Barbeque Chicken Pizza

This is probably one of our favorite pizzas that we've made! Quick and easy and so delicious! ... maybe better than Brick's.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw spinach leaves (enough for a single layer across the dough)
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 chicken breast, boiled and shredded
• 1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray's barbeque sauce
• 1/4 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 16 oz. pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's brand)
• corn meal

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. If you have a pizza stone, put it in the oven at this time so it will warm with the oven. Set the pizza dough out on a counter and let it sit for about 20 minutes.

Boil the chicken until cooked, then shred it using a fork and knife. Once chicken is shredded, mix with barbeque sauce.

If using a pizza stone, now spread corn meal on a cutting board. If you're not using a pizza stone, a cookie sheet will work and you can spread corn meal on it as well. After the dough has sat out, spread the dough on the cutting board or cookie sheet. Then layer the ingredients in this order: spinach, chicken, onion, cheeses.

Bake for appox. 15 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings

Caprese Pizza

Adapted from: Culinary Cory

We finally figured out perfect success with a pizza stone! Put the stone in the oven then preheat the oven (the stone needs to heat up with the oven). Use a cookie sheet without an edge or a large cutting board that has a slide edge to prepare the pizza. Cover the cookie sheet or cutting board heavily with corn meal. Spread the dough on top of the corn meal and prepare your pizza. When ready to bake, slide the dough off the sheet/board and onto the stone. Then wait for the perfect crust!

Ingredients:

• corn meal
• 16 oz. pizza dough
• 1 cup spinach leaves, loosely packed
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. sugar
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

To make balsamic reduction:

Bring balsamic vinegar and sugar to a boil in a small sauce pan while stirring constantly for 5 minutes, or until the volume is reduced in half. Remove from heat and let cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put pizza stone into the oven at this time. Spread corn meal and then dough onto cutting board. Layer dough with spinach leaves, basil, and tomatoes. Top with mozzarella. When oven is hot, carefully slide dough onto pizza stone. Bake for approx. 15 minutes.

Drizzle balsamic reduction over cooked pizza. Salt and pepper to taste.

Yield: 3 servings

Greek Pizza

Adapted from Great Pizza Recipes

We wish there was a Trader Joe's closer to us because we love their pizza dough (and everything else too!). The last time we were there we bought extra dough and froze it, not knowing how it would fare. Turns out you can freeze the dough, move it into the refrigerator the day before you plan to use it, and it defrosts to the fresh consistency and taste.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. pizza dough
• 2 1/2 tbsp. pesto sauce
• 1/2 cup spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
• 3 tbsp. parmesan
• 1/8 cup feta
• 1/2 cup mozzarella

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Spread pizza dough evenly on cookie sheet. Spread pesto on dough and top evenly with sun dried tomatoes and spinach. Then cover with cheeses. Bake for approx. 10 minutes.

Additional toppings could also include olives and artichoke hearts if they suit your taste buds. And a little balsamic vinegar drizzled on top after the pizza has cooked makes it even better!

Yield: 3 servings

Brie & Apple Pizza

This pizza is simple and tasty. As we were eating it, we both agreed it might be better with a little something else, though we couldn't quite figure out what's missing. Our thoughts were substituting the brown sugar with balsamic vinegar after it cooks, or... any suggestions are welcome!

Ingredients:

• 16 oz pre-made pizza dough (We used Trader Giotto’s Ready-to-Bake Pizza Dough)
• 4 oz brie, thinly sliced
• 1 small Granny Smith apple, sliced and quartered
• 1 tbsp light brown sugar

Directions:

Spread the pizza dough out on a greased baking sheet. Arrange brie and apple over the dough. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over pizza.

Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, or according to pizza dough instructions.

Remove from the oven, slice, and enjoy!

Yield: 4 servings