Smokey Bastard

Ingredients:

1 c. mozzarella cheese

3/4 c. smoked Gouda

smoked salmon shredded into bite-size chunks

handful of fresh spinach, chopped

1 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1/4 c. soy milk

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

dough for 1 pizza crust

Recipe:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it's heating up. 

Caramelize the onion in a small amount of olive oil. This takes about 25 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes until the onions are golden brown. To make the garlic butter Alfredo sauce, saute the garlic in the butter and olive oil for 3-5 minutes. Stir in the milk until thickened, and season with salt and pepper. 

Spoon the sauce over the crust and top with cheeses and salmon. Sprinkle the chopped spinach over the pizza, and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Baked Potato Pizza with Caramelized Onions

Ingredients:
1 sweet onion, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1/2 tsp Worcestershire
1 tsp each salt and pepper
2 small potatoes, sliced
2 tsp minced garlic
shredded cheeses
Pizza dough

Recipe:
To caramelize the onions, heat oil and butter and add the sliced onions. Add the salt and pepper and saute for 25-30 minutes until onions are golden and caramelized. Yes, it takes that long.

Remove the onions from the pan and place on a paper towel to cool. Use the left over oil to spread on the pizza dough.

Meanwhile, place the sliced potatoes on a greased cookie sheet and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes flipping once.

Along with the leftover oil, spread the minced garlic over the dough. Mix the cooled onions with Greek yogurt, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Once combined, spread it over the pizza, and top with potato slices. Finally, sprinkle the cheeses over the potatoes, and bake for 10-12 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

Jalapeno Popper Pizza

Ingredients:
I used this dough recipe: Mac and Cheese Pizza
2 oz. cream cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 c. colby-jack shredded cheese
2 jalapenos, sliced
1 shallot, sliced
optional: bacon bits

Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat up the garlic, butter, and cream cheese in the microwave until smooth. Mix and spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Top with cheese, jalapenos, and shallot.

Bake pizza for 10-14 minutes or until cheese starts to brown and bubble.

Mac and Cheese Pizza

Yet again I found another pizza crust recipe that I like more than the last. It is easy and cooks up great. If you've never tried mac and cheese pizza, it's a delicious creation you're missing out on.

Ingredients:

For Pizza Dough-

1 c warm water

1 pkg active dry yeast

1 Tbsp sugar

2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp olive oil

3 c Flour

Pizza Topping-

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tbsp butter, softened

Cooked elbow macaroni 

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 shallot, chopped

8 oz cheese (I used a mix of mozzarella and cheddar)

1/4 c milk

4 oz plain greek yogurt

3 Tbsp butter

Recipe:

Dough- Makes 2 crusts

Stir the yeast and sugar in warm water and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy. In a large mixing bowl, or a stand mixer, pour in yeast mixture, salt, oil and flour and mix together until well incorporated. Then knead for 6 minutes. The dough should be smooth and not too sticky. Grease a large bowl, place the dough ball inside and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise for 1-2 hours. Divide into two dough balls.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Topping-

Combine 2 minced garlic cloves with 2 Tbsp butter and spread over the pizza crust. In the pot that you boiled the pasta, combine the cooked macaroni, minced garlic, shallot, cheese, milk, yogurt and butter. So much dairy deliciousness!

Spoon the mac and cheese mixture over the crust and bake for about 12 minutes.

Five Cheese Pizza on Homemade Crust

The dough recipe makes two pizza crusts.

Ingredients:
1/2 c. warm water
1 pkg. instant yeast
1 1/4 c. water at room temp.
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp salt

Minced garlic
Extra olive oil for brushing
Cheeses: Mozzarella, Provolone,
Parmesan, Romano, Asiago


Recipe:

Mix the warm water and yeast together and let it sit for 5 minutes. Add the other water and oil. In a separate bowl mix together the flour and salt. Add the liquid to the flour and mix until a mass forms. I used my Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook attachment to knead the dough for 5 minutes. After a ball has formed place it in a deep oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

After the dough has risen, press it down to deflate it. At this point you can divide it into two dough balls. I froze one, and used the remaining one. Cover with a damp cloth for 10 minutes before rolling it out.

Brush the dough with olive oil and spread minced garlic over the top. Add your toppings and bake. I just put mine on my Pizzaz which I feel didn't get hot enough, but it still tasted delicious. If you have a pizza stone it's best to heat it in a 500 degree oven and bake your pizza for 10-12 minutes.

Valentine's Treats

Heart-shaped pizza


I got heart shaped cake pans for Christmas this year so of course I'm going to use them for Valentine's Day. But instead of baking a cake I thought it would be cute to make a pizza.

Homemade pizza is super easy to make, especially if you buy pre-made dough or dough mix. I usually get the dough mix that you just add warm water to.

You can use a variety of cheeses and toppings. I used mozzarella cheese with red bell peppers. I always use fresh garlic -that is a must.




Dirt Cake


For dessert I wanted to have something I haven't made in a long time...Dirt Cake!

What you'll need:
1 pkg Oreos
8 oz. pkg cream cheese
1/2 stick of soft butter
2 cups milk
2 (3 oz) pkgs instant vanilla pudding
1 tub of whipped cream
1 cup powdered sugar
Gummy worms

Crush the oreos, a food processor works great but don't do it for too long or else the crumbs will be too fine.
Combine the cream cheese, butter and sugar. In a different bowl mix the milk and pudding until it slightly thickens. Then add the whipped cream. Mix the cream cheese mixture and the pudding mixture together.

Layer the cream and crushed cookies and top with gummy worms.




His and Hers

Since I turned 21 this Valentine's Day I thought I'd share some tasty drinks. A fruity one for her and one that's a bit stronger for him.


Mai Tai
2 oz rum
1 oz orange juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz cherry mix
ice cubes

Manhattan
1 oz Sweet vermouth
2 oz whiskey
optional 1/2 oz cherry syrup
ice cubes