• Homemade junk food, part one: Pizza Pops

    Posted on May 22nd, 2009 Saver Queen 22 comments

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    As I mentioned in part one of my series, How to cut your grocery bill in half, I try to avoid buying processed foods or junk foods. Instead, I enjoy making them at home.  Last week I fell off the wagon many times and resorted to fast food and coffee on the go; this was mostly due to a hectic schedule that involved traveling out of town.  Last weekend I resolved to do some cooking and baking to help myself to stay on track.

    Eating a healthy diet means that every so often I run up against insurmountable cravings for salty, fatty, late night snacks.  One of my favourite guilty pleasures are Pizza Pops, or miniature frozen calzones.  Last weekend, I decided to try making them myself.  I’m not sure what the cost-per-unit is; but if you purchase your baking supplies at a low cost, buy cheese on sale and pick up affordable veggies like green pepper and mushrooms, these little snacks can end up being incredibly affordable indulgences.

    The recipe I  used was from Recipe Zaar:

    Ingredients

    CRUST

    • 1 cup lukewarm water
    • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 cup oil
    • 2 1/2 cups flour

    SAUCE

    • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
    • 1/2 cup fine diced onion
    • 1 teaspoon basil
    • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
    • 3 tablespoons water

    Saver Queen’s tip: Add a pinch of salt.

    Directions

    1. Mix yeast with 1 cup of flour. Add all the rest of the ingredients and beat well.
    2. Knead in the rest of the flour. I am not sure of the amount of flour here as I do it by feel of the dough. The dough should be soft and elastic, not too dry.
    3. Let rest 15 minutes.
    4. Cut into 10 balls and roll out into 6″ circles.
    5. Top with equal amounts of sauce on half of the circle leaving 1/2″ at edge clear for sealing purposes.
    6. Add your choice of fillings. I love pepperoni, mushroom and cheese. Pinch edge well to seal.
    7. Prick tops and you can also brush with an egg wash mixture.
    8. Bake on cookie sheets at 350′ for 30-35 minutes.

    Saver Queen’s tip: remember that you can stuff these with lots of fillings, because the bread expands, leaving a large pocket inside.

    These freeze really well. Package them in individual ziplock bags or wrap in plastic.  Then, simply re-heat them for about 15 minutes at 375′ on a baking sheet, or preferably, a pizza stone.  If not heated all the way through, you can also microwave them for 20 or 30 seconds, but they lose their nice crispy crust. These make a great late night snack!

    The Saver Queen

    Groceries, Recipes, Uncategorized
     

    22 responses to “Homemade junk food, part one: Pizza Pops”

    1. Frugal Dreamer May 22nd, 2009 at 10:58

      YUM! Those look delicious!

    2. Erran May 22nd, 2009 at 11:10

      Thanks for posting! Pizza pops *drool*. A weakness of mine, but had to scale back considerably when I looked at the amount of sodium and fat those things contain. I had a tough time enjoying it knowing how much crap is going down the food pipe. That and the fact they don’t have many non-meat choices - i.e. one choice: 3-cheese. Boo-urns.

      I may have to try these out. Mmmm…green olives and perhaps some other veggies. ;)

    3. Saver Queen May 22nd, 2009 at 11:22

      Erran - so true. These are actually healthy! I forgot to mention that I used mushroom, green pepper and sundried tomato. Olives would be perfect for them, adding a little saltiness - yum!

    4. Dawn May 22nd, 2009 at 11:36

      These look wonderful! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    5. Melissa May 22nd, 2009 at 12:16

      Those look great! I make pizza and calzones, but never thought about making a mini version. These would make great make-ahead lunches.

    6. Diana F May 22nd, 2009 at 14:09

      Wow they look fantastic!

    7. Catherine May 22nd, 2009 at 14:11

      Thank you for the recipe SQ! They look awesome. I will definitely try them. Where were they when my kids got sick of sandwiches in their school lunches???? LOL.

