Darn Happy Pizza Crust

By : Sharon

Darn Happy Pizza Crust

(Taken from the Atkins Bulletin Board Low Carb Friends, posted by Darnitol on Sept. 13, 2000)
www.atkinsfriends.com

This pizza crust is a variation of Atkins’ own Revolution Rolls. Though it looks complicated, it’s actually easy to make once you master “Stiff Peaks” and “ Folding”. Instructions given are for the beginner cook.

INGREDIENTS:

4 large eggs
4 tablespoons Cottage Cheese (small curd is best)
1 1/2 tablespoons Atkins Bake Mix
1 tablespoon of Flax Seed
1 teaspoon Splenda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter

You need:
Electric mixer, mixing bowl, a second bowl, fork, rubber spatula, cooking spray, and a pizza pan (not the kind with the little vent holes in the bottom)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 300F.
2. Separate eggs, putting the whites into the mixer bowl and the yolks into the second bowl (mixing bowls that are not plastic work best for whipping egg whites), put yolks into the second bowl. Note also that egg whites whip best at room temperature.
3. Grind the Flax seed into meal, if you started with Flax seed.
4. Add the flax meal to the second bowl (with yolks).
5. Add the salt, Splenda, cottage cheese and Atkins Bake Mix into the yolks and flax seed in the second bowl.
6. Add the Cream of Tartar to the egg whites and whip to stiff peaks.
7. After whipping the egg whites, mix the ingredients in the second bowl with the mixer. (If you blend these together after whipping the whites, it saves washing the mixer beaters between jobs).
8. Use the spatula to gently push the whites to one side of the bowl, creating a “well” beside the egg whites.
9. Scrape the yolk mixture into the second bowl into the “well” you just created in the egg whites.
10. FOLD the yolk mixture into the egg whites. GENTLY.
11. Spray the pizza pan generously with cooking spray.
12. Use the spatula to “spoon” the mixture onto the pizza pan, evenly spacing the blobs of mix on the pan.
13. Very gently spread the mix with the spatula, making one evenly-thick mass with no holes.
14. Place the pizza pan on the middle own rack and bake for 50 minutes. The crust will rise a little, making what looks like one gigantic sugar cookie.
15. Remove from the oven, and then set the oven up to 375F (for cooking the actual pizza later).
16. Allow the crust to cool until warm (approx. 5 minutes).
17. Using your fingertips, flatten the inner part of the crust firmly, leaving the outer rim raised, to create that classic “pizza crust look.”
18. Cool…and top with your favorite toppings, bake for 20 minutes.