Two sisters' quest to recapture the magic of the old fashioned family dinner: homemade food, heartfelt conversation and honest laughter.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Chicken, Bacon and Veggie Pizza
I thought for sure my children would hate this pizza, so I made one for my husband and I, and one regular cheese pizza for the kids. Well, they loved it! Next time I will make two of them! The no fail pizza crust recipe is a keeper, very easy. It makes a thick dough if that is the kind you like, if not, then use your favorite pizza dough recipe. Oh, and see that red pepper on the bottom of the picture, on the edge of the crust? That would be my dividing line - on the right of that is the onion free zone, on the left is Onion City. I was VERY careful when putting the onions on, I didn't get them even CLOSE to the dividing line!! This pizza was delicious!!! When I grilled the chicken, I also put barbecue sauce on it. Yum.
Chicken, Bacon and Veggie Pizza
Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen
Ingredients:
1 recipe no fail pizza crust or use your own favorite pizza dough recipe
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 1/2 cups cheddar or Colby jack cheese, shredded
1/2 red pepper, cored, seeded & cut into strips
1/2 medium red onion, sliced vertically
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled & diced
6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the pizza crust and roll out to fit into one 14 inch pizza pan or stone. Drizzle two tablespoon olive oil and the garlic onto the pizza crust, followed by half of each of the cheeses. Scatter half of the bell pepper, sliced onion, chicken, and bacon.
Add the remaining chicken, bacon, veggies and the rest of the cheeses. Finish it off by drizzling the last tablespoon of olive oil all over the top. Bake the pizza at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned. Remove from the oven, let cool and slice.
No Fail Pizza Crust
Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup warm water
1 tbsp. baking powder
4 tbsp. butter, softened
1 - 1/4 oz packet yeast (I used rapid rise)
Dissolve the yeast in warm water and set aside. Mix the flour, salt and baking powder together. Add the softened butter and cut into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or fork. Add the yeast mixture and stir together to combine. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until well blended. Place the pizza dough into a oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat. Let rest for about 20 minutes. Cover the bowl with dish towel or plastic wrap while the dough rests. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Spray your pizza pan with non stick baking spray or brush with olive oil. You can also use a pizza stone. Press the pizza dough into the pan. Pre bake the pizza crust for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and spread with pizza sauce and add all your favorite toppings. Place the pizza in the oven and bake until the crust is golden browned and the cheese is melted about 10-15 minutes.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Homemade Pizza
I think it's safe to say that pizza is the most favorite meal at our house. I'm pretty sure we could have pizza every day and the kids wouldn't complain. We usually have pizza on Saturday nights from one of our favorite local pizza joints (we have several, thank goodness) and occasionally I'll make a homemade pizza during the week. This pizza dough recipe is super easy and even easier if you throw it all in your bread machine. Just a side note, I think the key to great homemade pizza is a pizza stone. Seriously, it just makes it so much better. Just add your favorite toppings (Husband and I like various vegetables and the kids are strictly pepperoni and cheese).
Easy Pizza Dough
4 to 4 1/2 c. flour
2 envelopes fast-rising dry yeast (I use 2 T. active dry)
1 t. sugar
2 t. olive oil
1 3/4 c. warm water (110 degrees)
1 t. salt
Put water in mixer bowl. Add yeast and sugar, stir with fork and let sit until creamy. Add oil and half flour and mix with kneader hook. Add remaining flour and salt, knead for 8-10 minutes. Let rest, covered with towel for 10 minutes. The dough may be punched down, placed in a sealable plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator for 12 hours or frozen at this point; return to room temperature before proceeding. Divide the dough into 8 portions for 6" crusts or 2 portions for large crusts (we sometimes make 3-4 thin crust pizzas). Top with sauce, cheese and other toppings. Bake on pizza stone or cookie sheet at 450-500 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Carrie's Notes: I put the ingredients in my bread maker (dough cycle) and it turns out perfect!
