Jun 10, 2010

Asparagus Pizza - My 200th Post!!

To all my dear friends and readers of this blog - Today is a big day! Its my 200th post on the blog! Mriganayani has come a long way ...and wants to go even further. Thanks to all of you who leave your love and comments here - those few words are the fuel that keeps the blog moving along! Thank you much for the few minutes of your lives everyday when you stop by here to read, look at pictures and leave your feedback. 

A special thanks to all my readers who actually try out the recipes here and leave me feedback that they liked what they made - that's the best compliment a blogger could get. I'm blessed to have many of those!

Thank you to all the facebook followers too and the instant feedback I get when I publish something new! You keep me glued on here and I'm not complaining a bit!

Thanks to all of you who have referred the blog to your friends and family and co-workers and neighbors..I owe you all one, big time.

Today's post is a very special post for me and I thought I should post something that is new, creative and colorful for all of you - so here we go!

Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies and I found some fresh and great tasting asparagus at my farmers market. I got 3 whole bunches of it! Of course, I had to put it to good use. I always make a simple Asparagus stir fry but this time I was needy. I needed more from my thin and tender sticks. So, I googled and came across this and I thought why not make something like that.


But, I was going for a non cheesy version of a pizza. The dough has enough carbs and calories needed. Why add more in the form of cheese? You've probably seen my Veggies with White Sauce post. So, I decided to make that same white sauce and add that as the sauce on top of the pizza and then top off with the asparagus.

So, here's the quick low down on the sauce.

In your blender or a pan, take 2 tbsps of all purpose flour.


Add 2 tbsps of unsalted butter. I used the Country crock spreadable non-real butter - the one with no hydrogenated oils or trans fats. The relatively healthy kind. Really.


Add 1 cup of really hot milk to the butter and flour.


Add 1/2 tsp of salt to the rest of the ingredients. Now, give everything a whirr in the blender. The hot milk will help in thickening the sauce as the ingredients get mixed up.


Move to a sauce pan and heat on medium for a few mins until the sauce thickens well.


And here comes the kicker - I added about 1 tsp of pav bhaji masala for some spice and kick in the sauce. You could just add red chilli powder or paprika as my inspiration recipe calls for.


I bought store pizza dough - from my favorite store of course, Trader Joes! I love their pizza dough - they do have these in plain, whole wheat and garlic herb flavors. For this recipe, I used just the plain pizza dough. Follow instructions on the packet and prepare the base. You could also make this from scratch or use a ready to use pizza base.


Now, apply the sauce evenly on top of the pizza and spread out completely till the edges.


Now, throw in some roughly chopped onions and tomatoes. And then start arranging the Asparagus pieces around the pizza. You could also just chop up the asparagus and add all around if you'd like that.


And then arrange them all over. I had to kick it up a notch - and so I added some silvered almonds on top! And man, oh man, what a bite they provide. Don't skip that - if you don't have silvered almonds - use crushed almonds. The almonds combine very well with the white sauce and the asparagus!


Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for about 20 -25 mins or until the crust turns golden. Does that look good or what? Remember this pizza has no cheese on top - and loads of goodness from the veggies!


I also made one other pizza using the store bought pizza dough - stretched it out to fit a baking sheet and all that stretching  gave me a wonderful thin and crisp pizza.

I added broccoli, spinach, olives, red onions and tomatoes. Simple and healthy.


And then a little bit of feta cheese on top.


Bake again at 350 F or until golden brown.


I also made a side salad for the pizzas - just my favortites thrown and tossed together - Fresh baby spinach, shredded carrots, strawberries and some silvered almonds on top - a very little spraying of lite italian dressing. Simple and tasty salad!


And not to stop just there, I also made my favorite Ginger Carrot soup to complete the meal. And just so you don't judge, we were 6 people in the house - I normally don't make so much for just me.


So, how did you all like the Asparagus pizza? Do leave me a comment - I'd love to hear from you! If you like what you see, pass it on to your friends and family too!

If you're not yet "like"ing this on FB, do that soon - its much more interactive and fun out there!


Once again, thank you all for all the love and encouragement and support you give me.

 I just have to leave with one more last obsession shot!


Enjoy. Peace Out!

