BBQ Chicken Pizza

Well, today I thought I'd share one of my family's favorite recipes: BBQ Chicken Pizza. It's just so yummy. Sweet, tangy, saucy, a little bit spicy, and all-around delicious! I love it because, once again, it is just so versatile! You can really make it your own by playing around with veggie combinations, different sauces, etc.. We usually use Sweet Baby Ray's sauce because it is really yummy and smoky sweet, but I can envision a number of delicious scenarios all based on the sauce. I've tried this recipe with cabbage and sweet potatoes too . . . TO DIE FOR. Literally, one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten. And don't forget, you have multiple cheese options! I often use cheddar because I seem to have that on hand more, but I've also used pepperjack (with the cabbage . . . phenomenal!), swiss, and good old mozzarella. Other ideas/combos, anyone?

I use Bobby Flay's pizza crust recipe, here. I've been using it for a while now and it never fails. He says to use bread flour, but I usually just use all purpose, which makes a nice, soft, chewy crust.

I know this post is short and sweet, but I'm working it in between nap-time and feeding a hungry newborn, so, no complaining! So without further adieu . . . . (what does that mean, anyway . . . ?)

BBQ Chicken Pizza

2 prepared pizza crusts (recipe above)

2 cups (approx.) your choice of BBQ sauce. Here I used Sweet Baby Ray's.

2 cups grated cheese, again, your choice. Here I used Cheddar. 

Various veggies, chopped. Here I used 1 large sliced red onion, several handfuls of baby spinach, and I usually use chopped roma tomatoes. 

2-3 cooked and diced chicken breasts

Dried basil and oregano

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place prepared dough onto greased cookie sheets/pizza pans. 

Spread the bbq sauce over the crust thickly. You don't want it all to soak in, so use a good amount. I use a pastry brush for this. Next add the spinach evenly over the pizza, and then the chicken and onion and tomatoes (or whatever other veggies you have). Top with grated cheese. I usually add one more little swirl of bbq sauce over the top of that, but more for looks than anything. Finally, sprinkle a little salt, pepper, basil, and oregano over the very top. 

Pop into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, until the crust is a nice golden brown and the cheese is melted. Enjoy! 

Printable Recipe

(Sorry for the terrible picture . . . )

6 Ingredient Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

So my mom is on a Gluten-free diet for her health. Bummer. Sure doesn't sound like fun to me, but then  . . . I am a carbaholic. Anything involving bread, dough, chocolate . . . . I'm addicted . . . .

Anyway, confessions aside, I've been trying to find some recipes that she can eat. But of course, I have to try them out first, right? And if you're like me, a lot of gluten-free recipes are scary. Half of the ingredients, I have never heard of! So, simple and familiar has been my goal.

I found a recipe on this blog. Hers was a 5 ingredient recipe, and I just had to add one more to the mix . . . oats. I love chunky, hearty cookies, and oats seem to fill the bill pretty well when it comes to expanding your cookie dough.

Today was the perfect day for the "experiment." I mean, how many afternoons do I have the baby sleeping peacefully in her bouncy seat, the dishes done and the kitchen clean, dinner in the crockpot?, and me with practially nothing to do but have fun in the kitchen? Not many, lately. So I launched into the recipe.

(Here's a picture of Molly peacefully sleeping. And I didn't even tell her to!)

Anyway, here are the 6 ingredients. Drum roll please . . . .

6 Ingredient Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Makes about 1 dozen) 

1 cup of Creamy Peanut Butter

1 cup of firmly packed Brown Sugar

1 large Egg

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup Oats (I only had Quick Cooking, but Whole would work too)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Gently mix all the ingredients together.

 Form small 1 1/2 inch balls and flatten. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for about 9 minutes. Let cookies cool at least 5 minutes before removing them. 

The last step is always my favorite. Get a big glass of milk (hopefully you're not lactose-free too!), and try them out! 

They turned out to be delicious. A little bit crumbly, but as they cool they firm up a bit more. And with no butter or flour, they are a quick, easy cookie to make . . . which is probably not a good thing in my case. :) 

All right. Success! Time to give mom my recipe! 

Meet the Family!

As a proper start to this blog, I suppose we should start with introductions.

My name is Laura, and I am an incredibly happy woman. :)

I am a Christian, and I serve an amazing God (well, the only God, actually, to say it correctly). I was saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone over 10 years ago now,  and I'm trying to live my life following in the footsteps of Jesus. I'm so thankful for my church, Christ Fellowship of Kansas City, in helping me to stay close to Christ as I journey through this life. And of course, I am striving to become a great student of God's Word, which more than anything gives me the strength to be who God calls me to be.

 I have an awesome husband named Josh whom I love very much. We celebrate our first anniversary next week! It has been an awesome year together, and I'm looking forward to the rest of our lives. And I'm also so thankful for him as he continues to be the leader of our home that God has created him to be.

I have a one-month-old daughter named Molly who has my complete adoration. I can't stop looking at her and feeling her little hands and feet and trying with all of my crazy silly faces to make her smile . . . just a little smile. She's rocking my world right now, that's for sure.

I am pretty much in love with food. I'll admit it. I could eat all day long. Not a good habit, I know. But I love to experiment in the kitchen. I also play piano and sing, love to read and write, enjoy nature and the great outdoors, love DIY projects and crafts, crochet and dabble in knitting, enjoy a good cup of tea with a spot of milk and honey, loved gardening (especially herbs and flowers), and love spending time with my family.

I love so many things about life! I think that's why I called this blog "My Joyous Heart" because my heart really is full of joy. God has blessed me with this joy, and I want to share it with whomever I can. If you are blessed at all by anything you read or see here, I hope you will thank God for it. It is through Him that I live and breathe and do anything that I do.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are encouraged today! :)


Laura