Your Pie, Fleming Island, FL

1545 County Road 220, Suite #125

Fleming Island, Florida 32003

904-375-9771

Spotted in Fleming Island today: A new pizza restaurant under construction called Your Pie. It's on the right corner of the Winn Dixie shopping center. Your Pie's Facebook page says they'll open in March of 2013. Their menu of salads, paninis, custom pizzas, sorbet and gelato sounds tempting! Seeing vegan, vegetarian  , dairy free and gluten free options on Your Pie's menu is further incentive for me to try it out. 

*02/19/2013: The opening date will be March 15, 2013. 

"Your Pie. Express Your Inner Pizza"

Apple Coconut Dessert Pizza

My original plan this afternoon was to make the Apple Cookie Rolls (Elmali Kurabiye) from Binnur's Turkish Cookbook blog. I've had good luck with her recipes, such as the ramadan pide I made a few years ago. But then I discovered I was low on butter and out of lemon. Plan #2 was to make something with my Hodgson Mill whole wheat flour. The flour bag had recipes for whole wheat pumpkin muffins and whole wheat pizza crust. I decided to combine the pizza crust recipe and Binnur's apple filling to bake a dessert pizza.

These are the changes I made to Binnur's apple filling, which I used for the pizza topping:
- Used two Granny Smith apples and one red apple
- After following Binur's directions for cooking the apple filling, I removed it from the stove and temporarily set it aside in a glass bowl.
- Toasted 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes in a pan on the stove with 2 Tbsp of butter. After toasting, I poured the apple filling back into the pan and mixed it with the coconut.
- Put a handful of Ocean Spray Reduced Sugar Craisins into a cup of water and allowed them to plump.
- Broke up a couple pecan halves
- Removed the coconut-apple mix from stove. I combined that with the pecan halves and Craisins. Then I spread the apple coconut topping on the baked crust with a rubber spatula.

This is the Hodgson Mill crust recipe and the changes I made:

- Added in 1 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice and 1/3 cup Nice! 100% Pure Honey for more of a dessert flavor
- Used canola oil instead of olive oil.
- Let the dough rise two times. The first rising was for one hour instead of the suggested 15 minutes. The second time, I rolled out the dough on a floured surface, placed it into a large greased and floured skillet and let the dough rise for two hours (cold weather has been messing with my baking times this week).

- Baked the dough in the skillet for 15-20 minutes at 365 degrees. 

- Removed the skillet from oven with a towel (super hot pan handle!) and flipped crust onto baking sheet. Decorated crust with Binnur's apple filling and cut into slices

I'm very pleased with how the recipe turned out. The pizza crust wasn't tough or overly thick. The apples and pumpkin pie spice gave the dessert pizza a fragrant autumn scent. I want to make this again for Thanksgiving.

Freschetta By The Slice & Simply Inspired Pizza

My favorite meal on a busy, hectic day is pizza. But who has time to make pizza from scratch or wait for the pizza delivery guy, when you're hungry and there's a million things on your to-do list ? If you're anything like me, you've already thought ahead and bought some Freschetta Pizzas on a previous shopping trip, for just such a day.

Speaking of time savers: This week, the Freschetta Fresh Connection bloggers panel sent me an awesome package: a Freschetta storage set (six pieces) and coupons to try Freschetta By The Slice Pizza and Freschetta Simply Inspired Pizza. The box arrived when I was bustling around the house, getting ready for work the next day. I had been thinking "What on earth will I fix everyone for dinner tonight ? And why don't we have any more tupperware for my lunch box tomorrow ? Did you guys eat my tupperware when you ate all my dinner ingredients ?" So after finding the package at the door, I made a quick Freschetta run to the store, came home to cook the pizzas and packed lunches in the wicked cool storage set. I was one happy lady that day!
____________________________________________



Freschetta Simply Inspired Pizza



"Bringing vibrant flavors to life, this pizza offers a creamy tomato and garlic pesto sauce, roma tomatoes and roasted garlic topped by a blend of premium cheeses (provolone, sharp parmesan and smoky asiago)"



Freschetta coupon

Variety tasted: Classic Bruschetta

Cooked in: 20 minutes in an oven

Serving size: 8 slices

Toppings: The tomatoes were very fresh, plump and juicy.

The first flavors that hit me: asiago and parmesan.

