Easy Pizza

Pizza is pretty easy to make, and I generally like the results when I make it as home just as well or better than ordering a pizza. Definitely tastier than frozen pizzas.

It is also an excellent way to use up bits of leftover veggies, meats, and cheeses. For this pie I used a bit of leftover salami, a leftover sausage, a few tomatoes, some garlice and cheese.

Preheat oven to 425. Don't be afraid to use a ready made crust if you're short on time:


If using fresh tomatos, slice them and drain on paper towels (otherwise they'll make your pizza soggy)


Slice leftover meat (salami, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, roast beef, turkey, roast pork .... ) into little bits. Fresh garlic is wonderful on this as well - just make thin slices.

I used pizza sauce from a jar this time around. If you have a jar of spaghetti sauce at the back of your fridge, use that. If you have a little can of tomato paste, mix it with equal part water or red wine, and mix in Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder)

Put meat directly on crust. (by warming the meat UNDER the sauce, it doesn't get too dry) Add garlic (if using). Cover with sauce and bake about ten minutes:

Meanwhile, prepare the cheese. I used a mixture of asiago, cheddar (on the left), and slices of fresh mozzarella (on the right)

Add cheese and any other toppings (in this case tomato) and return to oven:

Bake another 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted:

Leftovers 911: Pizza

I moved recently. I think we ordered upwards of ten pizzas in a three week period, which is pretty unusual for us. (One a month is probably a bit higher than normal)

In my opinion, the best way to rewarm a slice of pizza:

Turn a large skillet or griddle to medium. Put the slices in the pan, crust down, and WAIT. The rewarmed pizza will have a nice crisp crust.

Another method: place the pizza slice directly on the wire rack in a warm oven.

Either is much preferable to the soggy, chewy crust a microwave produces - unless you are in a hurry.

French Bread Pizza

Crust:

1 loaf French bread

Sauce:

2 small cans tomato sauce (or 2 cans tomato paste and some water)

basil, oregano, salt, pepper, thyme, garlic, onion

cheese:

mozzarella

(add any other varieties you like: havarti, asiago, parrano, romano, parmesan, cheddar)

toppings:

sky is the limit! I used zucchini, salami, tomatoes, chicken and carmelized onions on this batch

Cut the French bread in half horizontally, and then in halves lengthwise. Lay on a baking sheet.

Make sauce (or open a jar of pizza sauce - we won't tell!). If you have pesto in the fridge, just mix a couple of tablespoons of that into the tomato and forget the spices. Spread the sauce on the bread.

Add cheese(s) and toppings.

Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes.