Mozzarella Stuffed Pizza Burgers

 How many of you have pizza night at your house?  You know, every this day or that day you have pizza for dinner?  We always had Chinese food night at our house but, I know TONS of people who do pizza night.  Maybe this could be a little change up one of those nights that you surprise your family with!

I have made pizza burgers for years, but my husband, the wonderful genius that he is (yes, he made me say that) suggested I try a new version and stuff it.  Well, I don't know about you but when someone uses the words "stuffed" and "mozzarella" in the same sentence, something amazing is likely about to happen.  That being said, I of course tried it for him because after all, he is awesome and his birthday is tomorrow.  Wowzers, is about all I have to say.  I might have teased you on Instagram or Facebook!  (insert innocent face)

I hope you give this a try, if you do, post me photos friends!  I love to see how your versions of my recipes turn out!  Share the love!  Tag me, everywhere!

Heeeeeeeere we go!

2 lbs Ground Beef
1 T. Italian Seasoning
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. black pepper
sliced mozzarella
shredded or thick slices of mozzarella for the "stuffed part"
pizza sauce

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  In a large bowl combine your ground beef and all of your seasonings.  Mix well with your hands.  Yes, your hands!  Just do it!

When you have the meat mixed completely and the seasoning is distributed throughout, divide into equal parts, according to how many burgers you want.  I got 7 burgers, you might be able to get 8.   Once they are divided, divide eat part in half, making two THIN patties.  Place a chunk of mozz in the middle and carefully seal the edges.  I always just seal mine by going over the edges repeatedly but, you can use some water to help seal it.

When you have them all formed, stuffed and sealed, fry in a bit of olive oil for 2-3 minutes per side.  (Notice, ZERO cheese leaking out?) My husband and I had a bet.  You clearly see who won.   Anyway, when you have fried both sides, place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Finish all the burgers.

Top each burger with a generous amount of pizza sauce, and then lay down the goodness.  One piece of mozz or shredded, if you prefer on top.

Pop this beautiful burgers into the oven for 10 minutes.  They will be done absolutely perfectly.  I could lightly squeeze the burger and see the beautiful juiciness. Eat this hot, so the cheese in the middle stretches and is gooey!

Now, what takes these over the top is the bun.  Use regular hamburger buns.  Spread a light layer or butter on all of the tops and bottoms.  Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, a bit of salt and pepper and some Parmesan cheese.  Pop under your broiler for a couple of minutes until you pull them out and they look like this....

Now, go make it happen........trust me.

ENJOY!

Thin Crust Reuben Pizza

Ohhh Ohhhh OH, Oh those summmmmerrr nights! Wella, wella, wella, UH.... 
Yes, I am watching Grease in the background.  I guess that means I am listening to Grease.  Anyway, I hope that song is now stuck in YOUR head for awhile like I have!

This is a bit of a "semi-homemade" pizza.  Let me be honest, I do this from time to time and I go through spurts of it.  In the summer I tend to do it more, simply because of being busy and not wanting to heat up the kitchen.  But I have my own opinions, I think even though you purchase some ingredients, it is homemade, it is assembled by your hands in your kitchen with your love, and dang it, that is homemade.  Am I right here?  This is probably the first time in maybe 5 or 6 years, (dead serious) that I BOUGHT a pizza crust thingy.  I have to much going on and my sister requested that I made a pizza like this for her last winter.  WHAT?  So she had to be put on my waiting list, I think 6 months out isn't bad at all!  Let me just tell you friend O' mine who want to make your own sauerkraut, pizza dough, and Russian dressing on a 100 degree day......GO FOR IT.  Isn't happening for me.  Also if I had real corned beef on hand, I would have gone that route.  But this is a quick and easy pizza, so just do it!

This will beyond satisfy any Reuben lover in your life.  It far exceeded my expectation but I don't know why, it is just like I made a regular Reuben sandwich just in thin crust pizza form!  Some of the toppings, are kind of "to taste" but I will just tell you what I used. 

Oh yea, ask me why there is only 1 photo of my prep.  Because I forgot to take more.  And frankly, it's a pizza, you will figure it out!



