Personal Pesto Chicken Meatza
I’m wearing my retainer right now. My retainer from 8th grade. It’s not comfortable, AT ALL. It’s real tough to actually get them on. It’s similar to putting on my jeans. Snug snug fit. But my teeth are going to be straighter soon. Crazy how much they move in a couple years. Yeah, a couple.
I just steam burned myself. Under the nail. It’s even more uncomfortable than my retainer.
OMG. I have to tell you about something I got yesterday. Only the coolest gift of all time!! I’ve literally never received a gift that is so thoughtful. And gorgeous.
So the boyfriend the other night, when he took me out to Cuba Cuba, told me that he didn’t have my gift yet for me. He said that the company was suppose to have it by Monday, but they lied. So we wouldn’t be able to pick it up for a couple days. I really wasn’t too upset about this. I’m not a huge presents person and it doesn’t bother me if I don’t get any. Or if I don’t get any for other people. As my friends may know. I’m more of a ‘I baked for you’ kind of person. That’s definitely how I show my love.
Anywho, the bf and I left the gym rather quickly yesterday to go pick up my gift. He told me it was next to this amazing ice cream shop called Little Man Ice Cream. Instantly, I wanted ice cream. But I pushed those feelings down and concentrated on the task at hand. We walked into this store called Board Life and I seriously still had no clue what we were getting. I thought he might be getting me a wakeboard or a surfboard since we do that a lot during the summer, but I suck terribly at those things so I wondered why he would rub that in my face more.
Well, once we walked in and he put his hand on a shiny new white and light blue cruiser bike, I about cried. I talked all last summer about how I should buy a cruiser, looked at Craigslist a lot, contemplated forking out the money for one, but alas, I never did it. Throughout the winter, I completely forgot about even biking anywhere. Or my need for a bike. I really only thought about sunshine and days in the park. Well, the boyfriend changed that by getting me a PaleOMG inspired Huntington Beach Bike Company Cruiser fit with a white basket and a light blue matching Kroozie. AND PaleOMG fork decals to put on the back fender of my back. He wasn’t sure what color I’d like, so he got me blue, black, white, grey and chrome to choose from. I went with black. It’s by far the coolest decal in the world. BY FAR.
I’m going to tag every place possible in Denver with my decals. EVERYWHERE.
I’m so excited to tell you about the adventures I have with this bike. Hopefully they do not include falling over, which they probably will since I’m so damn uncoordinated. I was frightened riding in for 12 seconds yesterday.
Wanna see my bike?? OK!!!!
I’m gonna make a cauliflower crust pizza this weekend. I’m feeling it.
PrintPersonal Pesto Chicken Meatza
- Yield: 3 1x
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- bit of salt and pepper
For the pesto
- 1/2 cup walnuts, raw and unsalted, roughly chopped
- 1 cup basil leaves
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½–1 cup olive oil (depending how thick you like your pesto)
- juice of 1 lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
For the toppings
- 0.5 pounds cooked and shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- sprinkle of walnuts, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix together ground beef with basil and parsley and some salt and pepper.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Make 3 equal sized balls of ground beef, put them on a baking sheet, and press down to create round personal sized pizzas. They will shrink so try to press them out as much as possible.
- Place in oven for 8-10 minutes. (you don’t want them to cook through fully because they will go back in the oven later and you don’t want dry meat)
- While the pizzas are cooking, put your walnuts in a food processor and pulse.
- Then add your garlic cloves and basil and turn food processor on.
- While food processor is still on, add your olive oil slowly until your pesto becomes your preference of “thickness” and then add your lemon juice along with some salt and pepper.
- Once the pizzas or “meatzas” are done cooking, top them with some pesto, shredded chicken, tomatoes and walnuts.
- Add back to oven and cook for another 3-5 minutes until walnuts are slightly toasted.
- Once they are done, add some basil slices on top.
- Then eat up!!
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You May Also Like:
Buffalo Chicken and Sweet Potato Meatza
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Oh, Hi! I’m Juli.
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42 thoughts on “Personal Pesto Chicken Meatza”
What a sweet and thoughtful gift! You’ve got a good one 🙂 I’m not much of a gifts person either, but my guy always thinks of the best things. Like this year he built me a standing desk for my work because I was whining about being sedentary all day. So he made me one. Yay for thoughtful boyfriends.
Happy birthday!
What an awesome gift! I love that he remembered you talking about one from a year ago! I’m not much of a presents person but my boyfriend always blows me away with his gifts. For Christmas, he got me a trial CrossFit membership because he knew I had been wanting to try it!
That is so cool! I’m loving the omg fork. I was actually just talking the other day about how much I want a cruiser bike, so I’m so happy you actually got one – and it’s adorable. They are so handy in Denver, now you can go to Cruisers!
That is an AMAZING gift!! Perfect perfect perfect! Very thoughtful, and totally unique. Plus badass-cool if that’s a word.
Oh yeah, and nice recipe.
😉
★★★★★
Now if your car breaks down or gets broken into again you’ll still have a way to go out and get food!!
I am impressed that your 8th grade retainer still fits you. Or maybe it doesn’t, and that’s why all the discomfort.
Ohmygosh, I loooove your cruiser! It reminds me of the one I had to sell, I miss Dorothy … (oh, her name was Dorothy).
I had a craving for meatza this morning. This will be on tonight’s menu!
BEST BIKE (and present) EVER!!!!
★★★★
Reasons why I know we are soulmates:
Well, reason.
