Quinoa Pizza Snack Bites

Some things you may not know about the Pilot:

A10 pic

-He minored in Italian

-He grew up in Arkansas and Alabama

-He’s the third generation of military pilots in his family

Pilots 1 of 1

(His dad and grandfather–pretty incredible resemblance, huh?)

-He doesn’t like quinoa… or squash.

Squash 1 of 1

I knew all of the above facts except for the last one, up until a few weeks ago.

“Um, brain, I have something to tell you.”

[We call each other “brain.” It makes no sense but really, neither do we.]

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Well, you know that quinoa and squash thing you made the other night? I liked it, but I don’t really like squash…or quinoa.”

“Haha so both of the main ingredients…you don’t like them…but you liked the dish?”

“Yeah?”

Poor guy. After all these years of making him these two foods, I come to find that he detests them. At least he’s been a good sport this entire time! True love.

Here’s the thing: if you’ve been reading my blog since the early days–thanks for sticking around!–you may remember that I used to make separate meals for the Pilot and myself, especially when I was a vegetarian turned pescatarian. Well, now with Liv in the picture, all I can say is “ain’t nobody got time for that.” I try to make meals that the 3 of us will enjoy and usually, it’s really easy. Liv wants pretty much anything I’m eating–I might tone down the spice for her, but she seems to like spicy–and there are so many meals we all enjoy: salmon, veggies, burgers, Mexican, Italian, stir fry, pizza, eggs, etc. I make vegetarian dishes often, since I don’t like to rely on meat too heavily. Guess I need to pick up a steak for the quinoa nights…

More for me and Liv though, right? 😉

Quinoa 1 of 1

Like these quinoa pizza bites:

Muffins 1 of 1 2

I made a batch of these yesterday, using a Pinterest recipe (and my prepped quinoa!) to freeze and quickly reheat for a snack.

Muffins 1 of 1

The only changes I made:

turkey bacon instead of pepperoni

Turkey bacon 1 of 1

shredded goat gouda for the cheese

one egg + one flax egg

Mix 1 of 1 5

Don’t follow my lead on that one; I’d use two eggs next time as the recipe indicates. Even though they’re crumbly, they have a beautiful robust flavor- especially delectable with some marinara sauce.

I also have my eye on these buffalo chicken bites– they look amazing!

More quinoa-tastic meals:

Fave quinoa uses

Quinoa trail mix muffins 

Quinoa lentil salad 

Quinoa pita tortilla

Quinoa stuffing

Is there any dish you know to not make for your significant other? Who does the cooking in your family? I do most of it (unless the Pilot grills), and the Pilot cleans the kitchen every night (which works out well, because dishes are my least favorite chore).

Hope you’re having a wonderful day!

xoxo

Gina

Just for kicks: Veganville video! JT made up for that “Suit and Tie” song that I despise. haha

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64 Comments

  1. Emily on March 13, 2013 at 10:33 am

    Those sound so good! I’ll have to try them 🙂

    My husband and I do pretty much the same routine. He grills/cleans, I cook. I have never made meat for him though and he’s never complained. If he wants to add it so what I’m making, he’ll make some. He has told me before that when I make meat for him it’s awful…I guess that’s what happens after four years of not eating. People thing our routine is crazy, but it works really well for us and that’s all that matters.

    Veganville was my favorite part on Saturday!

  2. Cassi on March 13, 2013 at 10:33 am

    That’s funny! My man is LEARNING to like the healthier foods, including quinoa. Which is a lot of pressure on me to try to make it taste good. Some recipes are flops. :/ Carrots and celery are a no-no for him but I try to sneak it in. 😉 And we have the same method, I cook/bake and he cleans. Great for me since I also detest doing dishes! Only thing I make him cook is meats/chicken/fish since I don’t at all like touching that. :/ Maybe one day I will get over it. haha

  3. Alisha @ Alisha's Appetite on March 13, 2013 at 10:35 am

    omg I can’t wait to make these for my hubby- he lovesssss quinoa (can’t believe your pilot doesn’t!) and pizza so these are going to be a total winner for him! I rarely make separate dinners for me and my hub…like you said- ain’t nobody got time for that!

  4. Lucie on March 13, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Oh, all of the pilot family are handsome guys! 🙂
    So funny, it works the same way here. I cook, he does the dishes. Wonderful.
    I like whipped cocoa cottage cheese a lot or smoothies, which is not his thing. I think also Quinoa seems too healthy for his taste 🙂 Especially when I mix the sweet cottage cheese with the cinnamon spiced Quinoa, he really does NOT want to taste (and my mouth is watering only by writing this 🙂 )
    Thanks for the recipes!!!

  5. Hillary on March 13, 2013 at 10:38 am

    Hah, this sounds familiar. My fiance will pretty much eat ANYTHING, but we had a similar conversation a few weeks ago. I was going to make a stir fry with bulgur instead of brown rice (I was out), and he was like “Um. Yeah, can we…not…eat that?” Who knew grains could be so polarizing?!

  6. Coco on March 13, 2013 at 10:38 am

    My husband doesn’t like quinoa either.. and I don’t like squash.. I have gotten him to eat it a couple of times.. but he is never happy about it, haha.. pizza bites look yummy though!

  7. Jen on March 13, 2013 at 10:44 am

    I’m not a big meat eater and so we have eggs, occasional chicken dishes or vegetarian most nights. Recently he asked me “Can we have like a piece of meat for dinner sometime? Like a steak?” Haha he is a good sport too and I wish he’d speak up more about what he wants to eat. He’s usually just “If it’s food, I’ll eat it.” Poor guy!

  8. Moi Contre La Vie on March 13, 2013 at 10:47 am

    YUM! These little pizza bites look delish! I love making mini pizzas by slicing up polenta so this is another fun recipe to try. Can’t wait to give it a go this weekend.

  9. Kristy @ Kristy's Health Revolution on March 13, 2013 at 10:48 am

    I used to make Mama Pea’s meatless meat muffins for my fiance before we were engaged ALL THE TIME, swearing that he loved them until he finally wasn’t afraid of hurting my feelings enough to tell me that he really did not. It was hilarious, because I had no idea, but isn’t that sweet that he ate them anyway for me? What a guy.

  10. Irene on March 13, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Cuteness! I love the family of pilots. My Dad’s side of the family has super strong genes so it is sort of like that, even for the girls! I am my dad’s mini-me for sure. Anyway, my husband is a really good sport, but I appreciate him telling me when he really doesn’t like something. If I’m going to the trouble of cooking, I want it to be something we both like! I eat salmon and mushrooms galore when he is out of town or working late so it works out:)

  11. Lisa on March 13, 2013 at 10:56 am

    I’ve been kind of on a quinoa kick lately! Have you have quinoa flour? It’s SO awesome in baked goods! I’ve been loving it. These look awesome!
    What a handsome group of pilots;)

  12. Maria on March 13, 2013 at 11:08 am

    So this video about food allergies and things that are frequently eaten in the “healthy living” world is fantastic:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9QbC41oQRo&noredirect=1

    It’s called One Grain More…a Les Mis spoof.

    Point being though, I haven’t been able to stomach quinoa after the jokes they make about it.

    • Fitnessista on March 13, 2013 at 11:10 am

      “one grain more!” hahah i’m so excited to watch this

      • Fitnessista on March 13, 2013 at 11:21 am

        “have you ever milked an oat?”
        amazing. you just made my morning 😉

  13. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on March 13, 2013 at 11:16 am

    Josh and I both love to cook although he’s better at it. He doesnt like eggs or green smoothies but other than that were pretty similar. I’m working on the green smoothies with him! ;P

  14. Heather on March 13, 2013 at 11:17 am

    My hubby is particular about his veggies and won’t eat broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, or onions (but everything else is fair game). Aside from the vegetable hate, he’s really easy to feed and never complained about eating vegetarian, pescatarian, low-carb, etc. However, I do all the cooking and cleaning, so maybe he just knows to keep his mouth shut lest I stop doing those things 😉

  15. Amy on March 13, 2013 at 11:19 am

    I love oatmeal & fried oatmeal. My husband hates both. He ate a lot of oatmeal when he was living in a tent in the woods for 4 months a few years before I met him. When ever I make either for myself to eat he just make something he likes to eat or will grab fruit.

    As for cooking, I do the majority of our cooking, but he’ll make several meals a week. If I ever don’t feel like cooking he’ll make something for us. When I was unable to stand for 6 weeks after the car accident the kids & I had been in he made almost all of our meals or grabbed take out for us. I enjoy cleaning the kitchen so I usually do that. Sometimes he’ll do the dishes. Our 12.5 year old son does the dishes sometimes and makes lunch sometimes to.

  16. Kathleen@newversionofme on March 13, 2013 at 11:21 am

    Lol that is too funny! I experience that at home too. Oh well, this mama only cooks one meal! Most of the time everyone likes some part of it!

