Pizza Sauce for a B-day!

Looks like real pizza, doesn't it?

Yesterday was Rita's first birthday.  I felt bad that things were a little chaotic.  We had a follow-up with James's pediatrician after his discharge from the hospital.  I felt like I was playing catch-up.  We didn't have anything ready except an extra-large slinky (which she loved).  But, she did get to enjoy breakfast before we left and she was really happy with it: asparagus (a new food for her), butternut squash, and plantain pancakes.  Yum!  We met my family at Toys R Us to test out trikes - Rita loved that!

I wanted to make something special for her birthday dinner.  She loves feeding herself so I wanted finger foods.  I've had a pizza sauce recipe in the back of my head for a little while and determined to make pizza work (especially since we have yummy raw cheese in our fridge).  One of the first times I tried fennel I thought it had a hint of the spicy taste of pepperoni.  Call me crazy, but I swear it's there.  I took the basic concept of Mickey Trescott's pizza sauce in the Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook (she uses a base of beets and carrots) and tried my own version.  We all loved it, but Rita wasn't having it (although, she loved her broiled pears and caramel dessert - I didn't have the time, energy, or creativity for a cake.  We'll do that Sunday.)!  I think she was pretty pooped from all the excitement of the day.

So, here it is!  A fantastic, tomato-free, pizza sauce!  Soon, to be followed by our fantastic, grain, coconut, cauliflower, plantain-free AIP crust!

AIP Pizza Sauce

Ingredients:

1 purple beet
1 fennel bulb and stalks
2 T lard, softened (or butter, or coconut oil - I don't used olive oil because it goes rancid when heated)
1/4 cup chicken stock
1/2 tsp real salt
10-15 large fresh basil leaves, chopped small

1. Chop purple beets.  Chop fennel bulb and stalks, but reserve on stalk for pizza topping.  Boil on high until soft, about 30 minutes.  Drain excess liquid.
2. Place in food processor with lard and chicken stock and blend until smooth.
3. Add salt, and basil.  Combine.
4. Ladle onto your favorite pizza crust!

Let me know what you think!