Sauce: is creamy, but there isn't enough of it. Gets absorbed into cheese. Tomato sauce flavor kicks in after bites of cheese and the pesto sauce.

Overall flavor: Definite garlic taste. Just the right amount

Crust: is perfect amount of crisp and flaky. Not cardboardy. Is buttery and indulgent! Underside of crust looks like pita bread.Has the right amount of cheese to crust ratio

Bonus points for: Fresch Taste Seal packaging. It locks in flavor, requires less packing and peels open easily. No more yanking at plastic shrink wrap to open a pizza and great for the environment!

Overall opinion: A+ for a pizza with rich, bold flavors, fresh ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. Definitely buying 2 or 3 pizzas next times, because everyone over here took two slices and there weren't leftovers.

Other flavors available:
Harvest Supreme
Chicken Bianco
Farmers Market Veggie
Rustic Pepperoni Pomodoro
Southern BBQ Recipe Chicken
Tuscan Farmhouse
Hawaiian Style
____________________________________________


"FRESCHETTA® By The Slice – One Perfect Slice of Pizza
The fresh taste you love in FRESCHETTA® pizza is now available in FRESCHETTA® By The Slice. A single slice cut from a whole pizza, FRESCHETTA® By The Slice delivers one perfect slice of pizza in minutes with the same premium ingredients and oven-baked taste right out of the microwave."



"Take a few moments out of a busy day and enjoy a slice of pizza topped with generous chunks of white meat chicken, savory mushrooms and spinach on a creamy white sauce. Perfect for a little quiet time."




Freschetta coupon

Freschetta By The Slice Pizza

Variety tasted: Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom

Serving size: 1 large, filling slice of pizza that can be microwaved

Dominant scent while pizza baked: Parmesan

Dominant taste: Mozzarella and basil

Roasted mushroom topping: Delicious, fresh and buttery taste. Tastes like home roasted mushrooms and not the canned variety one normally finds on frozen pizza

Chicken topping: Is moist and juicy, but pieces are too small. Unfortunately, the chicken gets lost behind the rich mushroom. It would be better if the chicken pieces were either larger or left off all together.

Spinach topping: Generous amount. Cooked perfectly with the pizza and wasn't soggy or too finely shredded.

Sauce: Tastes similar to alfredo sauce. Slice has a small amount of sauce, but the small amount works for this pizza variety better than with the Simply Inspired pizza.

Crust: Top of crust is soft and thick. Bottom of the crust is flaky and delicious, with a cheddar after taste. This crust is thicker than that of the Simply Inspired pizza

Overall opinion: A+ for being full of flavor and tasting like fresh from the oven gourmet pizza.

Other flavors available:
BBQ Recipe Chicken
Six Cheese Medley
Vegetable Medley
____________________________________________
Here's the storage set. Every piece is very sturdy, easy to clean & doesn't pop open if jostled around in your lunch bag.


LaCuisine Locking Storage Containers
Set Includes:
204 oz Container with Handle on Lid
64 oz Container with Lid
2 pc 25 oz Containers with Lids
17 oz Container with Lid
12 oz Container with Lid



"Silicone Seals Up to 280 F. Refrigerator Safe. FDA Certified"



One lucky reader will receive a smaller version of this storage set (3 pieces) and a coupon to try Freschetta By The Slice. The giveaway rules are simple:
- Leave a comment below telling me which By The Slice variety and Simply Inspired variety you want to try. Entries that do not include both answers will be disqualified
- One entry per person and per household, please
- Please include your name and email address in your entry. I will need to contact the winner for his / her address so Freschetta can mail the prize. If you don't wish to leave your email address, please send me a private message letting know what your email address is and which your entry was your's.
- A random drawing will take place on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 1:15 PM EST. All entries must be received by Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 1 PM EST.

*Update #1: Congrats to Chloe! You are the winner. Please send me your email address and home address to AMW by April 27 at 11:59 PM EST. If I haven't heard from you by then, a runner up will be chosen.
*Update #2: Chloe, received your email. Your prize will arrive in a few weeks.

DiGiorno Pizza & Cookies / Boneless Wyngz

"It's Not Delivery, It's DiGiorno"

I was in the pizza aisle of Super Wal-Mart today. I was surprised to see this in the freezer case and took out my camera:


DiGiorno Supreme Pizza + Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough


"Full Size Supreme Pizza"
"Makes 12 Cookies"
"$6.50"
"Do Not Consume Raw Cookie Dough"
"Keep Frozen. Not Ready To Eat. Cook Thoroughly"


Shown on the back of the box:
"DiGiorno Supreme Pizza + 7-8 Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz"

I don't see mention of the cookies or Wyngz on DiGiorno's official website yet. However, their Facebook page has pictures and a small amount of information.

