Made with Pizzaz
Cortni asked if there was anything she could do with frozen spinach. Hopefully in the next few days I’ll have more ideas… but the first thing that came to mind (OK, Emily’s mind) was to puree the spinach and add it to my tomato sauce. I pulled out and thawed a box of frozen spinach.
Then I puree’d it the best I could. It still was a bit stringy, but it would do. I added it to a jar of spaghetti sauce. Then I added some pureed mushrooms, because the children don’t want to see the mushrooms they are eating. Then we made pizza! I’ve posted the whole wheat crust recipe here. It is delicious and fast!
Rather than having veggies on top of our pizza, I find there is a lot less mumbling if it’s under the cheese. They know it’s there because I tell them. But not seeing helps unfortunately. This was a definite success. They got a healthy dose of spinach and mushrooms, some whole grains in the crust. And the only fat was from the mozzarella, whereas a pizza from a restaraunt adds lot’s of unneccesary fat.
Why Spinach? It’s one of the most nutrient dense vegetables there is. It makes you strong of course (and tell your kids that). But also 1 cup of boiled spinach has 1110% Daily recommended value of vitamin K and almost 300 % DV for Vitamin A. Plus, for pregnant mom’s 65% DV for folate and so much more easily absorbed than in a supplement.
Posted: October 18th, 2008 under Dinner.
Tags: kids, recipe, spinach, whole wheat pizza crust
Comments
Comment from Amy
Time October 18, 2008 at 7:29 am
I like a challenge Wendy, and I LOVE spinach quiche too. I’ll see what I can come up with.
Thanks
Comment from cathy
Time October 18, 2008 at 7:42 am
Great idea! I wonder if my son would notice the difference. He’s got a surprisingly sensitive tongue when it comes to tastes. I always add sweet potato puree to our pizza sauce. Too much, and he notices. If I can hit it just right, though…
I’ll try spinach puree next time. Thanks!
Comment from Tara B
Time October 18, 2008 at 7:54 am
I haven’t stopped by in a while and wow!! You have so many new yummy looking recipes! I will be trying a few of these!
Comment from Natalie
Time October 18, 2008 at 10:49 am
my kids are the same way. they know it is in there because the love blending it up but there is much less murmuring going on at the table when hidden by cheese. i use 2% cheese on our pizza and it melts great…the fat free variety doesn’t melt… maybe one day they will make it where it will…
Comment from Jamie
Time October 18, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I use frozen spinach all the time. love it. I’ll have to try blending it in pizza sauce. I actually make a great spinach quiche with a brown rice crust. Sometimes I’ll use barley or oat groats or any other leftover grain I have on hand. Turns out fabulous.
Comment from andy abraham
Time October 19, 2008 at 2:10 am
It is so nice to have a healthy pizza recipe… it is so hard to get kids to eat right… Thank you for sharing your pizza recipe…
Comment from Hillary Martin
Time October 19, 2008 at 4:38 am
Very informative posts, love the look of you site.
Comment from Autumn
Time October 19, 2008 at 8:16 am
What a great idea!! I am going to do this…maybe my little Taco Man will eat healthier if I just trick him into it!! Thanks Amy!
Comment from Heather
Time October 20, 2008 at 9:13 am
Did you use fresh mushrooms or canned? I love this idea!
Comment from Amy
Time October 20, 2008 at 9:44 am
Heather, I have tried to email you so many times since you’ve been commenting on my site, and my emails always get rejected. So I hope you come back here for my responses. I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring. But in a simple answer… fresh! I love fresh mushrooms.
Comment from Tanya Chadha
Time October 20, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I used to make this in college all the time for my roommates. It was one of my favorite meals! What a great healthy treat for kids!
Comment from Heather
Time October 20, 2008 at 8:01 pm
So Sorry Amy, I am having e-mail problems right now. But yes I do check back for your responses. I check back everyday for new ideas. 
Thanks a ton – Heather
Pingback from Healthy spinach dip | Healthy Food Ideas for Super Healthy Kids
Time October 21, 2008 at 5:41 am
[...] one is for Wendy who commented Saturday she needed some healthier spinach dip. I think this one turned out great. [...]
Pingback from Healthy Food Ideas for Super Healthy Kids » Miracle Berries and Menu Ideas
Time November 7, 2009 at 6:21 am
[...] Pizza [...]
Comment from Kim
Time January 31, 2010 at 1:18 pm
K, so I recognize this was put up a year and a half ago, but somehow I just found it. My question is: can you use fresh spinach for this too? (If I were to chop it up in our blendtec, so it still gets really tiny?)
Comment from Amy
Time February 1, 2010 at 5:09 am
That would totally work Kim. In fact, I usually put the whole fresh spinach leaves layered with our lasagna. It turns out fine!
Comment from Wendy
Time October 18, 2008 at 7:22 am
I love spinach!!!!!! Two of my favorites with the frozen kind are spinach dip and spinach quiche! Can you make it healthy for us Amy?