    8. Julia May 22nd, 2009 at 15:11

      Wow! These look fabulous! Prepared pizza is such a problem at my house, because we are don’t eat a lot of meat and I have one child who can not eat dairy and another who dislikes tomato sauce. I can not wait to try this. I am thinking a mixture of feta cheese, olives, sundried tomato, artichokes and mushrooms.

    9. Bud.. May 22nd, 2009 at 15:12

      Yummy!! I’ll have to Bake them next week.. I usually bake at the beginning of the week.. Hubby will enjoy them instead of bag of chips (which we haven’t bought in a few months for the other homemade snack food I bake and make homemade popcorn every other day to snack on.. I don’t own a microwave and don’t like the popcorn that way any how) for lunch and a quick snack before supper or snaking on the weekends and watching a movie.. I also tried out the ganorla bars recipe u post that is delicious..
      Well now I have to make every week instead of buying the bars and for the time. I’m baking oatmeal cookies with the dried fruit too instead of choc. chip cookies for a change…
      Thanks for the recipes Savor Queen

    10. psychsarah May 22nd, 2009 at 17:15

      Wow-I hadn’t thought about Pizza Pops in years! These were a major favourite in high school. I’m pumped to try this recipe to relive those days. Thanks!

    11. sharon rose May 23rd, 2009 at 02:07

      Hi there-wow, these sound delicious and very healthy too, thanks for sharing my dear!

    12. Jessie May 23rd, 2009 at 12:36

      Wow! these look great!!

      Thank you for sharing

    13. Emily May 24th, 2009 at 18:28

      Hi - I am not sure how I found you, but love the idea of Pizza Pops (never heard that before). They remind me of a Cuban Empanda that I make. Although I cheated and used Grands Biscuits as the “dough”. Now that I am simplifying things and making my own bread and more homemade things and cutting out the pre-package foods, this will be a great one to try. One Question - do you thaw them before you re-heat them or just put in oven frozen and re-heat? thanks. Emily

    14. Melaniesd May 24th, 2009 at 20:22

      ooohHh!! Must try!

    15. CanadianDebtGirl May 24th, 2009 at 20:27

      These look delish! I can’t wait to make some and pop them in the freezer.

    16. Saver Queen May 24th, 2009 at 22:00

      Emily - no need to thaw them. Just pop ‘em in the oven to re-heat. They are very similar to empanadas. Hope you enjoy!

    17. Emily May 25th, 2009 at 19:44

      hi - another question - Bud in your comments on 22 May mentioned a Granola Bar recipe that you posted. I can’t seem to find it (tried your category “recipes”). can you tell me which of your categories to look under? I have a recipe that we just started using and it is good, but I would like to try another one. thanks Emily.

    18. Saver Queen May 25th, 2009 at 21:25

      Hi Emily! Here is the link to the homemade granola bar recipe: http://saverqueen.com/2009/03/09/homemade-granola-bars/

      I tried this again, using old fashioned rolled oats, and it worked great. They were a little crumbly but still really good.

      I also added it to the “recipes” categories - sorry that I forgot to add it before!

    19. Emily May 26th, 2009 at 10:56

      hi - THANKS for the granola bar link! I have made a no-bake recipe but it wouldn’t stick together (flavor was great though)- I was using minute-oats and now after reading your post that may be my problem. I will try your recipe and I will try the other no-bake one I started with with the proper old fashioned rolled oats and see if that works. I hope it does because I would really love the part about not having to turn on the oven if I don’t have to. thanks for the link the your recipe… have a great day. Emily

    20. JamsWife May 26th, 2009 at 21:01

      Thanks for the recipe, these look great!!!

    21. CJ June 20th, 2009 at 19:43

      Thank you so much for this recipe! When we get cravings for things like Pizza pops in Thailand, we can’t just run to the store and buy them, so I’m thrilled to get to try making some at home. I know my kids will love them!

    22. Meg Myers June 24th, 2009 at 21:40

      Thanks so much will try your receipe out. Lived in Pilot Mound for 2 years as a teenager and thrived on the pizza pops. So I will bring them home to Australia for my children. Thanks

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