Applegate Pizza Party in a Box Giveaway

It's no secret I LOVE me some Applegate.

I mean I did a whole lunch series with them back at the beginning of school, I buy their Sunday Bacon in bulk at our BJ's, and I always have some form of their cheeses on hand 

{another not so secret, I LOVE cheese}.

When I heard they had come out with new mini pepperonis in turkey and pork options, I was stoked.

And my excitement continued when my Pizza Party in a Box arrived.

When I pulled all the goodies out and said to the kids its PIZZA night, they responded with 

"Can we have calzones?" 

Um, sure why not.  

Cause pepperonis aren't just for pizza right?!

A little bit of important info on these tasty bites that will make you feel good about feeding them to your clan:

-100% vegetarian grain-fed pork or turkey - no fillers

- No antibiotics

- Less fat and sodium than conventional brands

- Made from humanely raised pork and turkey

- No hormones

- Perfect on pizza, salads, a meat and cheese board, and just snackin’

We leaned towards the turkey, thats not to say the pork isn't delicious.  But I think since we have been using turkey pepperonis for so many years it was just a taste and texture we were more use to. 

And yes I have a "fancy" calzone maker.  It's really not necessary but the kids love to flip it and cut the excess dough off so we use it. 

And for a little extra veg option I also made zucchini boats. Simply half and cut the ends of, then scrap the seeds out.  Fill with sauce, add you pepperonis and cheese and bake with your calzones or pizza.  

All in all I think Applegate has another home run on their hands. 

And they want to send one lucky person their own Pizza in a Box to see for themselves!

Box includes:

·         Both varieties of new Applegate Naturals Mini Pepperoni and Provolone Cheese

·         King Arthur Flour Pizza Crust Mix (also available in Gluten Free!)

·         Small batch tomato sauce

·         Recipe for mini pizzas

·         Pizza cutter

·         Kitchen towel

·         Apron

Just leave a comment below.

Open to US residents only til midnight Feb 16th. 

Winner will pick randomly by random.org and announced Monday Feb 17th.

GOOD LUCK!

Turkey Meatballs with Pesto over Zucchini Ribbons {Day 3 Clean Eating}

Google and I have been BFFS this week, 

ok who am I kidding we are always BFFS, but more so this week.

I find my self googling "Is _______ clean eating?"

And not much to my surprise there is a lot of gray areas.

Based off the brand and self life, these things can REALLY change a product to clean eats.

For instance I was wondering about parmesan cheese.

Based off my google search, which lets keep it real if its online it MUST be true {hahaha}, it is in moderation.  And well duh it says to NOT purchase the shaker kind that somehow can survive outside of the refrigerated section.

So between google and the product labels I would say best advice is, buy fresh and buy items with 7 or less items listed as ingredients, and make sure they are things you know.

Turkey Meatballs with Pesto over Zucchini Ribbons:

For pesto I used Lesely's recipe, I subbed the walnuts for toasted pine nuts.

Best part is, it makes a ton and you can just have it handy in the fridge.

Meatballs:

- 1lb organic no antibiotics or pesticides ground turkey

- 1 cage free egg

- 1/2 cup Ians Panko Wheat Bread Crumbs {this is one of those google searches from above}

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 tsp pepper

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- And optional, I like to add Nutritional yeast, you can read the benefits here.

Mix all together and form balls, I usually get 8.

You can cook these two ways:

Baked at 350 for 25 mins

Or

Pan cooked with a little olive oil, sear the sides, then add a sauce cover and cook for at least 25 mins.

While the balls cook, you can cut zucchini in ribbons, with either a veggie peeler or medallion.

Then in a pan with a little olive oil sauté them until a little translucent.

Plate the zucchini and meatballs. Spoon a heaping teaspoon of pesto, sprinkle a little fresh grated parmesan and red pepper flakes if you like a little kick.

As for the kids, they are not big zucchini fans, which I am ok with, they cannot like every veggie. So I make them quinoa pasta and a little of Gia Russa's low sodium pasta sauce. 

I cannot stop thinking of what else I can use my pesto on... possibilities are running amuck in my head.

Tonight we are heading out to eat for my BIL's birthday, fingers crossed I can rest the cake!