Homemade Pizza

I found some whole wheat pizza dough at my local Trader Joe's & decided to give it a try. This was a wonderful, crispy & delicious pizza... it was a big hit with all of us (especially the kids). I will be making my own pizzas from now on! Really easy, much healthier & so tasty.

• 16 oz prepared pizza dough (I used whole wheat & it was amazing)
• 1/2 cup of pizza sauce or marinara sauce
• 1-2 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Turkey pepperoni (as much as desired)
• 1 cup of sliced mushrooms, sliced very thin
• 1-2 tbsp sweet yellow onion, sliced very thin
• Fresh pineapple cut into small chunks (or canned pineapple tidbits)
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed (reminds me of my favorite Louie's Pizza)
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped

Let the dough sit on a floured surface for 20 minutes before rolling it out. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Roll the dough into whatever shape & size of pizza you desire. Place on a round or square baking tray coated with cooking spray. Spread sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, pineapple, fennel seeds, basil & Parmesan cheese on top. Cook for 10-14 minutes until desired crispiness. Remove from oven add fresh parsley. Enjoy.

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Tomato, Basil, Feta and Garlic Pizza

I was craving a margarita pizza for lunch so my son and I decided to make our own version. We had a great time making lunch together. My son spread the sauce and cheese all over the dough. I sprinkled a bit of fresh minced garlic and freshly chopped basil on top. We baked it before topping it with extra basil, tomato slices, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. We all really loved this pizza... my daughter wants the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Tomato, Basil, Feta and Garlic Pizza:

Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• 1 ball of pizza dough (I used store bought)
• 1 container of pizza sauce (Trader Joe's is really good)
• 1-2 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup of feta cheese crumbles (I used reduced fat)
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced
• 6-7 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• Roma tomatoes, sliced
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread dough on a pizza sheet that has been coated with cooking spray and a sprinkle of corn meal. Spoon the sauce on the dough and spread evenly.

Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese all over followed by the feta. Next, carefully spread the garlic all over the pizza being careful not to drop in large clumps. Top with half of the fresh chopped basil.

Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Add the sliced tomatoes, remaining fresh basil then season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Enjoy.

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Veggie Pizza

I was heading over to a friends house to eat a bit of pizza before going to the movies to watch Julie and Julia. My girlfriend made a pizza for our husbands and children and I made this pizza for us girls. I was craving a veggie pizza that was full of flavor but not full of fat. I looked through the refrigerator to see what I had. I grabbed some fresh spinach, mushrooms, red onions, black olives, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, and a clove of fresh garlic. The pizza was simple to make and traveled well to our friends house. We re-heated it for a few minutes before gobbling it up. It was so delicious! We headed to the movie and all of us really, really loved it. I thought Meryl did such an excellent job as Julia and I could totally relate to the food blogger in Julie. It was a great night out with the girls.

Veggie Pizza:
Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• Pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Fresh spinach, chopped
• Button mushrooms, sliced
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Black olives
• Fresh garlic, minced

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread dough on a pizza sheet that has been coated with cooking spray and a sprinkle of corn meal. Spoon the sauce on the dough and spread evenly. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese all over followed by the spinach, mushrooms, onions, and olives. Next, carefully sprinkle the garlic all over the pizza being careful not to drop in large clumps.

Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Slice and serve. Enjoy.

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Extra Mushroom, Garlic and Fresh Tomato Pizza

We are huge pizza fans in our house and we make homemade pizza often. I try to change the flavors so we won't get bored plus it's a great way to use up extra ingredients we have in the refrigerator. I love the Trader Joe's whole wheat pizza dough as well as their pizza sauce, so they have become staples in our home. I had a huge container of mushrooms and a bunch of fresh tomatoes to use up so I decided to make a pizza using those ingredients. I added fresh minced garlic to the top of the mushrooms before baking. This pizza turned out terrific - we all LOVED it. Make sure you slice the mushrooms very thin so they don't make the pizza soggy.

Extra Mushroom, Garlic and Fresh Tomato Pizza:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• Whole wheat pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• 8 oz button mushrooms, sliced very thin
• Fresh garlic, minced
• Fresh tomatoes, sliced thickly

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread dough on a pizza sheet that has been coated with cooking spray and a sprinkle of corn meal. Spoon the sauce on the dough and spread evenly. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese all over followed by the mushrooms. Next, carefully sprinkle the garlic all over the pizza being careful not to drop in large clumps.

Place pizza into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven, add the fresh tomato slices on top. Slice and serve. Enjoy.

