Pizza! Pizza!

I had planned on making homemade pizza on Friday night, but my in-laws came in and I had just gotten through "cleaning" and they suggested we go out to eat and I happily oblidged. I mean, they are guests, so I would be a bad hostess not to grant their requests. Little did I know, my husband was really wanting that homemade pizza, so I told him I would make it Saturday night. Well Saturday, we got home too late and we caved in and went and ate Mexican food. Since we were eating a big lunch for my sister's birthday on Sunday, I had already told the hubby that I would not be cooking on Sunday night. Yesterday, I told him that I didn't really feel like cooking since we had so many leftovers from the weekend. He should probably eat them and I would make the pizza tomorrow (which is actually today). Anyhow, he told me that he was really wanting homemade pizza, and that he REALLY wanted it on Friday. But since things had changed, he looked forward to it on Saturday, but since that didn't work out either, he really wanted it for dinner (yesterday). I told him to deal, and that I would make it today. :) You know, because I'm a good wife and I aim to please. Well, after talking to a girlfriend of mine yesterday, we decided to do dinner tonight, and I knew that I wouldn't want to cook once I got home. Knowing that I would NEVER live down the fact that I have been promising this stupid pizza for almost a week, I threw caution to the wind, and made it last night. Now, I know that those leftovers in the fridge are going to go to waste, but I knew that I would have one happy guy at my house, so I got to work.

I gathered all of the ingredients, for the crust: flour, sugar, salt, olive oil, warm water and quick-rise yeast.

Then, I proofed the yeast, in the warm water.

I mixed all of the ingredients together, and added garlic powder and italian seasoning - just to give the crust some flavor.

I rolled it out - doesn't it look great. You can really see all the herbs.

And because I had seen the very end of a Emeril show (you know, the one with him in the grocery store teaching people to cook), where he used a cast iron skillet to make a pizza, I thought I should too.

Then, I LOADED on the toppings. I started with pizza sauce, then canadian bacon, and then grated parmesan (the kind from the little green can), and then I grated (with a zester/grater) fresh parmesan over that.

Then, I covered it with pepperoni, because what is a pizza without pepperoni, I ask you.

Then I piled on shredded mozzarella, and more pizza sauce.

And more parmesan from the can, and more of the fresh stuff.

And then more pepperoni.

And then more mozzarella.

And then it baked, and let me tell you right now - it smelled as good as it looks! And then it came out of the oven, right as Darren was walking in the door and I don't know if I have ever seen my husband smile like that. I like to think he did, on our wedding day, or at least on our wedding night, but I'm not so sure he did.

Pizza isn't even his favorite food! Look at that thick deep-dish like crust, and the loads of toppings. Damn, I'm a good wife! :) And the husband was very happy! :)

Favorite Ingredient Friday - Pizza Edition (Dessert Pizza)

Dessert Pizza

• 1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sliced banana
• ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries
• ½ cup sliced kiwi
• ½ cup mandarin oranges

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Press cookie dough evenly into a giant cookie pan (or a 12” pizza pan).
3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
4. Cool in pan on wire rack.
5. Mix together cream cheese and thawed cool whip and spread over the crust.
6. Arrange fruit in a decorative pattern.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

The first time I made this, I was in high school in a Nutrition class, since then - I have seen about 50 different variations, but they are all basically the same recipe. This is quick, easy and very versatile! You can use all different types of fruit – whatever your family likes, or whatever is in season. Think about using raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, honey dew melon, pineapple, and apples (to name a few). Use as many or as few different types of fruit as you like! You can even mix some fruit preserves into your cream cheese/cool whip mixture for some added flavor and color or you can sprinkle shredded coconut over the mixture, before you put your fruit on. There are so many ways to make this and all of them are delicious! Also, this is a great in-the-kitchen activity with your kids. Bake the cookie and cut up the fruit, and once it the cookie cools, you can let them do the rest! They will have a blast decorating and arranging the fruit.

I don't have a picture of my own, but I found this picture on line, to give you an example:

Beautiful and delicious! Does it get any better than that?