From DiGiorno's FB wall, dated January 14:
"Here's a sneak peek just for you. Starting Monday, our new Pizza & Boneless Wyngz and Pizza & Cookies combos will begin arriving on store shelves across the country. Be on the lookout for our delicious new combinations and be sure to tell us what you think!"

From DiGiorno's FB photo album:
"Boneless Wyngz* White Meat Chicken Fritters
*With No Wing Meat"
"Hand Tossed Style Crust"

-Three Meat Pizza + 7-8 Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz
-Pepperoni Pizza + 7-8 Buffalo Style Boneless Wyngz
-Supreme Pizza + 7-8 Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz
-Pepperoni Pizza + Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
-Supreme Pizza + Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
-Four Cheese Pizza + Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

I can't wait to try DiGiorno Pizza + Cookies & DiGiorno Pizza + Boneless Wyngz. How can you go wrong with pizza plus snacks or dessert ? I'll try to buy a package of it on another shopping trip.

Domino's Pizza: Bread Bowl Pasta

Anyone tried Domino's bread bowl pasta ? I haven't ordered it yet. The reaction in my house to Domino's ads was "Um, no thank you. I like bread sticks with my pasta, but I don't want them mixed together!"

Domino's Pizza: Pacific Veggie Pizza

Today I received a Domino's Pizza ad in the mail. I decided to order their new Pacific Veggie pizza, which had spinach, roasted red peppers, mushrooms,onions, tomatoes, black olives, mozzarella, feta and provolone, plus a Parmesan crust.

Normally the AMW family is not a fan of Domino's. Phrases like "really dry crust" and "terrible sauce" get tossed around a bit. But this pizza was delicious! The crust was soft and flavorful, with cornmeal sprinkled on the bottom and Parmesan around the top of the crust. The mushrooms were buttery. All of the vegetables had a fresh taste. The feta, provolone and mozzarella made a good combination. The sauce reminded me of what Pizza Hut uses, which I liked.

I will definitely order this again. Thumbs up for Domino's Pacific Veggie Pizza!

Venice Pizza & Italian Cuisine, Orange Park, Florida

Venice Pizza & Italian Cuisine
Fleming Plaza
1605 County Road 220
Orange Park, FL 32003

904-269-7900

As I've mentioned before, I tend to stash restaurant coupons and bring them out when the family gets bored. Today was definitely another "please, not the same old hangout" day. So we drove out to Venice Pizza in Fleming Island, next to Player's Grille.

When I stepped through the door, I was struck by the mediocrity of the decor. I had expected to see either the candle lit, romantic decor of an Italian restaurant or a laid back, bright pizzeria. What I saw was darkly lit, with bland artwork that blended into the background and no music playing. That should've been a red flag to me.

Let me take your through our menu choices:

Soup of the day (limited quantities)

I understand that (1)We're in Florida and soup isn't in high demand and (2)sometimes items just run out. But it's not a good sign when "limited quantities" is on a menu. When I asked what soups were available, the waitress replied "we don't have any soup."


Pizza by the slice (when available)
I know many restaurants only have pizza by the slice at certain times. That's fine. However, I would've preferred Venice Pizza put on the menu "available after 5 PM" or "Monday through Thursday only." Our waitress just said "we don't have it right now." I still don't know what day(s) or times their slices are available.

Veggie Pizza: Onions, Mushrooms, Olive, Green Peppers, Spinach, Broccoli, Fresh Tomatoes, Extra Cheese
The toppings on this pizza were good. It was a little skimpy on the mushrooms, but otherwise fine. The tomato sauce was thin and unremarkable. The crust was unremarkable as well.


White Pizza: Our homemade white sauce, mozzarella cheese, spices, fresh tomatoes
The toppings on the white pizza were outstanding and had a nice garlic flavor.


Eggplant Parmesan sub

I had to choose between an eggplant sub and the eggplant dinner. The dinner would've included tossed salad, homemade garlic bread and a side of spaghetti. However, I think it was a good idea I didn't order the dinner. I say that because my dining companions received garlic bread with their dinners, consisting of buttered, toasted sub rolls mysteriously missing garlic. My sub came with the same bread. The slices of fried eggplant inside were crispy but void of flavor. The bread and sauce had nothing interesting for the palate.

