Every evening, Doug calls me when he’s leaving the office. Here was our convo the other night:
Me: “Babe, I took a risk tonight: Kale, Sweet Potato & Butternut Squash PIZZA.”
Doug: “From scratch???”
Me: “No! Are you joking? Trader Joe’s.”
Doug: “Even better!!!”
Me: “Better?! How sad! How true.”
Like Pumpkin Macarons or Reduced-Fat Guacamole Made with Greek Yogurt, this was a Trader Joe’s question mark. But like both those other rolls of the dice, this one landed squarely in my favor. YES! This pizza is incredibly YUM. Believe it or not, I actually do make some things from scratch, especially during the holidays—and this pizza reminds me of my VERY favorite quiche in the whole wide universe: Butternut Quiche with Kale and Sausage, introduced to me by lovely friend Kristin, when we used to work in commercial real estate together, where naturally we’d sometimes research the world’s best recipes. Multi-tasking is truly an art form. Success has many definitions. Sometimes I write fake fortune cookies. This quiche will make you a considerably happier person and a considerable number of brand new friends. In short, this culinary decision will change your LIFE!
Anyway! Back to the pizza that echoes my favorite quiche. It’s delicious, and it bakes super-fast. I paired it with a delicious last-minute Mixed-Berry Spinach Salad tossed with Shauna Niequist’s Maple Vinaigrette from her book Bread & Wine. Shauna says many wise things, but I almost weekly remember her adage to “Make Your Own Salad Dressing.” Such profound words! A little homemade goes such a long way. I believe strongly in mixing homemade with readymade the way I believe in mixing Louis Vuitton with Forever 21. If done right, the result is just GOOD.
So in honor of fall, quiche, multi-tasking and mixing all things wonderful, here is a new TJ’s trick! Enjoy, my friends!
What You’ll Need:
- Trader Joe’s Kale, Sweet Potato & Butternut Squash Pizza with Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
- Bag of Spinach
- Mixed Berries of Your Choice
- Walnuts
- Feta Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- ¼ Cup Balsamic Vinegar
- ½ Cup Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper to Taste
What You’ll Do:
- Bake the pizza according to box instructions, for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Throw as much spinach as you’d like in a bowl. Top with berries, walnuts and feta.
- Make the salad dressing! Shake together maple syrup, dijon, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper in a jar, or, oh, just mix in a coffee mug with a spoon (like me) if you don’t have one handy.
- Toss the salad.
- Serve up and enjoy!
Also, please let me know if you decide to make the Butternut Quiche with Kale and Sausagen (link above) anytime soon and I will gladly show up on your doorstep!
