Brussels Sprout, Grape, + Goat Cheese Pizza

This isn't so much of a step-by-step recipe, but a list of ingredients that taste quite lovely together :)

For crust: 14-19 oz. Pizza dough (I use the 5-minute Artisan Crusty White Bread recipe).
Bake the crust without toppings for 8-10 minutes in a 500°F oven.

Sauce: 5-7 cloves of roasted garlic + 3 Tbs apricot preserves + 1 tsp balsamic vinegar + salt to taste
Mash it all together.

Spread the sauce over the crust, then add some shredded parmesan, brussels sprouts, halved grapes, pine nuts, goat cheese and another drizzle of balsamic.

Bake for another 10-12 minutes, or until brussels sprouts are roasted and crust is golden.

Basic Balsamic Vinaigrette

I feel like some recipes need no introduction, nor sales pitch or hook.  This recipe falls under that category.  It's a simple, delicious dressing that takes seconds to make--and you really don't even have to measure, shhhh!!

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp ground mustard (or a squeeze of the fresh stuff)
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• salt & pepper to taste
• honey to taste (I like sweet dressings and use about a Tbs)

Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

There are a few food words that make me feel fancy: ganache, coulis, aioli, compote... I like'm.  And if I can toss them into the description of whatever I am making, I suddenly feel like a legitimate cook.  (I won't even venture to use the word chef, that's simply laughable.)  Pesto is one of these words.  For some reason pesto just sounds kinda fancy, you know?  And while I'm at it I'll toss my pesto on some bruschetta or capatavi or oriochette.  Or in english- this stuff tastes great smeared on some toast, or over a bowl of funny shaped noodles.  Personally, I enjoy mine with wheat rotini and sauteed veggies.

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette

• 1 roasted red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.  VOILA: salad dressing.

(So I played the viola for like 10 years... and have to type the word voila like nine times before I am certain it's right... at least I have mastered "its" and "it's"...)

Yields 12 servings.