First things first… You guys are amazing. I had the best time reading through all of your comments and words of advice about what to pack and what to eat during my upcoming trip to Europe. You now have me craving gelato, pizza, blueberry steak (!?), crepes from street vendors and croissants. I can’t wait!
(Source)
You should all know that I plan to bathe in gelato! YUM! 
I also want to say how much I appreciate the time many of you put into sharing so much in the comments section. I plan to make a master list of places to visit, food to try and things to pack for my trip based on your suggestions. Stay tuned for a post dedicated to what I’ll be packing once I get my butt in gear and figure out what to bring!
Dinner
This evening was spent outside! Ryan and I arrived home from work at almost the exact same time, changed into our play clothes and headed outside with Sadie for a walk around the lake.
Before we left, I placed several Italian sausages in the oven to bake while we were out.
Once we returned from our walk, the sausages were ready to be cut up into slivers and placed on top of some cheese. Yup, it was pizza night in our house! (I blame your comments about all of the delicious slices of pizza I must try when I am in Italy for sparking this craving!)
The base of the pizza was a pre-made Boboli thin pizza crust that we picked up at the grocery store using a coupon from the company.
I’m going to be 100 percent honest when I say I’ve seen these pizza crusts for sale for years but have never bought one because they just looked kind of “blah” to me.
Well, I was wrong. So, so wrong!
After topping the pizza crust with marinara meat sauce, spinach, shredded cheese and Italian sausage and baking it for 8 minutes, we had a hot semi-homemade pizza that tasted fantastic.
In Ryan’s words, “This is how pizza crust is supposed to taste.” He was speaking in reference to the pizza dough we’ve purchased from the Publix deli that somehow always ends up too thick and heavy.
This pizza crust was doughy on the inside, slightly crisp on the outside and not overly thick.
Plus, once we finished eating our pizza we felt satisfied and not like we weighed 5,000 pounds. Pizza win!
Dessert
Dessert tonight was COOL.
I’ve seen several different creations using chia seeds popping up on blogs all over the place and, after seeing a recipe on Gena’s blog, figured I could transform the seeds into a pseudo-dessert!
I combined the following:
- 1/4 cup of chia seeds
- 3/4 cup of almond milk
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- Small spoonful of sugar (1 – 2 tsp.?)
I let the mixture sit while I was at work all day and this evening I enjoyed a thick bowl of chocolate chia seed pudding!
The seeds softened and thickened in the almond milk overtime and the texture reminded me a bit of tapioca pudding. It was really tasty!
I think this chia seed pudding would make a fantastic breakfast if combined with some peanut butter, granola and bananas or fresh berries. So good!
Now that my belly is sufficiently full, I’m off to pack my lunch and spend some time on the couch with Ryan and Sadie. (Any ideas as to what I can make for lunch tomorrow using leftover Italian sausage?)
Enjoy your evening!
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ohh Boboli was what we used to have when I was a kid –ahh memories! 🙂 Pizza (and sausage) are definitely belly-satisfying.
That pizza looks awesome! I have friends who just bake that boboli crust to serve instead of rolls with lasagna! so delicious!
If I can ever find chia seeds here, I’m DEFINITELY trying that pudding! 😀
I need to get some chia seeds! I feel like I’m missing out on so much! 😀
This looks like such a delicious snack! Chia seeds add such amazing texture to baked goods, oatmeal etc. Great idea, Julie!
I’m tempted to try chia seed pudding. I’m glad you described the taste — I actually like tapioca pudding, so I might like it.
That pizza looks SO GOOD! I buy those crusts for my husband once in awhile, maybe I’ll have some next time. 🙂
The pizza looks amazing! I’ve never tried chia seeds, but I feel like I definitely need to after checking out your recipe. It looks great 🙂
Nothing better than homemade pizza!!! YUM!!
I bet it’d be great in a noodle bowl! 😉
I’m definitely going to try that chia seed pudding! By the way, have you ever tried making fudge babies from Chocolate Covered Katie? They are so good – I bet you’d really like them during Lent! My favorite kind is the p.b cookie dough: roasted peanuts, medjool dates & vanilla extract – mm!