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Personal Calzones

We had pizza dough to use up so I looked through the refrigerator to see what ingredients I could use. The kids and I decided to make personal calzones that we could each fill up with whatever ingredients we wanted. We had a great time creating these calzones; my kids had a combination pizza - a little of everything. My husband chose pepperoni and feta cheese. I chose feta cheese, kalamata olives, garlic and artichoke hearts. They were golden brown and crisp on the outside and so tasty. This was a fun family meal and everyone enjoyed making these personal calzones.

Personal Calzones:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Pepperoni
• Feta cheese
• Kalamata Olives
• Artichoke Hearts
• Garlic, minced
• Dried basil, to taste
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• Cooking spray
• Sprinkle of corn meal

Remove the dough from the container onto a floured surface. Form the dough into a loaf then cut into individual pieces (I did two larger pieces and two small pieces). Let the dough sit for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray your pizza tray with olive oil cooking spray and then sprinkle the corn meal all over. Roll your dough out to form a pizza and place on pizza tray. Spread pizza sauce (or marinara) over half the dough. Add mozzarella, pepperoni, kalamata olives, feta cheese, minced garlic or artichoke hearts (or whatever toppings you like). Season the pizza with salt, pepper or basil.

Fold the other half of the dough over the toppings and carefully fold and crimp the ends of the dough with your fingers or a fork so it's completely sealed. Use a fork to poke a few holes on the top then spray with olive oil cooking spray.

Place in the oven and cook for 18-20 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing into wedges. Enjoy!

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Mexican Pizza

I was craving Mexican food (what's new?) and I had some ground beef to use up so I decided to make a Mexican pizza. These were simple to make and tasted so delicious, I can't believe I've never made these before. My husband and I both really loved this dish and my kids thought it was pretty good too. This is definitely one of my new favorite meals and I can't wait to make it again.

Mexican Pizza:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

Ground Beef Mixture:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 lb of lean ground beef (I used 93/7)
• 1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Dash of red pepper flakes
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 4 oz can of diced green chiles

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and break the meat into crumbles. Add the onion as well as the seasonings then cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the green chiles then stir until well combined. Set aside.

Other Ingredients:

• Flour Tortillas
• Refried beans
• Cheddar cheese, grated
• Salsa
• Tomato, diced
• Avocado, diced
• Green onions, diced
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Sour Cream (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silpat mat. Layer a flour tortilla with refried beans then place on baking sheet; add a bit of the beef mixture then top with another tortilla.

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes; remove from oven and spoon a bit of salsa on top of the top tortilla then top with cheese. Return to the oven and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and top with the tomatoes, avocado, green onions and fresh cilantro. Serve with more salsa and sour cream. Enjoy.

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Roasted Vegetable, Feta Cheese, and Fresh Basil Pizza

It was another busy day and I didn't feel like making a big meal for dinner. I had pizza dough to use up in the refrigerator so I decided to make a pizza. I roasted some mushrooms, tomatoes, and red onion in the oven before putting them on the pizza then added the feta cheese and fresh basil on top right before serving. It turned out so delicious, I can't believe I've never tried roasted veggie pizza before. This was a simple, quick, and delicious dinner with very little clean up.

Roasted Vegetable, Feta Cheese, and Fresh Basil Pizza:

Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• 1 ball of pizza dough (I used store bought)
• 1 container of pizza sauce (Trader Joe's is really good)
• 1-2 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced thickly
• 1/2 red onion, sliced thickly
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced
• 6-7 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup of feta cheese crumbles (I used reduced fat)
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and coat it with cooking spray. Add the tomato halves, mushroom slices, and red onion slices to the baking tray. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and season with sea salt, dried oregano, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.

Roast in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Spread dough on a pizza sheet that has been coated with cooking spray and a sprinkle of corn meal. Spoon the sauce on the dough and spread evenly. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese all over followed by the roasted vegetables. Next, carefully spread the minced garlic all over the pizza being careful not to drop in large clumps.

Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Add the feta cheese and the fresh basil. Enjoy.

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Margherita Pizza

We had a presentation at my kids' school for my daughter's second grade class so I needed to make a quick dinner that we could gobble up and run out the door. I used store bought dough and sauce because it was quick and easy, I threw on some sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and seasoned it with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. I topped the baked pizza with fresh basil. It was absolutely delicious and the entire family enjoyed it. If you need a fast and simple meal... this recipe is for you.

Margherita Pizza:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• Pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, sliced
• Tomatoes, sliced
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• Fresh basil

Remove the dough from the bag onto a floured surface. Let sit for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread dough on a pizza sheet that has been coated with cooking spray and a sprinkle of corn meal. Spoon the sauce on the dough and spread evenly. Top the sauce with slices of mozzarella and tomato slices then season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.

Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Add the fresh basil then slice. Enjoy.

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Barbecue Chicken Pizza Braid

I wasn't feeling well and had no desire to cook a meal but alas my family still needed to be fed. I found pizza dough in my refrigerator that needed to be used up so I decided to make another pizza braid. I grabbed the leftover meat from the Simply Roasted Chicken and tossed it with some barbecue sauce. I layered the pizza dough with barbecue sauce, mozzarella cheese, chicken, fresh cilantro, and red onion before braiding it. It was quick and simple to make and the whole family enjoyed it.

Barbecue Chicken Pizza Braid:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Cornmeal
• Pizza dough
• Barbecue Sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Roasted chicken, chopped
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Red onion, sliced thinly

Place the pizza dough onto a floured surface and let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Place a silpat mat (or large baking tray) on the counter and coat with cooking spray and sprinkle the top with a bit of cornmeal. Roll (or spread) the dough out on top of the silpat mat into a rectangle. Drizzle a bit of sauce on top of the chicken and mix until evenly coated. Spoon some of the barbecue sauce down the center of the pizza dough, add slices of chopped mozzarella to the sauce followed by the chicken, cilantro, and red onion. Note: Don't use too much sauce or your pizza braid will be a bit soggy.

Cut even slits on both sides of the filling with a pizza cutter. Starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across filling.

Once you have completed the braid carefully place the silpat mat onto a baking sheet.

Place into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy.

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Pepperoni Pizza Cups

I wanted to make the kids a fun and filling snack after school to give them enough energy to get through Taekwondo class. I decided to try baking pizza cups using Pillsbury biscuits that I had in the refrigerator. I made thin crust pizza cups (using 1/2 a biscuit) and thick crust pizza cups (using one whole biscuit). Both versions turned out great but I think my kids preferred the thin crust. These tasty after school snacks were so fast and easy to make and my kids LOVED them. My daughter requested the leftover pizza cups for school lunches for the remainder of the week... you can't beat that!

Pepperoni Pizza Cups:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Cooking spray
• 1 tube of refrigerator biscuits (I used reduced fat Grands)
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, diced or shredded
• Turkey pepperoni slices
• Parmesan Cheese, shredded
• Dried Basil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.

Cut each biscuit in half then press the dough into of the bottom and sides of the muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining dough. Spoon sauce into each cup. Place some diced (or shredded) mozzarella cheese into the cups followed by a few slices of pepperoni.

Finally add a bit more mozzarella if desired then sprinkle the tops with Parmesan cheese and dried oregano.

Place into the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

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Spinach, Garlic, Mushroom, and Fresh Basil Pizza

When I am having one of those days where I don't feel like cooking, I pick up some pizza dough and sauce from Trader Joe's and create a quick and easy pizza using whatever ingredients I have in the refrigerator. This weeks pizza had leftover spinach, sliced mushrooms, garlic and fresh basil - it was FANTASTIC. Homemade pizza is so easy to make and tastes WAY better than take out pizza!

Spinach, Garlic, Mushroom, and Fresh Basil Pizza:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• Pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Baby spinach
• Sliced mushrooms, sliced very thin
• Fresh garlic, minced
• Fresh basil, chiffonade
• 
  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

  
  

  Spread dough on a pizza sheet that has been coated with cooking spray and a sprinkle of corn meal. Spoon the sauce on the dough and spread evenly. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese all over followed by the spinach, mushrooms, and minced garlic.
  
  
  
  Place pizza into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven, add the fresh basil on top. Slice and serve. Enjoy.
  
  
  

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Italian Salami Pizza

One of the perks of being a food blogger is that I get sent all sorts of tasty products...how cool is that? I was just sent some products from Columbus including two different types of Italian Salami. We had a busy day and I wasn't in the mood to cook a big meal so the family opted for homemade pizza. I topped it with the two types of salami along with some turkey pepperoni, pepperocinis, bell pepper, and black olive slices. It turned out hearty, flavorful, and so delicious. The kids picked off some of the salami but my husband and I both enjoyed it. Quick, simple and tasty.

Italian Salami Pizza:

Recipe and photos by Latestposter.blogspot.com

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• Pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Salami Toscano
• Lite Italian Salami
• Turkey pepperoni
• Pepperocini rings
• Bell pepper, sliced
• Black olive, sliced
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Remove the dough from the bag onto a floured surface. Let sit for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread dough on a pizza sheet that has been coated with cooking spray and a sprinkle of corn meal. Spoon the sauce on the dough and spread evenly. Top the sauce with shredded mozzarella then the two salamis, pepperoni, pepperocini rings, bell pepper, black olives, then season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, if desired.

Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Slice and enjoy.

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