You will need

1 Pillsbury (or whatever brand) pizza crust
1/4-1/2 cup Thousand Island Dressing
1/4 lb. deli corned beef sliced thin by the deli and in strips by you
1 cup drained and packed sauerkraut
2 cups grated Swiss cheese

Press dough out unto a pizza pan.  Mine is pretty large. Use a cookie sheet if you need to, just get it pressed out.  Follow package directions, I needed to pre bake mine for 5 minutes.  I let it cool a couple of minutes and then started the masterpiece!

Thousand Island dressing, leave a little border. 

And that is where your pictorial stops!  Next comes half of the cheese!  THEN the sauerkraut, corned beef on top of that, then the rest of the cheese.  Make sure that sauerkraut is drained REALLY well.  Bake for an additional 7-10 minutes.  Your crust will be golden and the cheese will be melty goodness.



This is fantastic and if you aren't sure, just ask me.  I will tell you to just make it, and see for yourself!  That thin crispy crust and those Reuben toppings, good Lord above, it is amazing!
ENJOY!

Pizza Crescents

Well, hello again!  I hope this finds you all recovering from a wonderful holiday, with tons of food, fun, family, friends, and joy!  It was the Christmas of my dreams this year.  After almost 7 years I got to spend Christmas with my son and his family.  The best gift I received was to be able to watch them open gifts and share happiness and love.  What better way to celebrate the birth of my Savior!  Bliss, it was pure bliss.

After taking the week off from blogging, I wanted to jump back in with something perfect for your New Years parties or just if you are at home alone.  These are so easy, one of my sisters made them for our family Christmas a few weeks ago and I thought, I had to share them, they were so easy yet so good.  I did add a couple of extra steps, because, that is just how I roll.  It is the only thing I thought could make them better!  She had eaten them at a work party and had no idea what they were called, so I am calling them simply "Pizza Crescents".

These really couldn't be easier to make.  Just pick up a few ingredients and get to assembling.  They are addictive, you might want to double the recipe, because honestly, I think they would freeze like a dream for lunches, school, or adults, or snacks.  So just keep that in mind.  Bake them off as per the instructions, let cool and bag them up maybe 2 in a bag, my son would have loved these in his school lunch!!

This recipe yields 16 pizza crescents:

2 rolls of  refrigerator crescent rolls (8 per roll)
sliced pepperoni (I used 3 per roll so you will need 48 slices)
8 mozzarella string cheese sticks
3 tbsp. butter, melted
Italian seasoning

Preheat your oven to the recommended temperature on your crescent rolls.  Line a baking sheet with parchment or spray with nonstick cooking spray.  Cut all of your string cheese in half, and get your pepperoni ready to go.  Unroll the crescent dough and work with one at a time.  Lay the pepperoni at the wide end, and lay the cheese on top, and roll that baby up, nice and easy!

This is kind of a "rinse and repeat" situation.  Get them all filled and rolled and line them up on your tray.  Now, sprinkle with a little Italian seasoning on top.  You will bake them for the recommended time on the package.  I found that using the longest recommended time works best.  If it says 11-13 minutes, go with 13. 

 

While they are baking, melt your butter.  When they come out of the oven, immediately brush on a little melted butter and then sprinkle on some more Italian seasoning.  Let cool just a couple of minutes and dip in!  Make sure to serve with some pizza sauce or marinara sauce. DO NOT be tempted to add the sauce into the pizza roll.  I mean you can, but it is a hot mess friends.  Ask me how I know.  If you add enough for it to make a difference, that is!

Enjoy these as an appetizer, light lunch, kids lunch, or anytime.  I mean let's be honest with each other, there is never a BAD time for pizza!!

ENJOY!

BBQ Chicken Pizza (Homemade BBQ Sauce)

Hello friends!  I finally got home from my parents and hubby and I decided to spend the first day we could in the kitchen making OUR idea of the perfect BBQ sauce.  Honestly, neither of us are a huge BBQ sauce fans.  I love Cookies, and that is it.  I was game for making our own, at least we could make it how we wanted.  I whipped up a batch of pizza dough, and while it was raising we went to work!