  17. natalie @ will jog for food on March 13, 2013 at 11:24 am

    Those look really good! My husband and I almost always eat the same meals. We pretty much the like the same things… except he has this weird aversion to anything white and creamy, haha. The sour cream enchiladas I used to make are now out of the picture.

  18. Emily:2:DESIGN:CENTS on March 13, 2013 at 11:36 am

    Haha! What your husband is such a good sport! Too cute:) My bf will not eat eggs, avocado, and tomato…picky picky! 3 of my favorite foods too!

  19. Kim on March 13, 2013 at 11:38 am

    Very cool that the Pilot’s dad & grandpa were both pilots! My husband is hoping one of our boys will carry on the pilot tradition but neither is really interested.
    The only food that my husband has ever said specifically he doesn’t like is grapefruit – no loss for me either.
    He cooks dinner fairly often and we usually work together to clean up after – great time to catch up on the day!

  20. Ashley @ Life and Fitness on March 13, 2013 at 11:55 am

    Hahah I love the “ain’t nobody got time for that” reference!

  21. Stellina @My Yogurt Addiction on March 13, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    interesting minor in Italian! I can speak fluent. Nowadays people minor in Spanish or Arabic I notice. Italian doesn’t seem to be “needed” as much, but it’s nice to hear that some people still study it!

    • Brigid on March 13, 2013 at 12:13 pm

      It was my minor, too! Che bella lingua per un paese meraviglioso! 🙂

  22. Brigid on March 13, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    My husband doesn’t love quinoa either. He’s also diabetic and quinoa spikes the blood sugar more than other grains/pseudo-grains, so I never make it any more. We do a lot of barley. Otherwise, he will eat pretty much anything. I’m definitely the cook (and the vegetarian), but he loves good meat-less meals — which is lucky for him, since it’s his only option. Ha.

  23. Tiffanie on March 13, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    Wow!! The pilots grandpa looks a lot like Mathew on Downton Abbey.. My husband does not like Quinoa at all. We have been married for 20 years so there was no fear of hurting my feelings the time I made him try it. The Pizza bites look good, I am going to make some just for me.

  24. Tara on March 13, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    My boyfriend hates Brussels sprouts but I love them! So when I make them, I’ll make him a side of broccoli or spinach. He hasn’t tried quinoa but I don’t think he would like it either.

  25. PluvK on March 13, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    I’m pretty lucky… my guy is a full on carnivore, and I’m, well, not. But he LOVES quinoa, couscous, lentils, tofu, oatmeal… pretty much any healthy dish I make, he will eat. He now requests quinoa… with his steak. 🙂

  26. Julia on March 13, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    Where in Arkansas did the Pilot grow up?

  27. Erin @ Axell's Kitchen on March 13, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    My husband will not eat quinoa, spaghetti squash or cous cous. Which is slightly frustrating because I love all of the three, but if I really want to make a dish involving those I make him something different. And if I ever saw my husband do anything other than grill I think I would fall down dead. That man does not cook haha

  28. Anna J on March 13, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    You must have read my mind! I just made a HUGE batch of quinoa, and was wondering what to do with it all haha. Thanks!

  29. Caroline @ Capture the Cadence on March 13, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    That is SO NEAT that he is the 3rd in line to be a pilot. I think it’s really awesome when people do things their family before them did. Thank you for sharing the photo’s – what a handsome line!
    I confess that I don’t like quinoa either. I’ve tried! But maybe not hard enough…. those pizza bites look good and are maybe the thing to change my mind 😉

  30. Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries on March 13, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    My husband isn’t a fan of meatloaf which is a bummer because I LOVE it. I still make it about once a month or so, and he’s a good sport about it. Like you and your husband, I do most of the cooking and my husband washes the dishes. I’d much rather cook than clean, and he’d much rather clean than cook so it works out perfectly

  31. Katie on March 13, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    You had me on Quinoa! cant wait to try all of those!

  32. Sara on March 13, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    We’ve been married for 10 years, I found out last month, hubby doesn’t like cooked carrots. Its funny the things we are still learning about each other.

  33. Elke on March 13, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    I’ve got a similar problem here. I love quinoa dishes (your pictures are sooo yummy) and my husband can’t stomach them. So every time I have something with quinoa, he has a separate dish for himself.

  34. Sarah on March 13, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Brussels sprouts and beets! He calls them “the most pungent foods” and doesn’t even like to be in the kitchen if I’m cooking them. 🙂

  35. Maria on March 13, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    I’m totally finding myself a husband that’s identical to the Pilot! He’s so sweet! He doesn’t happen to have a twin brother, does he? 🙂

  36. Sarah on March 13, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    You are blessed the hus is such a trooper about eating foods he’s bleh about. I am an Arkansas girl and always happy when I discover someone has Arkansas roots! Where did the pilot live in Arkansas? I assume somewhere near a base… And he still hollers Roll Tide???

