BBQ Chicken Pizza & Fresh Tomato Pizza

BBQ Chicken Pizza

For those of you who read my other blog Leigh's Excellent Journey then this will be a repeat. But since I am posting recipes and fun tips on this blog.. I thought it needed to be added. :) Great pizza!! I have made it a couple of times and it's a big hit. 

What you need for pizza: 

-Pizza Dough (I cheat and get Trader Joe's but I have included a recipe below in case..) 

- BBQ Sauce (any kind will do, I like to use a Honey flavored sauce or you can make your own)

- 2-3 chicken breast (Bake chicken in BBQ sauce then cube into pizza appropriate pieces)

- 1 red onion, sliced into slivers

- 1 green pepper, sliced into slivers

- 1 package of fresh mozzarella cheese shredded

- 1 bunch of cilantro, wash and remove leaves

What you need to make pizza dough:

- 1 (.25 oz) package of dry yeast

- 1 tsp. of white sugar

- 1 c. warm water

- 2 1/2 c. bread flour

- 2 TBsp. olive oil

- 1 tsp. salt

How to make pizza dough: (Recipe from allrecipes.com)

1. Preheat oven to 450.

2. Dissolve yeast & sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy (10 mins or so)

3. Stir in flour, salt & oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 mins.

4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into shape. 

5. Place dough on a lightly greased pizza pan.

6. Add toppings.. 

BBQ Chicken Pizza

How to make YUMMY BBQ Pizza:
*Preheat oven to 450

1. Place pizza crust in place on a lightly greased pizza pan. 

2. In a separate bowl, mix chicken and BBQ sauce to flavor. (Don't make too gooey, just a light coating)

3. Spread BBQ sauce over the pizza crust. (Again, to your liking- I don't use A LOT of sauce because I don't like a lot of sauce on my pizza, use your discretion here)

4. Sprinkle chicken throughout the pizza. Do the same with onions & peppers.

5. Then sprinkle cheese over the pizza until covered.
6. Bake at 450 for 8-10 mins or until golden bubbly.
7. Let sit for a few mins and garnish with cilantro.
8. ENJOY!!

Fresh Tomato & Mozzarella Pizza

I scored this dynamite recipe from Rachael Ray's magazine. I love Rachael's cooking for the most part so I gave this simple recipe a try and it was simply amazing! Give it a try!! 

What you need:

- Pizza Dough (again, I cheat with TJ's pizza dough but recipe is above for pizza dough)

- 1 package of cherry tomatoes (washed)

- 1 package of fresh mozzarella cheese
- 2 TBsp olive oil
- Garlic to taste
- S & P to taste
- 1 TBsp. dried oregano

How to make the FT&M Pizza:
1. Preheat oven to 450
2. Place pizza dough on a lightly greased pizza pan.
3. In a saucepan, spread oil oil and heat pan to medium heat.  Then add tomatoes and allow them to cook. They will bust open in the pan when a little pressure is applied. Only takes a couple of mins.
Once tomatoes are nice and soft, add garlic, S & P to taste. Add oregano also. Allow to cook for another minute and set aside to cool for just a couple of minutes.
4. Once tomatoes are slightly cooled, spread over the entire pizza crust. This will be used as your sauce but don't over do it. The middle can become soggy if too many tomatoes are in the middle of the pizza.
5. Sprinkle cheese over pizza covering completely.
6. Bake at 450 for 8-10 mins or until golden bubbly.
7. Enjoy!!

I hope you guys are enjoying this blog. It has been fun and motivating to me to cook cleaner and greener. I can't wait to use veggies from our garden to make some delicious meals this summer. :) 

Fresh Fruit Pie with Homemade Crust

Fresh Fruit Pie with Homemade Crust

I would like to thank my grandmother and aunt for this recipe combo. They both are dynamite women who can cook anything! Trust me friends, you won't be disappointed in this recipe. 

What you need: 

Crust: 

- 1 c. all purpose flour

- 1/2 tsp. salt

- 1/3 c. + 1 TBsp shortening 

- 3 TBsp ice cold water

*This yields 1 pie crust. 

Pie: 

What ever fruit you are wanting to use (Apples, Peaches, Blueberries, Blackberries, Cherries..) 

- 2 Heaping TBsp of self rising flour

- 1/4 tsp. (or a pinch) of salt

- 1 c. sugar

- a few "pats" of butter  so.. 2-3 1/2 tsp butter slices from butter stick

- Crust (if you like crust on top, then you need to make 2 pie crusts.

How to make the pie crust: 

Mix flour & salt. Cut in shortening to pea size lumps. Sprinkle in water a TBsp at a time.  Roll out onto a floured surface. Shape onto the pie pan. Cut around the edges to fit. 

