LAST EDITED ON 08-26-10 AT 06:03 PM (EST)

I know I'm a day early but I'm going to be out most of the day tomorrow and hope to get this back on track.

So I'm starting with dessert -
Watermelon/Basil Granita - we've been making granita's forever. As a broke single mom - Bre and I couldn't afford to buy an icecream machine but it didn't cost much of anything to make a good granita. Recently, it may have been Rachael Rays mag but I'm not sure, I read about adding herbs to granitas and have been testing different recipes ever since, this is one of my favorite combos. Blueberry/lemon is a close second. So...

Watermelon Basil Granita

1 small watermelon
2 T fresh basil, chopped
2/3 c sugar
2/3 c water
3 T vodka - I used vanilla flavored

Cut the watermelon into small pieces, removing any rind & seeds. Add it & the basil to a blender & purée until is it almost completely smooth, you really want this as smooth as possible. You should end up with about 3 cups of purée.

In the microwave heat the water & sugar until the sugar is dissolved, making a simple syrup.

Mix the watermelon purée, simple syrup & vodka together in a container with a lid & put into the freezer. Allow to freeze to a slushy texture & then break up with a fork. I would scrap every few hours and then let go overnight. It took a little bit of scrapping the next day but well worth the effort. Makes quite a bit.

And now the grilled veggie pizzas - I usually buy my pizza dough from my favorite pizza spot Sam and Ella's - they sell me enough for 4 pizza for 2.00 but they were closed and I was pooped so decided to buy rolls instead of make my own. BIG mistake - Big! Pizza dough is so easy to make and the store bought was gross. So here is a pizza dough recipe, but buy from a grocer, restaurant or make your own grilled pizza is fantastic.

Pizza dough -

1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons white sugar
Directions
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups bread flour, olive oil, salt, white sugar and the yeast mixture; stir well to combine. Beat well until a stiff dough has formed. Cover and rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes.Turn dough out onto a well floured surface. Form dough into a round and roll out into a pizza crust shape.

Roll out into thin crust

Edited to add a loose shopping list
canola oil
garlic
eggplant
roma tomatoes
yellow squash
onion
spinach
basil
marinara sauce
olives
hummus
mozzarella
feta
add or subtract as you please

Toppings -
Use any sauce you want - I did two. A marinara sauce and hummus dip. Use whatever veggies you love - I've got mushrooms, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, yellow squash, red peppers and garlic. Cut them chunky and throw in a bag with some canola oil.

Grill when coals turn white. Salt lightly and put aside.

Oil both sides of pizza dough and throw on grill - don't worry, it'll look like it's oozing and will fall through. It doesn't.

Flip onto a plate and add your toppings onto the grilled side. (somehow I didn't get the picture of the mediterranean toppings - it was hummus as the sauce, eggplant, spinach, kalamata olives, tomatoes, red pepper, mozzerella and feta)
The one shown is marinara, mushrooms, fresh basil leaves, red pepper and mozzerella - and maybe a few other things.

Grill until toasty and serve.