We both like a bit of sweetness and smoke but it took us a bit to get rid of the plain "tomato base" flavor.  We worked, and added, and discussed and then messed it up and then brought it back about 10 times!  I hope you enjoy this sauce, that is especially incredible with chicken.  As I mentioned we made a Chicken BBQ Pizza out of it,  and it was deeeeee-lish.  When two, NON BBQ sauce lovers tell you it was great, it had to be great!  Right?

I used dehydrated onion in this, feel free to mince an onion and sauté it before adding it.  I don't groove hugely on onions so I opted for dehydrated so I had a bit of the bit, but none of the slime.  Hot sauce is also optional, use it to your taste or leave it out completely!

2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. dehydrated onion
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. liquid smoke
1 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup water

Combine a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, stir constantly.  When it comes to a boil, turn burner off and let sit to cool.   This will yield just about 2 cups of BBQ sauce!

For the pizza (it will make 2) you will need:

4 large chicken breasts, roasted and sliced thin
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 recipe of my Pizza Dough

Follow instructions for pizza dough.  When the dough has doubled in size, divide in half and spread out between 2 pizza pans.  Add half of the sauce to each pizza, and spread it out.  Lay sliced chicken on top, and finally sprinkle with cheese!  Bake at 450  degrees F for 15-20 minutes!


Slop it, slap it, and smack it good!

ENJOY!

Pizza Pot Pie!

Just as the photo implies, it is a pizza lovers dream! 

I had contemplated the filling for this beauty for a few days.  I love meatball pizza, hubby loves cheese only, and the rest was just random.  Oh how beautiful random can be!  I had some leftover dough as you might notice.  Feel free to cut fun shapes out for the top, I just used the seasoning on those so they would stand out more.  In the recipe I just call for sprinkling the entire top with pizza seasoning, but you roll down the road that makes you happy.  Feel free to add mushrooms, olives, ancho...no I can't even type the word, but you know what I mean.  Whatever you like on pizza, add 1 cup of it, or divide it, so it equals a cup, if you do much more, you pan will runneth over.  I am all for things running over, but, not when it involves the possibility of having to clean the oven.  BUT I did put it on a cookie sheet to bake just in case.  I suggest you do the same!

This seems difficult but it isn't at all.  As long as you make sure you have sealed the edges and heaven knows you must have plenty of cheese, all will work out fine!  It even got my husbands, "wow, I wouldn't change a thing" approval.   The longer you let it cool, the more of a "piece"  you can get, but really, just dive in! 

So if you are THAT person who eats all the topping and leaves the crust, (don't look at me like that, I KNOW you have done it) this is for you!  I hope you try it, and I hope you don't get heartburn.  Just sayin......

1 lb. Italian sausage browned (you pick sweet or hot)
1 cup pepperoni (I used 1 5oz package of Pepperoni Minis)
10 meatballs, cooked and halved
2 cups pizza blend cheese (if you can't find this use 1 cup mozz, 1/2 cup parm and 1/2 cup cheddar, all shredded)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella
4 cups pizza sauce or pasta sauce of your choice (I used a garlic flavored one)
2, 9 inch pie crusts (here is my amazing pie crust recipe)
1 egg for egg wash
1 tbsp. pizza seasoning (here is my recipe)

Preheat your oven to 350.   Remember you will need a DEEP dish for this!  In a large bowl combine your prepared sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, all cheeses, and sauce.  Mix until completely combined.  Set aside.

Take your pie crust and roll them out just a smidgen, so they are SLIGHTLY bigger.  Not to thin just give them a good roll in each direction and call it good.  Spray your pie plate with nonstick cooking spray.  Place bottom crust into your deep dish pie pan.  Make sure not to stretch it, just ease it into the bottom.  Place ALL of your filling mixture into the dish.  It will be over full, that is perfect!  Smooth it as much as you can and place the top crust on.  Pinch the edges together, as you prefer.  Crimp, scalloped, no matter just make sure they are sealed up.  In a small bowl whisk your egg with 1 tbsp. of water and then brush the entire crust and sprinkle with pizza seasoning.  Bake for 50-60 minutes.  Let stand 10-15 minutes before slicing. 

