Can a Cheeseless Pizza Be a Viable Substitute?

I bet you think cheese is necessary on a pizza.Thats what I thought until I was introduced to Amy's Roasted Vegetable pizza...and you guessed it, there is no cheese.

Believe me, I was hesitant too... I believe my exact words were "Pizza isn't pizza without cheese...", but this doubt had already begun to wane before the pizza was even taken from the oven. The scent of roasting mushrooms, red peppers, sweet onions and artichokes filled the room and after a minute or two of letting it cool, I couldn't believe what hit my taste buds.

To me, the crust is one of the most, if not THE most important aspect of a pizza. This particular crust has a thin, crispy perfection and the burst of flavor from the vegetable toppings kept me from thinking about that missing ingredient that I thought was so pertinent. I do have to admit that most times I eat this pizza, I add ingredients of my own. This pizza is sort of like focaccia and because I love toppings so much and a lot of sauce, I usually add some "roasted vegetable" sauce and sliced, fresh mushrooms.

You can find this pizza all over the Twin Cities. I've seen it everywhere from Cub to Whole Foods to The Wedge to North Country Co-op. They have just recently come out with a personal sized pizza option if you're not planning to share. :) I am also happy to report that Trader Joes has come out with their own version of this pizza. I've tried it out and I honestly can't tell the difference, besides the fact that it'll save you about $2 per box.

Next time you come across this product, I dare you to give it a try. I bet you don't miss the cheese... For nutritional/ingredient information, visit: Amy's Pizza

Muddy Paws: A Little Slice of Heaven

Have you died and gone to heaven? Nope, you're in Saint Louis Park at Muddy Paws Cheesecake. This business claims to have 222 flavors to choose from and you guessed it - they make special request lactose-free and vegan cheesecakes.

My Dad (a hardcore vegan) fell in love with this new vegan dessert option and was generous enough to bring a few cheesecakes to a family picnic last summer, both vegan and real cheese. I sampled the mango, blueberry and vanilla/chocolate swirl and was amazed that this was, in fact, made with tofutti. At the time, I was still eating dairy and I actually chose to finish the mango vegan cheesecake over the real stuff!

Smooth, rich and creamy...its hard not to confuse the vegan cheesecakes with the original cream cheese option! Check out Muddy Paws for a dessert that won't disappoint!
Their website: Muddy Paws