{recipe of the week} pizza // chicken caesar

Adapted from Fitness Magazine

{the goods}
1/2 pound  whole-wheat pizza dough 
3 tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil  
3 garlic cloves 
3 anchovy fillets 
1/4 cup  plain low-fat yogurt 
2 tablespoons  fresh lemon juice 
1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard 
1/2 teaspoon  black pepper 
3/4 pound  chicken cutlets 
1/4 teaspoon  kosher salt 
1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped (about 12 cups)

** Let's be honest.  I didn't have time to make my own dough.  I just used the whole-wheat already made pizza crust from Wal-mart.  It comes as a two pack so I made this for myself and a traditional pepperoni for my husband.  You can also freeze the extra crust for a later pizza night.

{get to bakin}

Preheat oven to 500 degrees . Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat. Divide dough into four pieces and stretch each one to roughly the size of the skillet. Add 1/2 teaspoon oil to skillet, swirling to coat, and put in one piece of dough. Cook 1 minute, then flip and bake until brown and crisp, about 5 minutes; set aside. Repeat with remaining dough.

Meanwhile, using a blender or a hand blender, puree 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, anchovies, yogurt, lemon juice, mustard and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Return skillet to burner over high heat. Toss chicken with remaining oil and season with salt and remaining pepper. Cook, flipping once, until golden and cooked through, about 4 minutes.

Slice chicken into 1/2-inch pieces and toss with romaine and dressing in a large bowl. Divide among pizzas and sprinkle with Parmesan.

recipe of the week {balsamic vinegar chicken}

my recipe of the week has really fallen through the cracks as of lately.  i think the one thing i've learned (or am trying to learn) as a new mom is patience and organization.  planning out our meals each week is becoming an increasingly "must" thing in the shanks household.  if i don't plan out we are scrambling for dinner (sometimes literally scrambling.. eggs that is!) or i'm making something quick and easy that usually ends up not being the healthiest of choices.

i actually have no idea how we lived before pinterest.  i have quite a few friends that say they pin all sorts of things but never do any of it.  however, i actually do use my boards.  and quite often at that! (follow me!)  so thank you again pinterest for saving the day ... or dinner to say the least!

balsamic vinegar chicken with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella

{the goods}
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
4 – 5 garlic cloves (i realized mine weren't "fresh" and had to be thrown out. so i used minced!
1 cup fresh basil (or dried)
1 tablespoon olive oil (or a good dollop... i'm not the best at measuring!)
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional, i didn't use any)
1 package of cherry or grape tomatoes (i used blush from costco and they were so delicious)
1/2 red onion sliced
mozzarella (i also added a little cheddar)

{cooking}
Preheat to 350deg. Add a little of the olive oil to the bottom of your pan. Then place in chicken breasts.  Add everything on top so chicken is coated evenly.  Bake for 30-40 minutes.  YUM!