Lasagna: A tasty homemade combination of beef, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese

The lasagna set before us was a burrito of sorts. It was a big noodle wrapped around beef and covered with tomato sauce. There was a bit of cheese sprinkled on top, but mostly covered by sauce. I don't know about the ricotta being in the lasagna. After leaving the restaurant, I said to everyone "Did that lasagna have ricotta or cottage cheese or anything like that ? I didn't see any." Not one of us remembered tasting or seeing ricotta. And that was before I whipped out the take-away menu to double check. All of us found the lasagna semi-soggy, under spiced and terribly disappointing. I've had better lasagna in school cafeterias : P

Tiramisu

The tiramisu was rich, creamy and delicious. It was a bright spot in an otherwise half-hearted presentation.

Would I return to Venice Pizza ? Probably not. This restaurant lacked the personality, warmth and charm that make for an outstanding dining experience.

Pillsbury Flaky Twists With Chocolate Icing

Last night I wanted to make a pizza. I grabbed a tube of Pillsbury Flaky Twists and rolled it out on a baking tray. I set aside the chocolate frosting that was included, intending to save it for another recipe.

I was a bit baffled when I noticed a cinnamon aroma and a brown substance sprinkled on the dough. There was no mention of cinnamon on the front of the tube. It was hidden on the bottom of the ingredient list on the back. I am puzzled why Pillsbury did that. I've seen commercials and print ads for Flaky Twists With Chocolate Icing several times; not one mentioned cinnamon. That discovery put a crimp in my pizza plans. I decided to make the best of it and just bake Chocolate Twists.

Rant aside, you're probably wondering how it tasted. Let's start with the twists. Those were slightly salty and a little bland. I was surprised the cinnamon scent did not translate to cinnamon flavor. The twists lacked the sweetness one expected.

The chocolate icing was also a disappointment. It tasted like Betty Crocker brownie batter, a far cry from the sweet and delicious icing in other Pillsbury products. The icing and the twists paired together were a sad combination.

Neither the icing or the twists added any sweetness to the finished product. I give this product a big thumbs down. I will not buy it again.

Wolfgang Puck's Pizza

The grocery store I currently shop at is not where one would expect to find gourmet products. So I was surprised to come across Wolfgang Puck's All Natural Four Cheese, Tomato and Pesto Pizza. The four cheeses are mozzarella, fontina, parmesan and goat cheese. Huge props for that combination and the soft, thick crust. It cooked rather quickly, too.

However, the tomatoes were soggy. This pizza would have been perfect if it had been topped with the sweet, succulent tomatoes Amy's Organic uses. Also, the pie is rather small at 12.25 ounces. One of my roommates and I polished it off very quickly [Yes, I had three slices. Shush.].

Seven dollars for one tiny pizza is rather extravagant. I could have bought a bigger, albeit less tasty, one from Pizza Hut or Red Barron. It is unfortunate,but this yummy masterpiece is probably a one time buy for me. It seems impractical to purchase something so small and expensive unless you are eating alone or have a small appetite.

Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pocket

"Inspired by Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pizza. The same great tasting combination of organic shiitake mushrooms, roasted red peppers, sweet onions and marinated artichoke hearts."

I absolutely adored this sandwich. I was worried the onion taste would overpower the other veggies, but that wasn't the case. The veggies were actually sweet and tender. The crust was soft and delicious. So good !

Food In The News

The Domino's Myth

Source: Snopes.com, Home > Business > Consumer Relations Myths, "Mush Vroom Pizza", January 2007

Sauce Arturo Gourmet Sauce

Sauce Arturo has a sweet taste and chunky vegetables. My initial reaction was, "You know, this would be great added to Brunswick stew or combined with some other tomato sauce." I mixed the Sauce Arturo with the previously reviewed Dei Fratelli Presto! Pizza Sauce when I made a batch of spaghetti. The combination of the two sauces was a match made in heaven.

Dei Fratelli: Presto! Pizza Sauce

Presto! Pizza Sauce is head and shoulders above Hunt's, Heinz and other brands of tomato sauce and pizza sauce. The pizza sauce contains chunks of tomato and finely sliced onions. It is not sickly sweet or horribly acidic. This lesser known brand is definitely worth trying.