Heart-Shaped Nacho Pizza

My junior year in college, I lived in a weird hippie co-op. The rent was super cheap and they had two rooms available, so my friend Courtney and I signed up. We were for sure the outcasts of the house. I’m also pretty sure we were really annoying to the rest of the house, because we ate Chef Boyardee Ravioli or Totino’s Party Pizzas pretty much every night and had dance parties in the hallway. We didn’t join in their drum circles and for sure didn’t understand their “organic” pamphlet propaganda (I had never even heard that word before!). But we had each other, and that’s all that mattered.

But that year on Valentine’s Day, Courtney left town to be with her boyfriend. And all of my other friends were tied up to with Valentine’s Day plans too, but I was determined to not feel sorry for single-self. I planned a special night with romantic comedies and a big box of chocolates…

With my $.99 video store specials and a few Peppermint Patties in hand (I had no idea boxes of chocolates were so expensive), I came home to start my special solo night. When I walked through the door, my co-op mate was sitting on the only couch watching the only TV in the house with his Valentine. They asked if I wanted to join. But watching a video on the evils of chicken farming wasn’t the romantic night I had planned. I sulked upstairs and ate my peppermints alone in my room and listened to Diana Ross sing The Theme From Mahogany over and over again. Have you read the lyrics to this song? It’s sad!

I have a life-long Valentine now and don’t eat Chef Boyardee, but not much else has changed since my co-op days. My dream Valentine’s Day is still just having something yummy and cuddling in to watch movies on my couch. This year, I’ll be making this pizza and watching a marathon of The Good Wife (I’m blazing through Season Two). And maybe I’ll throw in a session or two of The Theme From Mahogany, just for old times sake. It doesn’t seem so sad anymore.

{ Nacho-Heart Shaped Pizza } 

For the cheese:
1 cup soaked cashews (I like to soak them overnight)
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
4 ounce can of green chiles
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup vegetable broth
Dash of garlic powder
Salt to taste

*Optional: add cayenne, chipotle, or chili powder

Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth. Add extra spices for more heat. Pour into saucepan on medium heat and stir to thicken for about 5 minutes. Use right away or cover and store in the fridge up to two days.

For the pizza:
1 brown rice tortilla, cut into a heart shape
Toppings of your choice: tomatoes, black beans, guacamole, cashew sour cream, salsa, cilantro, refried beans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat your heart-shaped tortilla for about 5 minutes until soft and warm. Spread a thin (or thick!) layer of your cheese on top. Top with your favorite nacho toppings. Get creative with the presentation and have fun.

OPP Notes:

If Mexican isn’t your thing, ditch the green chiles when making your cheese and top with red sauce and your favorite pizza toppings.