitations of the area are. Do a careful edit of what you need and what stuff has just landed there over time.

-- Build your mud room with the essentials: Carefully choose furniture that's the right scale for your space. A seating area and loads of storage bins for accessories are must-have tools for a mudroom. Sabrina suggests this entryway bench with built-in storage. The bench solves so many clutter problems in one storage piece.

-- Create a system and stick to it. Create enough storage space for every family member; color-coding is an easy way to organize bins for each family member. Don't over-clutter your mud room with furniture pieces that are too big or don't add function to the space.Maintain the mudroom to prevent it from becoming a catchall space.





And now for some real-life, real-budget examples...

{via, Entirely Smitten}

{via, Pretty Handy Girl}

{via, A Charming Nest}
**I swear, it is a do-it-yourself version!!

{via, The Frugal Girls}
*Athough this picture does not look like a mudroom
but follow the link to see how to tweak this for your needs!

FYE: 9/9/11: Aren't These Just Called Maternity Jeans??

I've just witnessed the world's most entertaining infomercial..Pajama Jeans!!  I laughed out loud as they did their very best to sell these jeans that have "a great elastic waist."  Uh, don't we just call those maternity jeans??  Oh and the "designer look" is a little bit of an exaggeration.  Please let me know if you order and especially if you ever nap in your Pajama Jeans...

Local Business: Marie Antoinette's Head...

Remember that scene from the movie, The 40-year old Virgin when he screams bloody murder while getting waxed?  Well, thats how I thought my wax appointment was going to go this past week.  Not that I was getting my back waxed but still.  I am much more of a plucker because I am just scared to let someone put hot wax on me and then rip it off.  I decided to bite the bullet and try out Jennifer Bradford of Marie Antoinette's Head.  


A friend had recommended her and swore to me that she is great (and gentle!).  Well I am happy to report that I survived and not only that but the whole experience was great!  Jennifer immediately put me at ease and somehow, someway she was able to not cause me a lot of pain.  The after effects are just as great.  My skin is silky smooth and I am not missing my razor one bit!  I cannot wait to try some of her other services and I had to let you all know about this hidden gem right here in Charlotte!


Jennifer has a great business going...she offers waxing and brow and lash tinting and will do them in her home or yours.  Yes, you heard me right, she will come to you!  I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel so busy that being able to run over to a salon for touch-up services is just not feasible most weeks.  Jennifer is mobile and can give you a great treatment at your convenience.  She is a skin therapist and make-up and brow artist.  She is available 7 days a week (yes Sundays too!) and her hours are very flexible.  To make your appointment call or email:

704-519-8353

skingirl2@mac.com

*licensed and over 16 years of experience

Special Events: Matthews Alive...

I moved to Charlotte during a weekend of Matthews Alive (then known as Stumptown Festival) so it has a special place in my heart.  Even IF the traffic blocked my family from getting to our new house, it was a great welcome into Charlotte as a kid!  


All the food, rides, crafts, and attractions will be back this weekend.  Make sure to stop by and enjoy all downtown Matthews has to offer!  For more information about tickets and hours click, here.