Pepperoni Pizza Crust with Almond Cheese

Boulder, CO

   I had a conversation with a co-worker yesterday.  She said,  "My science teacher in high school once told me my nails would be healthier and stronger if I eat Jello."  I told her that I thought there was no way Jello could be beneficial to your health, it's not even real food.   We went back and forth like this.  But it got me thinking, where do people come up with this stuff?  Someone reads a study, that study was funded by Jello (for example), and the people who read it are like "Nice! I will eat lots of Jello and I will have great nails!"
  Examples of these misleading studies are everywhere.  Even in produce.  Did you know that a serving of broccoli has more vitamin C than an orange?  The orange industry just picked a positive vitamin, and  used it in their advertising and all of a sudden, an orange is the image America pictures when they hear vitamin C.
  Milk gives you strong bones and a healthy body, right?  Milk drinking countries such as the US,  have more cases of osteoporosis and bone issues than any countries that consume very little or no dairy.  No animals drink the milk of a different animal, except humans.  Maybe we don't need it!
   I've been looking at basic nutrition with a different eye lately.  Fad diets and American's idea of what is healthy for them, often comes from multimillion dollar industries that are spending top dollar to make you think that.  You surely can't believe everything you hear about nutrition.  Common sense is a good start.  Vegetables are good!  All of them.

  Ok so maybe you don't care about all that.  Maybe you just don't want to give up things that you like.  I get that.  Try this!  Pepperoni crust tastes just like pepperoni. Soft, decadent almond cheese will leave your cheese cravings 100% satisfied.  Load that pizza with toppings of choice such as I did with fresh baby spinach & mushrooms, and you will be one happy camper!

Vegan Pepperoni Pizza Crust with Almond Cheese

Pepperoni Crust with Almond Cheese and Mushroom Spinach toppings

For the Almond Cheese:

1 cup raw almonds, soaked overnight or 8 hrs in water, then drained
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp fresh basil
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil

-process ingredients until smooth

For the Pepperoni Crust:
makes 2 12"pizzas

1 1/3 cup warm water 115º F (temp is very important to activate the yeast)
1tbsp active baking yeast
2 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp of the following: red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp liquid aminos
1 tsp liquid smoke
1 tsp cornmeal (for bottom of the pan, don't mix with flour)

In a small bowl, mix ketchup, liquid aminos, and liquid smoke.  Add the warm water and stir.  Stir in yeast and let sit about 5 minutes until yeast gets all foamy.

Meanwhile, in a Lg bowl, mix flours and all spices together.  Once wet mixture is foamy, add wet into dry mix and stir.  Knead dough for 3- 5 min to combine.  Let sit in the bowl, covered by a towel for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 500º.  On a small greased (I use olive oil) baking sheet or 12" pizza pan, sprinkle cornmeal over pan.  Divide dough mixture in half and slowly stretch dough with your hands.  Pretend it's a steering wheel and make a looong left turn.   Place stretched dough on the pan, and gently push the edges outward until the dough fits the pan.
Top with almond cheese, and any other toppings you choose.
Bake on top rack 5 minutes, than move to the bottom rack and bake another 5 minutes, or until golden brown.  Serve hot.

* Use other half for 2nd pizza, or roll into little balls coated with garlic and fry in a pan for pepperoni garlic balls.  Yum!  Leftover dough can be stored in a plastic bag in fridge for up to 4 days.

If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

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