Housewarming Party!

Last week, A and I had our family over to celebrate our new home!  We moved in February but we took some time to decorate and travel over the summer before we had a chance to have a party.  Special thanks to both of our mom's for preparing most of the food.  Menu and recipes to follow pictures. 

the food spread

both mom's!

party punch!

Menu:

Bhel puri
Dahi puri

Greek 7 layer dip with Pita Chips

Party Punch

Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Chocolate Chip & Walnut Cupcakes
Gajar Halwo (Carrot Pudding) - mom's secret recipe

Homemade Yogurt

Homemade Yogurt
inspired by my mom

1/2 gallon 2% milk
4 tbsp yogurt culture  (contains live and active cultures)

Place the container of milk into a large sauce pan and heat over medium-high heat until bubbles appear.  Remove from heat and let cool for 25-30 minutes.  Stir the yogurt culture into the milk and thoroughly blend with a hand blender.  Pour into a steel container and place into the oven for about 5-6 hours.  Remember to turn on the oven light to create a warm environment for the cultures to multiply!  Once the yogurt has firmed up placed into the fridge and enjoy!

Barbecue Chickpea Pizza with Gouda and Caramelized Onions

We don't get out to California Pizza Kitchen often but when we do A, always gets the BBQ Chicken Pizza.  He devours the entire thing every time!  I have always wondered what that pizza tastes like since I'm a vegetarian so when I found this recipe I knew I'd have to try it.  My only fail was using expired yeast which did not allow for the dough to double but it still worked out :)  Perfect for a Friday night with some red wine.

Barbecue Chickpea Pizza with Gouda and Caramelized Onions

adapted from Eat Live Run

Ingredients

1 batch Amazing Whole Wheat Pizza Crust - make sure your yeast is fresh!
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 bottle barbecue sauce of choice
1 large yellow onion
1 tbsp olive oil
8 oz gouda cheese, freshly grated

Directions

Heat the olive oil up in a large, nonstick pan. Slice the onion thinly and cook in the olive oil for about 30 minutes on low heat, until deeply golden and caramelized. Stir often!

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Meanwhile, roll out pizza dough into a circle. Place dough onto oiled pizza sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes.  (I like to bake the crust prior to garnishing with ingredients for a crunchier crust). 

Drizzle with barbecue sauce. Add chickpeas, caramelized onions and lastly sprinkle with cheese.

Reduce oven temperature to 425 and bake pizza for 15 minutes, or until cheese has melted and the crust is done. Let cool then cut into slices and serve.

Yield 1 large pizza or 8 slices.

Sorry for the horrible pictures, my dslr is currently on vacation!