I meatza failed the other day (it was still delicious, just more like a meatloaf) and thought to myself “Meatza is really cool. Meatza is great. But I want something that feels like a PIZZA. Why doesn’t she make a cauliflower crust pizza?” This was literally yesterday. So. There’s that.
…that being said, I am still going to make this meatza. Along with every other recipe of yours. Because everything you do is great?
That’s an awesome gift! I wanted a bike all last summer and I finally got myself one but have yet to really take it out because I am also uncoordinated. I road it in my parents’ driveway for 5 minutes and that’s about it…I’m determined to get on it for real this summer!
★★★★
Juli! Your food photo caught my eye! Super impressive photography skills! I can tell that book is already paying off!
aw what a sweet bf you have! hope to find one of those one day. <3
I need to get my bike fixed up. I rescued it from my parents garage a few months ago, but it REALLY needs some love. Fortunately my neighbor works at a bike shop, I just need to make it happen.
Last time I was on a bike we were down at the beach and I was riding this bike that is probably older than I am. The front wheel was wobbling back and forth and traffic was passing me… and I hit a bump in the pavement where some tree root was busting through… I thought I was going to DIE! I jumped off the bike into someones yard! It was very traumatic. Hoping to try again soon, but never again on that old scary bike.
What a sweet and personalized gift 🙂 He put some thought into that one! Sounds like you found a good one, Juli!
PS: Cauliflower pizza crust is incredible. My boyfriend was SO skeptical when I made it (while he joked about how gross it sounded with his friends via Playstation bluetooth- annoying.) BUT when it came time to try it out, he LOVED it. And guess what skeptical, jokester friends were at my house the following weekend wanting me to make it for them as well?? Ha. I do have a hard time getting it stay crispy, though, so if you have a solid recipe and tips for us I am all ears!
That’s such a great gifttttt!!! Love it!!!
Soooo, let’s talk about not wearing your 8th grade retainers pleaseeeee!!! Worst thing you can do is THAT!!! Of course it won’t fit and if it “forcefully” aligns your teeth, you will pay the consequences later my friend!!! Pleaseeeeeee STOPPP RIGHT NOW!
Thanks again for pesto,pesto, pesto!! Love it!!!
Your personal periodontist! :)))
I’m loving the new about me photo. You definitely look like new sexy juli 2013!!!
Your pictures look pretty damn fine.
Straight teeth AND a gorgeous new bike! Look out Denver, JB is going to be rockin’ it!
Yummy! And awesome bike!!! Congrats!
★★★★★
That was seriously thoughtful and totally cool. Enjoy!
SO cute! I love the white! I have yet to try a meatza…
Super cute bike! I have not tried making the cauliflower crust, but did have a success the other day with a spinach crust. It was delicious, even my husband and 7 year old liked it 🙂
The bike is fab!! The bf is a keeper and so thoughtful! What a sweet decal to have on it. If you’re feeling like stick wrong all over, send one to me in Michigan. I’ll do you proud and put it on my car!!
P.S.: my hubby is goons LOVE this recipe. Dying to try a pizza and couldn’t find a decent crust recipe yet. Problem solved because of you!!
*Stickering all over. Stupid autocorrect!!
i love love love the fork omg logo.
Oh yay!! That’s such a sweet and useful gift!! High five to your awesome boyfriend for being so darn thoughtful!! Happy biking adventures to you, Birthday Girl!!
What an adorable gift!! (My boyfriend got me a bike for Christmas this year that I’d been thinking about for a while…so I know the feeling.) Enjoy your rides!
Best meatza ever! Seriously, so good. Thank you for sharing! You’re recipes are great!
★★★★★
The sweetest bike ever – what a great boyfriend! You always make me laugh (you’re wearing your retainer….from 8th grade,lol) and, once again, you’ve given us a fab recipe. Thanks Juli!
Resa ~Pitcher and Plate
I still wear my retainer from middle school too! It doesn’t feel good- and with my glasses I look like a goob.
Middle School flashback everynight before BED!
I have always loved this blog from afar. But I was compelled to post to say I love this post so much because I know ALL THE COOL KIDS DRINK FROM MASON JARS!!! I have a borderline unhealthy obsession with mason jars… The pizza sounds good too, don’t get me wrong… But you had me at jam jars…
D’aww that’s amazing!
I love your blog. I love your sense of humor. I love it that you were like, “oh by the way, did I tell you?…” and then it was pretty much the most exciting thing ever! Love the bike too.
How do I get myself one of those awesome decals all the way up here in eastern Canada? Also loved your blog for a long time now. 🙂
Omg! Delicious recipe! I was out of walnuts, so I used macadamia. Yummo!
★★★★★
Love the bike! My boyfriend just bought me a vanilla cruiser with a brown seat and pink basket! I almost fell off mine too, who says you can’t forget to ride a bike?? Where can I get the OMG fork?
This is HANDS DOWN my most favorite paleo recipe I’ve ever made. Thank you for sharing your talents: cooking AND writing. You are hilarious and just the kind of person I’d love to hang out with! Keep ’em coming, please 🙂
PS- I love the bike!!
Ive been doing Paleo for 3 whole days now and Im making these tonight. Juli… you may have saved my life. SO exicted I found this website!!
I made these the other night. Talk about YUMMO! This would have to be my fave so far.
★★★★★
Have you ever tried a chicken/beef kafta recipe? It always seems so easy but I have not been able to perfect it. Would love to see your spin on a Mediterranean fav!
i’ll have to try that!
Absolutely wonderful! Much better than I would’ve thought. I’ve never cared much for pesto but this was great.
★★★★