Healthy Flatbread Pizza

Do you know anyone that doesn`t like pizza?   Me either!  I think I could happily create pizza only recipes and never run out of ideas – so many fresh ingredients to play with!  Today I`m thrilled to be sharing my latest recipe with my friend, Jenny, at The NY Melrose Family  and I`d love it if you`d pop over to visit.

If you’re a fan of sweet and savory dishes then you will love this easy snack.  The sweetness of maple syrup roasted squash and the saltiness of pancetta will satisfy the pickiest of eaters and will still leave you with the good feeling of clean-eating.

I’ve also included a giveaway today.  What is that you say?  Pizza AND a chance at cool, free stuff?  I know! Fabulousness!  This NINJA Supra Kitchen System is a dream.  I`ve got to get myself one of these!   Good luck, everyone.  See you at Jenny’s!

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So let’s start cooking so we can get to my favourite part – eating! If we want to keep healthy eating exciting, we need to ensure there are loads of flavors in each dish and this one has it all. This flatbread pizza has maple -roasted butternut squash, red onion, chard, pancetta, fresh herbs, ricotta and pecorino cheese – how`s that for an explosion of the taste buds? The sweetness of the maple syrup complements the saltiness of the pancetta and when you add the creaminess of the ricotta you`ve got a glorious bite of gusto with texture, too!

There are two things you must promise me you will do when you make this dish. Number One – use only pure maple syrup. Pancake syrups (with no real maple) are no comparison. True maple syrup has a complex, nuanced sweetness and it works equally well in savory and sweet dishes. It will keep, refrigerated, for several months. It’s all natural, high in calcium and has loads of vitamins and minerals. I use it instead of sugar to bring a more subtle sweetness in almost all of my recipes. At the bottom of this post, you’ll see a list of other uses for maple syrup.

Promise Number Two – buy fresh pancetta, not the cubed stuff. Fresh pancetta should look pink and damp. Avoid anything that looks discolored and dry. The fat should be white and creamy colored and the rind should be thin and elastic.

This recipe is a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen. Pizza is always a popular choice and they can help in the assembly. Teaching kids healthy eating habits at a young age is imperative if they`re going to develop a vital, fit lifestyle.

This dish has a few components but they`re quick and easy and you`ll be delighted with the results. It`s a great snack for a large group or can be dinner for a small family. More proof that eating healthy can be your every day eating. I know you`ll enjoy this as much as I do. Cheers!

Some other wonderful uses for maple syrup:

• In your homemade salad dressings
• As a marinade for salmon, chicken or pork
• As a substitute for sugar in baking
• When roasting veggies. Brussel sprouts and carrots are especially delicious with a drizzling of maple syrup