  37. Katie on March 13, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    My boyfriend does dinners and I do weekend breakfasts. 🙂 We both eat anything, but we always make sure our meals are natural and healthy. Like tonight we have beef cooking in the slow cooker with red potatoes and a bunch of veggies. I cannot wait to smell the apartment when I get home tonight!!

  38. Karen on March 13, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Funny your husband just told you that he does not care for something. I have been married 19 years and just found out a year or so ago that my husband does not like turkey chili. Took him long enough to break that to me!!!
    I think it is terrific you feed your daughter the food you eat. I consume a diet very close to yours, and operate an inhome daycare. All my children have a wide range of foods that they get to try/eat, that they will never see offered to them at home. Variety is terrific, especially when its healthy variety.
    I enjoy your blog alot, as a fairly new reader, keep up the great recipes.

  39. Michelle @ Eat Move Balance on March 13, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    My husband is great sport about everything I like to cook, as well. But there’s one rule: no eggplant. He’s tried it for me a few times, and he just can’t stand it. I’m not in love with it, so I figured it’s no big deal if I just agree to not use it any recipes. Gotta compromise! 🙂

  40. Brittany @ Kitchen::Candid on March 13, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    I have a rather particular eater for a husband. I’m always saying, “But you haven’t had it the way that I make it!” lol! Usually if I want him to try something new I just make up a name for it and he’ll eat it, love it and that will be that!! 🙂

  41. Yvette on March 13, 2013 at 2:56 pm

    We alternate every night. It’s a plan we call “Buy or Fry” — it means that when its your night you can cook or you can buy it already made, dealer’s choice. But you are solely responsible for putting dinner on the table that night. We also serve each other when it’s our night and handle the dishes. Sometimes it’s a lot! But its so nice every other night to have a great dinner and not have to lift a finger.

    My guy is a better cook than I am and worked as a cook the past, so I’m pretty lucky.

  42. Allison @ Train Eat Repeat on March 13, 2013 at 4:40 pm

    i’ve definitely need to try those!
    my bf likes pretty much anything. I usually do the cooking, unless its grilling thats about the only time he does it!

  43. Hayley on March 13, 2013 at 4:40 pm

    Is it weird I think his grandfather is a fox?

  44. sara @ fitcupcaker on March 13, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    These look so good, I love how versatile quinoa is!

  45. Babs on March 13, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    I definitely do most of the cooking, but the Hubs is a really good cook (just takes fooor-evaaaaaaa). The Hubs chokes down everything, but I can certainly tell the difference between “I will eat this because it’s good for me” and “Wow, I love this meal”. Luckily, last night was the latter when I served enchiladas 😉

  46. April on March 13, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    So funny! Sounds like something my husband would do too…tell me years later he doesn’t like something i have been cooking forever…true love indeed!!!!!!! Mine is just as good of a sport. My hubby can’t stand kale, but he eats it, ha ha.

  47. Heidi on March 13, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    haha! My mom made beef burgundy for my husband the first time he came over for dinner. He raved about it and she would make it often when he came over. It wasn’t until a few years into our relationship (when we were about to get married) that he came clean: he hates beef burgundy! haha. It is a running joke now in our family. Yes, it is true love because he was such a good sport about it!

  48. Anna @ Your Healthy Place on March 13, 2013 at 6:05 pm

    Ooh these sound delicious, and easy to make vegetarian. One of my favourite quinoa recipes is my crispy quinoa cakes, stuffed with sundried tomatoes and feta cheese, so I can see why these would be similarly delicious. Yummy!

  49. Sam @ Better With Sprinkles on March 13, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Those look good!

    The boyfriend is a big meat and potatoes kinda guy. He’ll eat basically anything I make, but if it’s vegetarian, he probably won’t touch the leftovers. Means I don’t have to think about lunch all week!

  50. Caitlin on March 13, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    I’ve seen those pizza bites popping up all over Pinterest too-glad to hear they’re yummy! Will have to try. I only cook for myself right now since I’m in college, but ever since I got into health and fitness, cooking has been a passion of mine. So when I go home, I am usually the one cooking dinner for my family. I love it, and it’s a little treat for them to have my make dinner since they work all day. And in our house, it’s typically the same kinda thing-whoever doesn’t cook gets to clean 😉

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