Homemade pizza = Simple. Easy. Delicious.

It’s nothing fancy, but a homemade pizza topped with fresh, meat-free ingredients is all you need for a tasty Meatless Monday dinner — and that’s just what we’re about to enjoy tonight. Bon appetit!

Homemade Veggie Pizza A Girl Versus Dough original

(click below for the recipe)

Let’s have a heart-to-heart.

When the going gets tough, I eat a lot of chocolate. Specifically, brownies. Specifically, frozen brownies with peanut butter on top. Maybe with some ice cream on the side.

When the going gets tough, I kick it out with Jillian Michaels, or with some downward dog, or by riding my bike until my hair is glued to my sweaty face and passersby start avoiding my gaze because I’m giving myself pep talks while pedaling up the hills.

When the going gets tough, I call my mama, or I watch “You’ve Got Mail” and give my cat a bear hug — or, I bake.

I’m coming at you with a new series, friends! It’s called “Meatless Monday” (original, I know). Every week, I plan to post a quick and easy, real-life meatless recipe Elliott and I often eat during the week or on the weekend in hopes that, if you are aboard the Meatless Monday bandwagon, want to get on it or just need a little inspiration in the veggie department from time to time, this will help set off some creative sparks.

Why am I doing this, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.

When it comes to pizza crust, this gal doesn’t mess around. I’ve been around the block, if you will, when it comes to homemade pizza crusts. So when I find a new pizza crust recipe, it better be good.

Oh. Magosh. Did this one ever fit the bill.

You see, there are two things I love to eat more than most things in the world: Pizza and garlic bread. If these two things were their own food groups, I’d be super-duper healthy. I would freaking own the food pyramid. You get the idea — I have a serious food crush on pizza and garlic bread. So when mine eyes laid upon this particular recipe which COMBINES THE TWO, I was utterly bewitched, body and soul (all Mr. Darcy-style).

My bestie Ashley (yes, I say “bestie” in real life. These are things I do. Don’t judge.) tweeted a link to a post today about calling out all the awesomeness in life. At first, I thought it was just another one of those posts you read to waste some time at work (kind of like this one, which I sent to said bestie because she loves cats so much), but after reading it, I a) got a kick in my worry/Debbie Downer pants and b) suddenly paid better attention to what, in fact, is so awesome about life.

Happy SPRRRRRRRRING, everyone!

OK, I know I’m jumping the gun by a couple of weeks, but these last two days of warmer (albeit blustery) weather have me all giddy and looking even more forward to those sunny spring days. I’m looking forward to the farmers markets (and the produce, egads, the non-root vegetable and citrus produce!), walks and bike rides outside and enjoying ice cream without freezing my tail off afterward (oh, who am I kidding; it could be -40 and I’d still eat ice cream). And I’m especially looking forward to not having to wear my ugly snow boots, scraping off the ice block that has encased my car or wearing 800 layers to and fro work. March 20 will be a glorious day.

Of course, this winter wasn’t really that bad at all. We had a few minor snowstorms, which was exciting, but otherwise it was pretty pitiful. But that’s not to say I’m not ready to put this pathetic winter behind us, and eager for the warmer weather ahead. And I’m kicking off the spring celebration with these bright and cheery savory muffins.