This is incredible!  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 

Homemade Pizza Seasoning

Greetings fellow pizza lovers!  (or I assume you are).  We pizza lovers, we know how we like our pizza don't we?  We don't stray easily either, do we?  We are the movers and shakers of the universe, trust me, I know we HAVE to be!

You know that I profess to have the best pizza dough recipe on earth right?  Well I decided I would also share with you my homemade pizza seasoning.  I get crazy when I see the amount of salt in these prepackaged seasonings.  YIKES!  Never mind the MSG, fillers, etc.  Just give me the flavor people, just the flavor and I will be golden.  They won't do it.  So, I make my own.  Actually I make it sound like I have been making my own for years and that is not the case.  I have been making my own for a few months.  It took me a couple of batches to work it out how I wanted it to taste.  I am happy with it, my family and friends love it and I hope you do too!

All of these spices can be purchased at your grocery store, or even your dollar store.  I chopped my recipe down to make a 1 cup size amount but just double or triple the ingredients for more.  I use it to flavor cooked sauces, I use it straight from the jar on pizza, no matter how you do it, cooked or just sprinkle it from the jar!

Pizza Seasoning:
2 tbsp. dried minced garlic

2 tbsp. dried minced green bell pepper

2 tbsp. dried minced onion

1/4 cup dried parsley

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 cup oregano

1 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, or jar.  Mix (or shake) until combined.  You CAN put this through your mini food processor to make it a finer mix, but I use this in sauces as well as on top of pizza or in pizza sauce, so I like the texture of it.  This makes about 1 cup of seasoning.  It is easily doubled or tripled with no problem! 

Make sure to adjust the red pepper flakes to your liking.  Add more, or don't add any at all depending on the heat level you enjoy.  Me?  I need some heat friends, I LOVE some heat!

Your "pizza lovin' Chefwannabe

Pizzaiolo Pasta Bake

Hello my friends!  I am so glad to be back.  I have been so busy, I apologize for no new post on Wednesday, it just wasn't going to happen.  I am happy you are still with me and hoping this recipe was worth the wait!

Most of you know I have a hard time with umm.....casseroles.  I won't say it again.  I refuse to use the word.  Casseroles to me imply a pot or pan of something that looks like a dogs dinner and I KNOW that is not always the case but when I was growing up, it seemed like it was!  I will go to every extreme to never name a dish using that "C" word.  I have a few friends who tease me about when I use the word "Bake" or something else.  I get this, "So basically it is a C word".  NO, it is a "bake". ROFL  This, my friends....is a BAKE.  Got it?

This recipe was born out of my sister telling me she wanted pizza mixed with pasta.  That you can always get one or the other at a restaurant but you can't get them together.  I decided to see what I could do to make her happy.  I am sure she could go to the Internet and look up 5 dozen different recipes but come on, you know she wanted me write a recipe for it.  After I was done I thought of the possibilities.  So where I added Italian sausage and pepperoni you can add any pizza meat topping you like or just add one or the other.  The are NO RULES kids!!  Make it how you love your pizza.  I dislike certain things so I made what I liked, but you can add whatever you want.  The more veggies the better, right? 

I call this "Pizzaiolo Pasta Bake" because I think a pizzaiolo would tend to make a dish like this with leftover pizza toppings.  Little of this and little of that.  Go for it, make it your own, and warm your families from the inside out with this wonderful meal!

Here is what you need:
16 ounces of short cut pasta of your choice (prepared according to pkg direction minus 1 minute of cook time)
1 lb Italian sausage
1 small onion minced (or approx 3/4 to 1 cup)
1 small bell pepper chopped (I used multiple colors since I freeze BP's for cooking)
8-10 ounces sliced pepperoni
1 tsp oregano
2-3 cups pizza sauce (I like tons of sauce because I don't like dry dishes, and the pasta soaks a lot up)
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (add more if you like)

Add 1/2 cup of any other topping you like, mushrooms, olives, anchovies, pineapple, etc.  I would recommend picking just a couple, or the mixture simply won't fit into your baking dish! HA!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.  Prepare pasta as directed above and drain.  In the same pot add in Italian sausage, bell peppers, onions, garlic powder, and oregano.  Cook until sausage is cooked through and peppers and onions are softened. 