How to make the pie:

Wash your fruit and cut into think slices (if making apple, peach, pear, strawberry..)

{If making a berry pie, just simple wash the fruit) 

Place clean fruit into pie crust. 

Combine flour, sugar & salt ("dry")  together in a separate bowl. Mix well. 

Sprinkle dry mixture (see above) over the fruit. Very lightly mix together. *just so the dry mixture is now wet. 

Take pats of butter and place onto of the fruit. 

Take the second pie crust (if you want pie crust on top) and break off around the ends of the crust. Take a fork and press down around the crust to seal it up. Punch a couple of small holes in the dough to allow pie to cook correctly. 

Bake at 350 for about an hour or until done. *Cooking times may vary depending on your oven* 

Enjoy with some vanilla bean ice cream or fresh whipped cream on top.  

Crazy DELICIOUS! 

*No photos for this recipe, I will make another pie soon and post on a later date. :)

Chicken Fajitas!

Who doesn't love Chicken Fajitas? 

So simple and CrAzY delicious!! 

Here's what you need:

- 2 lbs. or 4 Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breast (for those watching their weight like myself) 

      Flattened and cut into fajita strips (aka long skinny strips) 

- Veggies (what ever you like) 

      I use green and red bell peppers. I also used 1 sweet Vidalia onion and sliced up one avocado for toppings. Lettuce, tomatoes if desired for toppings. 

- 1 package of taco seasoning

- Whole wheat or flour tortillas

- Reduced or Fat Free Sour Cream 

- Salsa

- 1/2 tsp. lime juice (I use fresh lime but you can use concentrate.)

- Canola, or olive oil (whatever you have on hand) 

- Colby Jack shredded cheese (whatever you like or have on hand) 

- Jalapenos (if you like heat) 

**ONLY NEED ONE COOKING PAN

Here's what you do:

SLICE IT UP!! I slice up all veggies long & skinny. I slice the chicken the same way so that everything is like the fajitas at a mexican restaurant. 

*After slicing the avocado, I sprinkle lime juice on it to reduce browning. It also brings avocado flavor beautifully!!

You can also slice up lettuce & tomato so all slicing is done. :)

Saute veggies with canola oil until almost done. Remove from heat and set aside. 

Saute chicken with oil until almost done. Then sprinkle 1/2 to 3/4 of taco seasoning onto the chicken and allow to cook until chicken is fully cooked. Add a couple teaspoons of water if needed.  Add veggies back into the chicken and mix until everything has a nice seasoned coating. 

Assemble fajitas and enjoy!! They are SO GOOD!! Inexpensive and nutritious. You can add a side dish if you'd like (I suggest black beans or spanish rice) but we ate fajitas alone and loaded up with veggies to get full. :) 

Coconut Macaroons & Chocolate Covered Strawberries

 Coconut Macaroons and Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Coconut Macaroons: 

I recently made this new recipe for my family and it was a BIG hit!!
If you love coconut & chocolate, try this ridiculously simple and inexpensive recipe. :)


1 pkg (14oz) Baker's Angel Flake Coconut
2/3 c. sugar
6 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
4 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 tsp. almond extract
1 pkg (8 squares) Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate


Heat oven to 325.


Combine coconut, sugar, flour, and salt. Add egg whites & extract. Mix well. 


Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. 


Bake for 20 mins or until edges are golden brown. Cool on baking racks.


Melt chocolate as directed on package. Dip cookies halfway into chocolate. Let stand until chocolate if firm. (I put them in the refridegerator for 20 mins.) 


YUUUUUMMMMYYY!! So yummy! 


** I made some without chocolate and they were awesome too! So if you aren't a chocolate fan, skip the chocolate! 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
No special recipe needed here.. just classic chocolate dipped strawberries.


I used the remaining chocolate that I had left over and dipped fresh strawberries! SO delicious and the kids LOVED these too. Makes for a nutritious dessert. Try it with dark chocolate!!

Welcome to Casa De Lamotta!!

Hi Friends! Welcome to Casa De Lamotta!!

This blog is about my cooking adventures for my family. My goal is to make delicious & nutritious meals that are free to processed foods. Taking cooking back old school. Please try some of these recipes and let me know what you think.

The phrase "Casa De Lamotta" comes from me when my kids ask where we are going for dinner tonight. I reply "Casa De Lamotta" when we eat at home (usually everyday, lol) but it sounds more fun than "home". Give it a try with your kids.. "Casa De _______" *insert family's last name.  Maybe your kids will think it's cool too.

Enjoy!