Want a gluten-free pizza?

A sweet potato pizza crust is a wholesome, gluten-free and vegan pizza crust alternative that you can decorate with your favorite toppings.

The crust is full of flavor, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.

The recipe came to us from The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission, contributed by Bucket List Tummy.

You can find many more sweet potato recipes in their recipe collection.

Since 1971, North Carolina has been the #1 sweet-potato-producing state in the U.S., nearly 60% of the nation’s supply.

Home to more than 400 sweet potato growers, the state’s hot, moist climate and rich, fertile soil are ideal for cultivating sweet potatoes.
 
 
RECIPE: GLUTEN-FREE PIZZA CRUST WITH SWEET POTATO

Ingredients

 
Plus

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 375°F. Add all ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor and process until very fine.

2. TRANSFER the dough to a bowl to help mold it into a ball (it may be sticky). Then transfer and press the dough onto a 12” pizza pan coated with parchment paper. It’s okay if the dough doesn’t span the entirety of the pan.

3. BAKE for 25-30 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool. Once cooled…

4. FLIP the dough over, gently pulling the parchment paper from what is now the top of the pizza dough. Coat with olive oil and place back in the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until the crust reaches your desired crispiness. Let cool and sprinkle with sea salt.

[1] This gluten-free sweet potato crust pizza has a Mexican spin, topped with a mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, plus protein-rich black beans and red onion. We also added snipped cilantro (photo © North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission | Bucket List Tummy).

[2] Along with their delicious sweetness and mild flavor, sweet potatoes are chock full of nutrients (photo © North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission).

Both sweet potatoes and white potatoes are tuberous root vegetables, but they differ in appearance and taste.

They come from separate plant families*, offer different nutrients, and affect your blood sugar differently.

The origin and domestication of sweet potato occurred in either Central or possibly, South America.

Archaeological evidence shows that domesticated sweet potatoes were present in Central America at least 5,000 years ago, with the origin possibly between the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and the mouth of the Orinoco River in Venezuela.

The cultivated plant spread to South America and the Caribbean by 2500 B.C.E. [source]. The sweet potato spread to Polynesia with explorers, dating to 1400 C.E. in the Cook Islands.

They were brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus, and then traveled to Africa. Numerous species are now grown worldwide.

Most sweet potatoes sold in the U.S. have brown skin and orange flesh, but other varieties include purple, yellow, and red varieties—and are well worth seeking out.

Our favorite, the Murasaki from Japan (murasaki means violet or purple), has purple skin and sweet yellow flesh. It is well worth seeking out (we buy ours at Trader Joe’s).
 
 
SWEET POTATO VS. WHITE POTATO NUTRITION

Sweet and white potatoes are comparable in their calorie, protein, and carbohydrate content: around 90 calories 2 grams of protein and 21 grams of carbs.

 
 
_______________

*Both types of potato are members of the Solanales order, an order of flowering plants. But they branch off at the family level.

Sweet potatoes, Ipomoea batatas, are from the Convolvulaceae family, commonly known as the morning glory family, a family of mostly herbaceous vines. Their species is Ipomoea, genus Batatas.

White potatoes, Solanum tuberosum, are members of the Solanaceae family, popularly known as the nightshades. Their genus is Solanum, species Tuberosum.

[1] A feast for the eyes as well as the palate: crostini with a goat cheese-ricotta spread. The recipe is below (photo © DeLallo).

[2] Add more flavor with garlic- or herb-infused olive oil (photo © Alta Cucina Italia).

Your family and guests won’t believe how easy it is to make this appetizer or snack: crostini with a “fully loaded” goat cheese spread.

Put a twist on the standard appetizer spread with a creamy goat cheese spread, a drizzle of flavorful oil and your favorite antipasto ingredients.

We simply went online and ordered the antipasto ingredients from DeLallo, purveyor of fine Italian groceries (they also provided the recipe).

The recipe serves from two hungry people to 6-8 adults seeking just a bite with a glass of wine.

It’s a crowd pleaser that certainly brightens up the day!
 
 
RECIPE: ANTIPASTO CROSTINI

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. WHISK the ricotta and goat cheese until smooth in a medium mixing bowl. Spread cheese mixture on a serving dish (see photo).

2. TOP the cheese spread with olives and antipasti. Drizzle oil on top and serve with the accompaniments.

 
RECIPE: CROSTINI

You can bake the crostini up to a week in advance. Once cool, store them at room temperature in a resealable plastic bag.

For extra flavor, substitute a flavored olive oil, such as garlic- or herb-infused oil.

For added heat, chili-infused oil works, too.

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 350°F. Arrange the baguette slices on two large rimmed baking sheets. Brush both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper.

2. BAKE until golden, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. If the undersides are not browning, turn the slices over once during baking. Cool on the baking sheets.
 
 
>>>THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CROSTINI & BRUSCHETTA<<<

Rosé is the best-selling wine in France, and has become one of the most popular wines in the U.S.

Some sources claim that rosé may be the oldest known type of wine, dating to around 600 B.C.E. The theory is that it has the most straightforward wine-making technique, leaving the crushed skins of red grapes in contact with the white juice for a short period.

Rosé wines are made from red grapes. The darker color of red wines comes from a longer period of skin contact with the pressed juice.

Rosé can be made from just about any red grape, and there are many styles of rose: drier, sweeter, lighter, fuller, pale in color, deep in color, still, sparkling.

And, there are many shades of rosé, based on the grapes used, the length of skin contact and other winemaking factors. Take a look at photos #1 and #2.

With its pink color span, rosé is also ideal for a Valentine’s Day tasting—which you have enough time to plan.

A chart of the different styles of rosé and their food pairings is below.
 
 
PLAN YOUR TASTING PARTY

Put your party hat on, come up with a guest list, and plan to celebrate.

You can serve a full dinner, or a grazing buffet.

If guests ask what they can bring: chocolate or dessert.

[1] Have a rosé tasting for Valentine’s Day (photo © Good Eggs).

[2] The different shades of rosé wines depend on the types of grapes and length of skin contact (photo courtesy JotDot).