30 comments:

  1. Wow..200 posts??So how many pics already..since you do a step by step for each post??A BIG congrats to you!!

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  2. Awesome idea and the click is superb,would try and let u know soon :):)

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  3. Congrats on ur 200th post and best wishes for many more.

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  4. Oh boy that's one healthy going green food ....love the pizza...looks so vibrant and Congrats on your 200th post...way to go dear..Wish this space many more post to come.

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  5. Hi anu,
    Congratulations on the 200th post.. I have been a silent reader of u'r blog since few weeks..and i am ADDICTED to it.the first task in the morn is to check u'r blog for any updates..and every now n then(read as 1 hr)i come here..

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  6. Congrats on your 200th post, wish you for more than 100,000000 posts. Asparagus and veggie pizza looks great.

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  7. Congrats on ur 200th post, keep rocking dear...Beautiful and awesome asparagus pizza, looks very catchy..

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  8. This looks stunning! Congratulations on the 200th post.. may you have many more milestones..

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  9. yum!!! Love the idea of asparagus on a pizza..gorgeous pics!

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  10. Woooooooooooow beautiful Pizzas.. congrats on your milestone. Wish you many more milestone like this. And the pizzas looks gorgeous. I love alfredo pizzas. With asparagus looks awesome. 2 types of pizza, soup and salad OMG Wonderful meal..Nice way to enjoy ur milestone with pizza party...Great work !!!!

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  11. Healthy healthy pizzas! Never thought of adding asparagus to pizzas. Congrats on the milestone too :)

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  12. Congrats!! Keep these awesome posts coming!! The pizza looks so beautiful, like the feathers of a peacock... Asparagus in a pizza is extremely innovative!!

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  13. Congrats on your 200 th post. Pizza looks colorful and lovely .You make everything sound easier by your step by step pics. Luv it very much!!

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  14. Congrats on the 200th post! The Pizza looks very appealing!

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  15. Congrats on your 200th post and wish you many more to come. Pizza looks perfect, colourful, yummy, superb..... and what not?

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  16. Congrats on your 200th post !!! Beautiful looking pizza. What an innovative idea, looks so great !!!

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  17. It looks delicious..........Happy 200th post!!!!!!

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  18. congrats on 200th post...wish you many more milestone like this!
    coming back to the pizza..that looks awesome...I am yet try asparagus in my cooking... lovely pics!

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  19. Congrats - thats a great milestone!!

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  20. wow..they looks amazing!! great pics too...Happy 200th post!!!

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  21. oh yum! and 200 already??? way to go!! :)

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  22. ooops not sure if my comment came thr..Congrats on the milestone...pizze looks great and very colourful, do send it for Kid's delight event..

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  23. Wooowwwwwww! Am I happy, or am I happy? :P
    I know this is coming a tad too late from me, but the emotions are just as strong nonetheless...Congratulations! I'm truly so happy for you and the blog. May you both share many many more happy centuries together with the days to come. I know you will continue to enthrall us all with your patient step-by-step jaw-dropping creations, so we can all continue to come by and jollu-fy! Rock on!! Love & Hugs :)

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  24. P.S: Needless to say, the pizza looks out-of-the-world. I'd give anything for a slice right now ;)
    In my excitement for you on your 200th post, I completely forgot all about the pizza...poor thing must be thinking 'grrrrrrrrrrr...how dare she forget me'. Sorry Mr. Pizza! I have acknowledged your presence now. You look great, dressed up with all that Asparagus!! :)

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  25. Thank you everyone for all the love!

    @ Divya - I quickly checked and I think I have approx 2830 pics ..LOL!!

    @Sha - thank you very much for following the blog. Do keep posting comments and let me know what you think!

    @ Suma - like a peacock? Nice!! Love that thought!

    @ Srivalli - will surely send it to your event.

    @ Madhuri - you crack me up..talking to my Mr. Pizza! He's happy now! Very Happy!!
    @ Umm....Wow...I can't even count how much that is - but will try to get there! Thanks!!

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  26. Hi Da,

    Congrats on your 200`th post. You are rocking lady! Loved your asparagus pizza...so symmertrical and YUM!!! Also wd love to know how you made your ginger carrot soup!!! Have you posted it yet???

    Shobha

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  27. Hey congrats Anu..keep it going.wonderful to see so many fan following..
    when is the book coming out?

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