Sneaky Upside Down (Healthy) Pizza

The original recipe for this came from my friend Lara at Recipe Shoebox.  It's a good thing she lives in the D.C. area and I'm down here in sunny Florida or she might want to put a restraining order against me.   I would be at her house or begging to step in her kitchen to watch her work.  I'm on her site constantly looking for ideas and browsing at her older posts.  I just love her recipes!  This one caught my eye and I knew I wanted to make it.  However, like with any recipe, I have to tweak it a little.  I also wanted to find a way to sneak some veggies in there too.  It's kind of my thing.

So here is my version of Lara's version of upside down pizza.  I used whole grain flour and even added in some ground flax seed to the "crust" or topping of the pizza.  I "hid" several vegetables in there for my family too.  (Carrots blend in so beautifully with red sauce). Check out both our recipes and see which one may work for you!  Or tweak it further to make it your own.

Confession: I accidentally deleted the photos I took of my pizza and cannot recreate them.  So I'm temporarily using this image I found online that looks similar to it until I can remake and repost them.  Trust me though, it's good stuff! 

Sneaky Upside Down (Healthy) Pizza
(Serves 6)
Adapted from Recipe Shoebox


 For the pizza part:
1 and 1/2 cups of turkey pepperoni slices (or use ground meat or whatever protein you like on your pizza)
1/2 cup pureed carrots
1/2 cup chopped (or pureed) spinach
2 cups of spaghetti sauce
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup of shredded cheese, whatever kind you like

For the crust/topping:
1 cup flour - I used whole wheat
1 cup of milk - I used skim, fat-free
2 eggs
1 Tbsp oil - I used canola
2 tsp ground flax seed (optional)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Generously grease both a 13x9 inch baking pan and a skillet with cooking spray. 

Place in your pepperoni slices, pureed spinach and carrots in skillet.  Toss with oregano, garlic and onion seasonings.  Saute for a few minutes.  Add in the spaghetti (or use tomato) sauce.  Stir and simmer together for about five minutes.  Then spoon or pour into the greased baking dish.  Sprinkle with the shredded cheese of your choice (I used a combination of Italian and Cheddar cheeses).  Place the pan in the heated oven to stay warm while you prepare the "crust" topping.

To prepare the crust/topping:  In a medium mixing bowl, place the eggs, oil and milk.  Beat on medium high until smooth.  Add in the flour, salt, baking powder and flax seed.  Toss in 1/3 of that Parmesan cheese.  Mix until all combined. 

Remove the baking pan from the warm oven.  Now gently spoon out over the pizza mix in the baking pan.  You should be able to cover the entire pan with a thin layer of "crust".   Sprinkle with the remaining 2/3 cup of Parmesan cheese.  Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until puffy and brown.

Cut and serve.  Enjoy it!  Just be careful you don't eat yourself to death like Pizza the hut!  :-)  (Hahaha!  Ten points if you can name that film without cheating or looking it up!)
 

This was a nice little twist to my traditional pizzas I make.  How do you change up your ways of eating or making pizza?