When you are done, drain off any grease and  add back to your pot, adding in half of your pepperoni.  If you have large slices, cut them in quarters otherwise put them in whole.  Mix in pasta, sauce and tomatoes, and combine.  Add in 1/2 cup of mozz cheese to the pasta mixture.  Pour into prepared 9x13 pan, and smooth over the top.  Add remaining grated cheese and then lay the rest of the pepperoni on top.  I had large slices so it covered the top, yours may or may not.  It makes ZERO difference either way!

Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake another 20-30 minutes.  The pepperoni on top will get a little crisp. 

There you have it.   I found that I needed ZERO salt and pepper, you have so much flavor from the sauce and sausage and veggies, there was no need for it. This can be made ahead, it can be divided into two dinners and one can be frozen.  It is a substantial.....(insert word I refuse to use) and add a salad and it is dinner!  Quick and easy, for all of you working parents/grandparents or anyone!

Your "pizza pleasin'" Chefwannabe

Garlic Knots

Warm bread.  What else is there to say really?

Wait, this isn't bread.  It isn't pizza.  It isn't foccacia. 

It IS warm, buttery, delicious and chewy.  Hmmmm. 

Well here is the deal.  When I make my famous pizza dough, (recipe can be found here ) I make a double batch, cut it in half since each recipe will make 2 crusts, pop them in a Ziploc and stick them in the freezer. (like so)  I mean, seriously the things you can make with pizza dough are endless, this is one of the greatest things in my opinion to have on hand in the freezer.

I always put directions on the bags as well!!  Handy for sure!!

When I want or need pizza dough, I stick it in the fridge the night before and thaw.  I make many things from my pizza dough, this is just one of those things.  I let the dough thaw as mentioned before, stick it back in my mixer with a dough hook and add herbs, let it work a couple of minutes and you get a gorgeously flavored dough full of herbs and olive oil!

Before mixing

After mixing

Now you can usually buy pizza dough from your favorite pizzeria, you can make your own or buy it at the store.  Just make sure after you thaw it (if frozen) you let it sit for 30 min and get to room temperature.  It is much easier to work with. 

This recipe will make 6 garlic knots!

1 ball of pizza dough
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp parsley (dried)
2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp melted butter with 1/2 tsp grated or minced garlic mixed in (for after they are baked)

Put all ingredients in your mixer and let it work your dough about 2 minutes.  You can also knead the herbs and olive oil in by hand if you choose!  Cut into 6 pieces and roll them like snakes as far as you can, approx 7 inches.  Tie in a knot and set on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Let them sit and raise.  They won't raise as much as you think they should, so don't worry if they don't double in size!!  Just before baking, egg wash them with your beaten egg.

Bake at 400 degree's for 10-12 minutes.  Immediately upon removing them brush the tops with melted butter and garlic mixture!

It will taste almost like a miracle.  Serve these with pasta dishes, or any dish!  Use them in mini form for a party!  Better yet, make mini ones, and let cool, slice in half and put a mini meatball on it!  The possibilities are endless but as for me....I am going to enjoy them hot, and garlic buttery with a little pasta!

Your "wishes her middle name was garlicina" chefwannabe

Homemade Pizza - Chicken Alfredo Pizza Rustica

Hello my friends!!!  Summer is in full swing!  Your kids have probably been out of school a month or so.  Are you ready for school to start back up yet? Mwaaahahaha........

I LOVE cleaning out the fridge and seeing what I can make with leftovers.  I made baked chicken a few nights ago and I had some chicken leftover.  I had picked up some mushrooms at the store for my husband since he loves them.  I figured I would work them into something.  By the way, isn't it gratifying to be able to use 3 or 4 things up on a dish?  Am I the only one that feels like I am the queen of the universe when I do that? 

As we were sitting eating the chicken for dinner, he announced, "OMG, can you make me a chicken Alfredo pizza with mushrooms"?  Well of course I can darling, anything for you!!!!  Uh-huh.  

So I gathered my pizza dough making ingredients.  I have, in my opinion and a few other readers opinions, the best pizza dough recipe going.  The dough is so gorgeous you are going to want to use it for a pillow!  This pizza I call "Rustica" because it is so rustic.  Irregular shaped, ingredients of leftovers, yet hearty, heart warming eating!  Here is my recipe for Pizza Dough.  My dough makes 2 regular size pizza's, but I used the whole ball for a very large pizza!