Yum, that chia seed pudding looks delish!! We are having a pizza night too! I always put leftover Italian Sausage on a salad, with cut up apple. I actually do this all he time, it such an easy way to get veggies and protein!
I haven’t had Boboli since I was a kid! Wow – memories. My mom used to top them with garlic, basil, a brushing of olive oil or butter, and cheese with dinner instead of cheesy garlic bread.
You could definitely use the leftover sausage to top a salad to make a bagel pizza melt with cheese, spinach, and a little sauce.
Yummy.. I want to make my own pizza! But I love thick crust!! 🙂 Your chia pudding looks good, but I recently used choc soy milk in my cereal and it was sooo bad!! I am guessing almond milk is better?
That looks so good! Gabriela has a great recipe for chocolate banana peanut butter chia seed pudding for breakfast (I know that’s totally not the name of it, but it was the best way to describe it).
I’ve never tried Boboli crusts for the exact same reason!
I love chia pudding — I recently made Une Vie Saine’s choc chia pudding and it was delicious!
It is ridiculous that I am trying to think of sausage recipes for you right now. 😉
I like “sausage” and peppers with marinara on either French bread or pasta!
Random question… I’ve been trying to find chia seeds EVERYWHERE! Where at the grocery store/what grocery store could I find them? Thanks! 🙂
A lot of places sell them online! I got mine through iherb.com.
LOVE Boboli! They used to make mini crusts, too. I need to look for those again!
I have to ask . . . are Chia seeds crunchy? I don’t like seeds in my jam, so I’ve been hesitant to invest in Chias because I’m worried I won’t like the texture. Tapioca, I can do, so maybe I’d like them???
You might not like the texture then. They derinitely have a slight crunch. Ryan is the same way you are about seeds and he isn’t really a fan.
I don’t like chia pudding. I try to, and I mean it tastes good, but the textures is a little weird ha. maybe it’s something I just have to get used to 😉
Boboli is the best crust ever!! I used to have it all the time but forgot ab it– thanks for the reminder!
Leftover sausage is the perfect excuse for a noodle bowl! It would be delicious with some red peppers and broccoli 🙂
OoH! The chia seed pudding looks good! I’m trying that with Carob! ASAP!!
YOUr pizza looks SOoOoO CHEESY AND DELCIOUS!
I know what you mean! The crusts don’t look that good in the packages!
Sauteed peppers and sausage either on a sandwich or on top a salad with other veggies!
I know you enjoy your thick smoothies and find that adding chia seeds to my smoothies makes them much thicker. And has all the benefits of eating more chia. You should give it a try sometime.
I LOVE making pizzas at home! They just taste so different and yum! I think my fave combo is marinara, spinach, feta or goat cheese and tomatoes. nom nom nom.
i actually might buy this brand now- I always see it hanging in the store.
you should make a meatball sub tomorrow! or pair with carba nada- i love those freaking noodles, they taste better than regular spaghetti
I need to try chai seeds… so fascinating how they thicken! yummm:)
cha cha cha chia! love it! I had a chia like pudding breakfast this morning! I love how chia seeds volume up like that! Yum!
When we were kids my parents would buy my brother and I the small Boboli crusts and let us each make our own pizza creations. It was so fun and something that we always looked forward to. Getting the kids in the kitchen…smart! 🙂
I’ve been on such a chia kick lately…I LOVE them with cocoa powder, peanut flour and bananas. I think peanut butter/protein powder would probably work well instead of the peanut flour, too!!
I love semi-homemade pizza. Will buy that pizza crust next trip to the store!
SO excited for your trip to Europe!! My best friend is a foreign exchange student in Italy for this school year and even though she’s been there for seven months already, she says she still can’t get enough gelato. 🙂
I’m so incredibly jealous of you. 😛
I just bought my first packge of chia seeds this weekend, and love them already…had them in my oatmeal and a green smoothie! This pudding is next on my list!
I’ve been doing the chia thang for breakfast for a couple of weeks and I lurve it! I add a scoop of chocolate whey protein powder to the mix (along with 1/4 cup chia + 3/4 cup almond milk + a bit of stevia) just to give it some staying power as breakfast. good stuff.
