Keeping it Simple Pizza Twists

It's not a news flash to any of you that I have been more hit and miss these days with my posts. Well, in the late stages of pregnancy, you tend to do things like that. We are now approaching labor day rapidly, and everyone in our house is very excited. Elli likes to hug and kiss Baby Sister (a.k.a. my large belly). Daddy likes to rub Baby Sister. Mommy likes to lay down with her feet elevated above her heart.

When it comes to just about everything these days, I'm keeping it as simple as possible. I've stopped worrying so much about what outfits I wear to work -- all my shirts are too short for my belly anyway, so whatever. I've stopped hassling over trying to drive on wintery roads -- my doctor gave me strict instructions to stay home when the roads are bad anyway. And for meals, well, I still put a little emphasis on that because, well, I'm still hungry, very hungry, these days. For some reson I particularly crave Mexican food or any semblence thereof (Taco Bell). I would not be shocked if Baby Sister comes out asking for salsa.

I'm also preparing for having meals on hand when Baby Sister comes home. One of my favorites to have premade and in the freezer is a Pepperoni Bake. As I was planning to make up a batch, I decided to do something new with the pepperoni not used in the bake. That's when I came across a recipe from my friends over at Gooseberry Patch (the Cozy Country Christmas cookbook, specifically) called:

Pepperoni Pizza Twists

2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
10.6 oz. tube refrigerated bread sticks
Pepperoni slices
14 oz. pizza sauce

Combine cheese, garlic powder and seasoning; set aside. Unroll and separate the bread stick dough. Place pepperoni slices on one end of each stick; fold top half over and twist the bread stick. Place twists on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with cheese mixture. Bake at 350 for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with warmed pizza sauce for dipping.

Elli is now 3 years old, which means she is establishing her own way of doing things. Nowhere was this more evident to me than in the kitchen the night we made these pizza twists.

I showed her how to unroll each breadstick dough bunch, place the pepperoni slices on the lower half, and then gently fold the top half over the lower half. Allow me to introduce you to Elli Style (watch video):

That, my friends, is how she rolls. It all bakes the same.

From that point on, we took turns making the twists. But, of course, she instructed me on whose turn it was who got to unroll which bunch of dough.

When it was my turn, I tried to keep faithful to the recipe instructions. Elli was equally faithful -- to her version. But she did have a certain grace in her coordination in laying down the pepperoni slices.

Kinda reminds you of a Subway sandwich artist, no?

The last step was to sprinkle on the cheese mixture. And "sprinkle" in Elli Style means pinch some cheese mixture out of the bowl, drop it on a twist, lick fingers, repeat (to Mommy's protest). Then, when task is completed, swipe as many pepperoni slices as you can.

After putting the twists in the oven, I asked Elli to pick out which veggies she wanted: peas or mixed veggies. She picked mixed veggies, which apparently she took quite literally because she insisted on mixing the veggies in the microwave steamer.

Elli Style. Who can bag on that?

Pizza Twists Overall Ratings (5 being the best):
Elli-friendly cooking: 5
Elli-friendly eating: 5
Simple: 5
Fast: 5
Frugal: 4

So tell me....
What simple meals are good to have in the hopper when a newborn is in the house?