Remember mine were leftovers so I will list what you will need:
1 large or 2 small cooked chicken breasts  (season them up any way you choose!) cut into small pieces, no shreds for this one guys!
2 cups fresh mushrooms sauteed in 1 tbsp butter and set aside
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp dried Italian Seasoning

For the sauce:
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
3 cups milk
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare your crust and spread it in any old shape on a cookie sheet, pizza stone or pizza peel.  
Preheat oven to 450 degrees

To prepare your sauce, melt butter into a saucepan.  Add flour and using a whisk mix while letting the flour cook 1 minute.  Add milk while whisking, make sure it is ALMOST at a bubble so it will begin to thicken.  Don't stop whisking!  Add in parm cheese and turn it down to a simmer, let simmer 3-5 minutes until very thick.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Let cook just for a couple of minutes.

Pizza assembly....spread sauce over pizza crust, add mushrooms and cut up chicken all over the top of the pizza.  Sprinkle on Italian seasoning, and cheeses.   Bake at 450 for 20-30 minutes.  It all depends on how thick you left your crust and how you like your pizza done! 

You will come out with a gorgeously browned rustic looking pizza for your eating pleasure!  My husband highly suggests you try this one! 

PS.  I just had a thought, someone should try this on the grill.  Seriously!  If you do let me know!

Your "now adding P.S's to posts it seems" chefwannabe

Chris

Breakfast (Pizza) For Dinner

Do you like breakfast for dinner?  I am learning people either love it or hate it.  My family LOVES it!  We are always up for a good breakfast for dinner but I wanted to change things up a bit.  

 

This was so easy and as you know (if you read my blogs and fb page) I am on a quest to USE UP what is in the cupboards and freezer!  The amount of food we accumulate is ridiculous! I refuse to throw things out, so this is what I came up with.  Where I used shoestring french fries you could use any sort of hashbrowns as well, just make sure they are thawed out!  (And eggs are on sale for .79 a dozen this week!)  

 

First thing is to make the crust.  My recipe for pizza crust is amazing, I promise.  The dough will be so light and fluffy you will want to use it for a pillow!  Click this link and scroll down to the recipe, Pizza Crust Recipe.  Next, fry up your bacon, I used a skillet because I made a terribly fattening, and unhealthy choice to use bacon grease to make my bechamel.  *plugs ears*.  You will find my bechamel recipe in the event you actually need one in my Croque Madam/Monsieur blog.  You will use the bacon grease in place of the butter.  Or clean your pan and start fresh with butter.  Make sure your bacon is nice and crispy, drain it on a paper towel and crumble.  Set aside for later use.  

 

Here is what you will need:

Pizza Crust

2 cups THAWED hashbrowns or french fries you have chopped into smaller pieces

1 lb deli shaved/thin sliced ham

5 strips of bacon fried and crumbled

5 eggs beaten with 1/4 cup milk/cream/half and half (add salt and pepper and hot sauce to taste if you like)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

prepared bechamel sauce

Green onions for the top (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Using a large cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick spray, stretch and pull your dough so that it goes up the sides of the cookie sheet a little bit.  

Pour your bechamel on top of the crust and spread evenly.  You may have a bit extra, depending on your taste or how big your pizza is.  Mine made a LARGE cookie sheet size.  

Add ham, bacon, potatoes, and half of your cheese.  Pour over your egg mixture.  Pour it as evenly as possible.  I started with 3 eggs and had to add more, 5 seemed perfect for my size pizza.  Top with the rest of your cheese like this...

Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Make sure to let cool 5 minutes before cutting.  This crust is fairly thick.  I would normally get 2 large size pizza's from this crust because I like a thin crust.  I wanted it to be thicker to be more like bread than pizza dough.  It is delicious and it will feed a crowd for sure!!  My husband even got a piece for breakfast this morning in a baggie with a love note on it.  Come on you know I am the perfect wife......pffttt.  HAHA   Oh did I mention he is so NOT used to breakfast he forgot to take it!!