I am going to try that chia seed pudding- thanks for the idea! And pizza is amazing–yours looks awesome 🙂
totally agree about the pizza crust. try mama mary’s thin and crispy – they sell at publix in the deli section. same price, 2 crusts and even better tasting!
Oooh I’ll look for it! Thanks for the tip.
That pizza definitely made my mouth water! And the chocolate chia seed pudding is so easy, even I could do it! You never cease to amaze me with your creative recipes.
Boboli is the BEST!! I agree with you- it never appealed to me either until I tried it. ..even their whole wheat crust is good! Just warning you though, after eating pizza in Italy it won’t taste the same…that za is out of this WORLD delicious…and their pasta…you are going to love it!
I love thos Boboli crusts! The thin ones are really good too!
I also would like to bathe in gelato. Yes, please!
um holy YUM! chia seeds kinda freak me out but throw in some chocolate and i’m in 🙂
We love Boboli pizza crusts!
I have seen chia seeds all over the place lately too, so I think it is time that I give them a try. I will have to make this pudding for sure when I do!
You could cook up some pasta to serve with the sausage and add lots of veggies!
All those chia seeds don’t bother your stomach? I love the texture and taste but I could neeeeever eat a whole 1/4 cup, I can only handle a couple spoonfuls at once! Maybe it’s just me!
Hey PBF! LOVE your blog 😉
I just got back from a semester in Florence, so I have a LOT of great places to recommend. Check out my blog (HandsinNamaste.wordpress.com) for some ideas.
I would def recomment:
1. Ciro and Sons Restaurant (Via del Giglio)
2. Browsing the Mercado Centrale for fresh foods/tastings and eating at a little shack in there called “Nerbone”
3. “Gusta Pizza” across the River
4. Gelato @ Grom or Cafe Carrouse
Since you are going in May, it will probably be a little warmer out. I would DEFINITELY recomment bringing a bag that goes around your shoulder/body instead of a regular handbag, just to prevent pickpocketing.
Be SURE to climb to the top of Piazza Michelangelo across the River!!
i make chia seed pudding all the time, i use agave or stevia not sugar tho for dissolving purposes
after it’s set up, i pop the whole thing into the freezer. it’s *almost* like ice cream that way 🙂
Hi Julie! I also studied abroad in Florence and had to give you some eating suggestions! You HAVE to get a sandwich from Antico Noe… they are amazing… still craving it! I promise you it will be the best sandwich in your life….
Also, I really suggest going to dinner at Osteria Tre Panche. It is absolutely incredible food, and the restaurant only has 3 tables. It is outside the city center (so you’ll have to cab), but it is so authentic and just a great experience. I also recommend Gusta Pizza like so many other people did as well….
Cannot wait to hear about your trip!!!!!
ALSO….
TONY’S (aka hostaria del moro)in Trastevere, ROME….INCREDIBLE 🙂 🙂 🙂
i used to have that pizza crust as a kid…brings back memories! i haven’t had it since 🙂
BEST pizza crust ever. My dad swears by it. 😀
Well, I’m not sure how well this would work for lunch since it requires some extra preparation, but one of my favorite sausage dishes could be made with leftover italian sausage. I toss sliced bell peppers in olive oil, salt, and pepper then I roast them in the oven until they’re sweet. I pour Barilla roasted pepper marinara sauce over the peppers and sausage and add some mozzarella cheese. Sooo good 😀 In fact, i made it for dinner tonight. LOL.
This would make an awesome breakfast! I think I’ll have it some time this week 🙂
You must try lemon gelato!!!! I went to Italy last summer and someone recommended that I try it while I was there and my first though was, why would I try lemon when there are so many delicious flavours?? Boy was I wrong. I tried lemon pretty much everywhere we went because it was sooo delicious, tart and tasty. I still think about it to this day. The best spot for lemon gelato was a little place in Lido near the hotel we stayed at. OMG….the best!!
Also wanted to mention that I would definitely go see Michaelangelo’s David…….it is amazing to see in person. I LOVED it and I am not a huge art buff or anything.
I’m a vegetarian and that pizza still looks delicious! Oh my goodness. I wish it weren’t so close to bedtime. I would seriously consider making a slice!