Recipe of the week: BBQ tofu (or chicken) pizza

I like to consider myself a progressive female. However, nothing makes me happier than being housewife-ish. I love cooking for my husband and me. I very rarely feel burdened by the need to make us dinner, especially when I know he's going to enjoy it. And he always enjoys BBQ pizza night.

This is a pretty easy pizza to make, on the assumption that you have a Trader Joe's near you where you can get the ready-made pizza dough. If you do not have this, I know there are other refrigerated pizza doughs, but I have no idea what to do with them. I'm loyal to Trader Joe's, forever and always.

What you need for 2 pizzas:

-1 package of Trader Joe's pizza dough (I like the whole wheat one for this recipe)

-Extra firm tofu (I take a block and quarter it, then use however much tofu looks right. I know, I'm a horrible recipe-giver. Sorry)

-(For Larry, I unthaw a chicken breast to use in place of the tofu)

-BBQ sauce (whatever you like)

-Olive oil

-Red onion

-Tomato

-Mozzarella

-Cilantro

What you do:

-Set the oven for 450.

-Take out the pizza dough and let it sit near the oven. It's easier to work with if it's nice and warm-ish.

-I like to cut up the red onion and tomato at the beginning. I use about a half of a red onion, sliced into slivers. I cut about 10 tomato slices.

-Now, get going on cooking the tofu (and/or chicken). First, press your tofu with paper towels to get the water out. Then, cut your tofu into cubes. Do the same for the chicken, if you're using chicken. In a sauce pan, put a little olive oil (1-2 TBSP) and a couple tablespoons of BBQ sauce. Set to medium heat. Throw in the tofu (or chicken). I have to use two separate sauce pans for Larry and me, like this:

I'm a pretty good wife, cutting the veins out of his chicken chunks and giving myself extra dishes to wash, huh?

Ok, so your tofu/chicken is in the pan (s). While it's getting nice and cooked, face the dough. To make 2 pizzas, I cut the bag in half with scissors. You could throw one half in the freezer if you're only making one pizza. It freezes/unthaws well. Take your half and press it into a circle on a lightly oiled baking sheet. I don't have to use a roller. I just press it until it resembles a circle.

Now, stick the baking sheet in the oven for just THREE MINUTES. I realized that this is the best way to make sure the crust is cooked through at the end (I had a soggy problem for a while...that sounded like a Depends commercial...Moving on).

After three minutes, take out the baking sheet and put on your toppings: A swirl of BBQ sauce, red onion (as much as you want), tomato slices (4-5), cooked tofu/chicken, and mozzarella.

Stick it back in the oven for about 6-7 minutes.

Take out and top with cilantro.

Delicious!

I eat the whole thing, as does Larry. I realize most healthy food bloggers would have two slices with a side of salad, but I don't like salad, and I do like pizza, so there ya go.

Enjoy!

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Today's gratitude:

1. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist for next Monday. I'm trying to just look at it as an "information session." If I think too far ahead and start calculating costs and considering side effects, I freak out.

2. I did not totally flip my shit over a snafu with my taxes; I only sort of flipped my shit. It'll get resolved, I think.

3. Anthony Bourdain in Prague. I love this guy.

4. Skype. This is gratitude in theory, as I have yet to successfully download Skype. I will though, I will. My friend is in France and I want to talk to her!

5. This blog: Beyond Blue. I think she has some wonderful things to say about dealing with depression and anxiety.