 

So here is your final product...........does yours look like this?  You can add more meat, take away meat, whatever you want just like any other pizza.  This is what we like, you add or subtract what you like or don't like for your family!!  I topped mine with green onions after baking as well!

GOOD MORNING!!! Err....Good EVENING!

Your "to old to be this mixed up"Chefwannabe

Chris

The all new...PizzaBons!

First and foremost I apologize for building this blog up and then letting you all down last night!  My evening got crazy busy and before I knew it was 9 o'clock and I was just trying to find some dinner.  A girl needs dinner guys, face it!  I knew you would understand but I try to do what I say I will do and so, well, my apologies.

 

I slept in today, it felt awesome!  In fact I have my favorite candle burning and listening to Pandora and just trying to get out of this little funk I am in.  I love snow the day it falls and then I find it slightly depressing.   I am excited however to receive the rest of the products for the 1,000 Fans Giveaway I promised.  I guess I underestimated how fast it would happen and wasn't quite prepared.   I am hoping to receive them all this week so over the weekend I can do a big announcement and fill you all in on how to enter!  

In the meantime I got this idea I wanted to make pizza dough, lots of it and to do some different things with it.  Well, the first turned out so well, I didn't even continue.  As I sat eating my PizzaBon, I couldn't help but consider of all the things I could have turned out to be, I became a genius.  *hardy har har*.  I patted my own head, patted my self on the back and devoured this pizza goodness, planning the next time I could make it!

Using the same idea as a cinnamon roll, I used pizza dough, and for filling used pizza sauce and cheese!  Next time, I will add some browned off hot Italian sausage, and I will add some red pepper flakes.  

To get started you need to make some dough which you can find here Pizza Dough.  It is amazing dough.  You will need 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups of cheese.  Does it matter I used like almost 3 cups?  Well I did, so don't judge people.  You could change up the cheese to anything you want, I used mozz.  Purist, remember?  You could even add some pepperoni or finely browned Italian sausage!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees!!!  Prepare pizza sauce.  I usually make my own but I have had this can in the cupboard for long enough so I used...

1/2 cup jarred/canned pizza sauce
1 tsp sugar
2 tsps dried Italian herbs

After it rises, roll it out like this.

 

 

Spread on the pizza sauce, and then sprinkle on cheese. Roll it up just like you would cinnamon rolls.  Slice into the size rolls you want. 

I  got 9 out of mine.  Place in greased pan, cover and let sit for 30-45 min in a warm place.  Bake 25-32 minutes.  Just have to check at 25 and see where you are.  Let stand about 5 minutes or the molten lava cheese will burn your chin.  (NO, I didn't have this happen to me...ok so I did).  Delish and now with the next batch the edition of hot sausage and red pepper flakes it is going to be even better!!  Nice little hand held pizzabon!!

I hope you try them!!

Your "can never have to many ways to eat pizza"Chefwannabe

Chris

 

 

Adapted from: One Pot Chef Show

FIESTADA- School Lunch Series

I think I did it!!  My first attempt to recreate one of my childhood favorites, along with Carrie David who posted that they were her favorite school lunch!

I do believe the hamburger, and I use the word loosely, that was on it was so fine, so of course mine wasn't quite as fine.  I remember there being only a little meat and cheese.  I decided against using a pre-made crust when I saw the price at the store I was at.  I always make my own dough but, instead got a box of the Jiffy kind for convenience.  This whole recipe was convenience items so, no turning your nose up at my choices for ingredients.  I felt it was my mission to achieve the right taste, regardless of the ingredients and I want everyone who wants to recreate these to be able to do so quickly,  and with ingredients available to them! 

So, this being said, my crust consistency isn't perfect as far as the original Fiestada but the flavor is so near perfect, I wanted to DIE with my first bite.  It was awesome!  I could have browned off my hamburger and then zip zapped it in my processor to make it a more fine consistency but opted out of that to save on dishes.  Hey I feel lazy today, leave me alone! Although I did not even try to obtain the original shape, I don't think in the grand scheme of things you will mind after you taste these delicioso little Mexican pizza's!   

So Carrie, here is what you will need to get your Fiestada going!

