Monday, March 1, 2010

HBi5: Southwestern Pizza with Olive Oil Bread


Do you know what I'm loving right now? Costco's Shrimp Wonton Soup. I know, I'm a cheater and should really be making stuff like this myself, but it sure comes in handy after being body slammed by the stomach flu. Ugh, and I thought I'd escaped it this year. My little girl has it too, and while it's no fun being sick alongside your kids, at least you all get nice long healing naps together, which is what I plan to do right after I'm done posting this! But seriously, try this soup if you need quick meals on the run. The best part is that it's only 2 or three points for the entire bowl, now that's good eatin!


I'm not going to lie, this round of HBi5 was a bit depressing for me. It wasn't the dough, the bread, or even this pizza, but one little ingredient that I just can't seem to conquer, GOAT CHEESE! I've always held a bit of pride in the fact that there is hardly anything out there that I actively don't like, and it's true. Sure, I prefer some foods over others, but to practically gag at the very idea of a certain food is very rare to me, except when it comes to goat cheese. And I really WANT to like goat cheese, but I think I'm about ready to throw in the towel. I tried. I really did. Everything else about the pizza was great. Spicy southwestern flavors, sweet corn, juicy pieces of chicken thigh. But I wish instead of forcing myself to like goat cheese, I had just used mozzerella, or Monterey Jack. Unfortunately every bite that I took (with a forced smile on my face), was accompanied with the need to gag and a sinking feeling of dispair. It just wasn't meant to be Goat Cheese. I hope we can still be friends, or perhaps penpals.

Since I haven't been feeling up to snuff, I have yet to use the rest of the bread. Tonight I'll be making rolls for dinner, assuming anyone wants to eat. And I may just make some buttery cinnamon sugar sticks for my kids. Hey, it's whole-wheat bread, which means it will still be very healthy, right? Check out the rest of the HBi5 gang here and HAPPY MARCH!

27 comments:

The Blonde Duck said...

It sounded like such a good little pizza too...how sad!

Melody said...

I have the same reaction to goat cheese! I've tried to like it too, but no luck. It just confirms the fact that I am NOT an elite foodie. I like just "regular" stuff. :)

Joanne said...

I don't love goat cheese either, so I just used blue cheese. I think we all have little things like that which we don't like. Don't beat yourself up over it!

I'm so sorry you guys have been sick. HOpe you get better soon!

Pam said...

I love Southwestern flavors - this looks delicious. Hope you feel better.

Kim said...

I had a feeling that something was going on with you! I sure hope you get back to feeling better soon. I know that it is very hard when us moms get sick. However, those days of laying around and taking naps with the kids can be fun in their own way.
Sorry to hear about your relationship with goat cheese. I have the same relationship with mushrooms and sour cream - gag city!The pizza looks very pretty though!
Take care!

Jenn said...

Yum!! I tried goat cheese once. Not really a fan of it. Maybe if i have it more, I'll get used to it. I don't think I've put corn on pizza yet. I love the olive oil bread.

Bonnie said...

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well.

You don't have to "like"goat cheese. I don't like Mancheho. Just substitute another cheese that you like. We won't mind and it might even inspire us to try something else that's new.

Debbie said...

Would you believe I have never had goat cheese....Hope you are feeling better soon!

Megan said...

I'm slowly learning to like goat cheese, but there is only a few ways I like it. Too tangy, I guess. But the pizza looks wonderful.
I didn't make this dough, this time. I'm a slacker :(
I hope your feeling better soon. Enjoy the naps!

Julie said...

I concur..I've really tried to like goat cheese, but something about doesn't make me happy. Hope you're feeling better!

Katy ~ said...

I think goat cheese is an acquired taste. The allergic to everything kind can't eat "regular" cheese but can eat sheep's or goat's cheese. For her I learned to like it, and not it's not soo bad.

It's cilantro and okra that I can't get over. And tofu and...

Grins.

Kudos to you for trying! You did great.

Hope you feel better soon.

Hugs.

theUngourmet said...

I haven't had that soup. It sure sounds tasty. I hope you and your sweet daughter feel better very soon.
Goat cheese definitely has a unique flavor, doesn't it?!

Velva said...

The pizza looked perfect-too bad, it just not happening with the goat cheese. A very lovely cheese but you can mark it off your list of I tried, and tried again, and I just don't like list. There are plenty of cheeses that can take the goat's place to be discovered.

Rachel said...

Oh, I love goat cheese! Is it the texture that gets you? The 'ol gag reflex kicks in when I try to eat olives, sushi or squash. And I want to like them!

feel better soon!

Sophia Lee said...

Oh no Teresa!! I can't believe you're a goat-cheese-hater! You and I can't be friends. Lol, just kidding!
I've always found goat cheese to be kind of like feta? Ah well, more for me! >.<

Diana's Cocina said...

You did a great job. Goat cheese is not my cheese of choice. It's okay. Hey I'm all for the buttery cinnamon sugar!

Get well!

Barbara said...

Sorry you've had the flu...I've never had Costco's Shrimp Wonton Soup! I be sure to put that on my list when next I go.

Fortunately, I like goat cheese, but I see no reason why you wouldn't substitute any cheese you want and this dish will still be wonderful!

Judy said...

Sorry you've been under the weather, and hope you are feeling better soon. Thanks for the tip on the Costco soup.

Kathleen said...

Hope you feel better soon. The stomach flu is the worst!! This pizza sounds de-lesh to me. I love goat cheese. I think it's cute you gave it the old college try even though you don't like it!

Ezzie said...

The wonderful thing about this group is trying the different ingredients. Last assignment I hated the red beet buns, but I tried to like them...just like you tried to like the goat cheese (which I love by the way!). But hurray for both of us for giving it such a great try!

Cathy (Bread Experience) said...

Kudos to you for trying the goat cheese. I made pizza instead and used mozzarella.

Unknown said...

awww....well at least you tried it (been there done that with the beet bread LOL)...and now you know for sure, without a doubt, no matter what it's on or in, you just don't like it. But...its looks delish!

Maria said...

Love this pizza!

Petra said...

hope you are feeling better already. Congrats for trying despite not liking an ingredient. Great role model for your kids. Now I wonder did they like it?

Jenny said...

At least you tried. I knew I didn't want peas in my aloo paratha and so there were no peas! We have dairy goats, and I make our goat cheese. I think it tastes less "goaty" than store-bought stuff.
~Jenny~

Michelle said...

Yummmy looking pizza and the colors of the topping are so attractive!

I had some trouble with this dough at first but I think it was me having an off week! It really did make a great flat bread!

Judy's Bakery & Test Kitchen said...

Hope you are better really soon! Maybe you will try another cheese next time. Sounds like Monterey Jack might be more to your liking!

My mom used to tell me, "Be a Girl Scout, give it a try!" You did!

Really pretty pix, too.