                                                                  Fiestada

1 box Jiffy Pizza Crust Mix (prepared according to package direction)
1/8 - 1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 cup ground hamburger (flavored)
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 1/4 cup mild cheddar cheese
a pinch of salt

Sprinkle seasoning packet on hamburger, brown and drain.  Prepare 2 small pizza crusts from dough that you made earlier.  I flip over a large cookie sheet, spray with nonstick spray and put my crusts on top.  Bake at 450 degrees for 3 minutes and remove from oven.  Prepare sauce by putting 1/2 cup of sauce into a bowl, add in cumin and salt and combine.  Split between both pizza's and spread to cover.  Sprinkle top with hamburger and cheese.  

 

Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes or until crust is done and cheese is melted!  


You know you can't resist making these.  If you went to Ord Elementary, or Ord Jr Sr High, you are required to try them!!  The taste is so close to perfect, I couldn't believe it!  Go ahead, obsess over the shape of yours, I obsess over enough, so I will leave that to you! 

Make sure to let me know how yours turn out!  Leave a picture on the Facebook wall even!

Your "caliente" chefwannabe
Chris

A pizza for you and a pizza for me.

"When the moon hits your eye like
 a big pizza pie - that's amore"
 

My love for pizza has only developed as I got to be an adult. We did not have pizza often at home, even with my half Italian father, we just didn't.  It was expensive to buy for a family of 12, and though we occasionally had the frozen variety, fresh pizza wasn't the norm in our house.  Pasta yes, pizza not so much.   I attribute my childhood deprivation  to my adulthood addiction to pizza.  I love all pizza, pizza is much like diamonds, even small/bad diamonds are still diamonds!  While I lived in Jersey I learned about "real" pizza, not pizza with ground beef on it. I know, know...judge not, but really?  And tomato pies, my dad used to talk about ALL the time.  So whether your a deep dish, thin crust, thick crust, or crispy crust, pizza eater, its ALL pizza!  Can't we just get along?!?!? (Thin crispy crust for me please)  If you choose to buy pizza dough, please buy it from your favorite pizzeria or bakery.  I guarantee they will sell you some!  Don't use that crummy roll out stuff.  Actually, if you use the crummy roll out stuff, I wont ever know, but you will cave, eventually it will happen and you will admit that you went terribly wrong.  Let's get this show started with the most important part first, the recipe!  

Easy Pizza Dough

3 cups of All Purpose Flour (may need a squee bit more)

2 tsp Salt

2 tsp Sugar

1 tbsp. dry Italian seasoning

drizzle of olive oil

1 1/4 cups of Warm Water

1 packet  of Yeast

 

First things first.  Preheat your oven to 475.  Now, add the yeast to your warm water and set it aside until it becomes foamy on top.

 

In the bowl of your stand mixer, using the dough hook attachment, mix together the flour, salt, sugar Italian seasoning and olive oil. Take the yeast and water mixture and add it to the flour mixture. If you don't have a standing mixer, stretch those fingers baby..gonna be some tired hands!

 

Mix until thoroughly  combined. Reduce speed to low, mix for 5 minutes.  The dough should be pulling away from the bowl and be one smooth mass. 

 

Divide the dough in two pieces and roll into a ball. Place each ball of dough into oiled bowls, brush the tops of the dough with a little oil to stop them from drying out. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and place the dough into a nice, cozy, warm place.

 

If you know the proper technique you may press and stretch your dough, if you are a regular person, you can roll it out!  

 

I don't have huge pizza pans, so if I want a huge pizza, I use a huge cookie sheet, UPSIDE DOWN.  I put it in the oven while I am making the pizza so it gets really hot and makes a really crispy crust.   When my son was little, everyone creating their own pizza was a hit.  Keep it in mind for kids parties or sleepovers!  As a side note, Margherita pizza is my favorite.  Here is a picture of one my husband and I made along with our own homemade fresh mozzarella cheese!   Anyway, bake for 15-20 minutes!

Let me know what creative toppings you come up with, or what other things you find to make out of pizza dough!  Now go forth my friends.....MAKE PIZZA!

Your pizza pie lovin', pass the red pepper please, chefwannabe,

Chris

Adapted from: Laura In The Kitchen