Pizza Party

So we didn't end up having a three course meal due to some unexpected events I cannot discuss. We did however enjoy THREE amazing pizzas on Valentine's Day. I spent a few hours making my signature Chicken Pesto Pizza, a Four Cheese Spinach Pizza, and .... are you ready for this... a STUFFED CRUST PIZZA!!!

First up: CHICKEN PESTO PIZZA

*Pre-made Pizza Dough (I always use Trader Joe's white pizza dough)

*Homemade Basil Pesto

*Pesto Marinated Chicken Breast - boneless skinless from Trader Joe's

(you can always use plain chicken breast- seasoned with salt, pepper, basil, and garlic salt)

*1 cup shredded Fontina cheese

*1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

*Extra Virgin Olive Oil

*1/2 cup black pitted olives (sliced)

*1/2 diced Vidalia Onion (Optional, cooked with the chicken)

*Flour

*Pizza Stone - or cookie sheet

1. Take the pizza dough out of its packaging, form it into a big ball, put it on a floured surface, and walk away. The dough needs to rest for atleast an hour.

2. Preheat your oven for 500 degrees F. The best pizza is cooked in a HOT oven.

2. While the dough is rising, you can cook your chicken in a skillet over medium heat. After the pan is heated, coat the bottom of the skillet with olive oil. If you are using the onions, you can add them now and cook until they are soft. Add the chicken.

3. As the chicken begins to cook I start to cut it up, right in the skillet, into bite sized pieces. (I hate cutting raw chicken so I always wait until the outside is tough and white.) Once I do the cut test to see the inside of the chicken is no longer pink, I take it off of the burner and allow it to cool in a covered bowl.

4. When the dough has risen, sprinkle some flour over the top of the dough ball and onto the counter top. Make sure that you use a well-floured surface that is large enough to roll out your dough to the size of your pizza stone or cookie sheet. Use a well floured rolling pin to flatten your dough in the necessary shape.

5. Carefully transfer your dough onto its baking sheet and roll the edges up so you have a nice crust. Spoon on the basil pesto. This is another time when you can use as much or as little as you wish. If you go with a little bit of pesto, make sure to add some olive oil, so the pizza remains moist.

6. Bake your pizza for 5-10 min so that the crust begins to form.

7. Remove the pizza and immediately add the toppings in this order: chicken, olives, cheese.

6. Put your pizza in the oven and cook for 30 minutes. If you have never made pizza in your oven I recommend that you constantly check on it to make sure nothing is burning.

Second: Four Cheese Spinach Pizza

*Pre-made Pizza Dough (I always use Trader Joe's white pizza dough)

*Extra Virgin Olive Oil

*1/2 cup shredded Fontina cheese

*1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

*1 cup low-fat Ricotta cheese

*1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese

*1 cup rinsed fresh spinach

*Salt & Pepper

*Garlic Salt

*Flour

*Pizza Stone - or cookie sheet

1. Take the pizza dough out of its packaging, form it into a big ball, put it on a floured surface, and walk away. The dough needs to rest for atleast an hour.

2. Preheat your oven for 500 degrees F. The best pizza is cooked in a HOT oven.

3. When the dough has risen, sprinkle some flour over the top of the dough ball and onto the counter top. Make sure that you use a well-floured surface that is large enough to roll out your dough to the size of your pizza stone or cookie sheet. Use a well floured rolling pin to flatten your dough in the necessary shape.

4. Carefully transfer your dough onto its baking sheet and roll the edges up so you have a nice crust. Bake for 5-10 minutes.

5. Place the spinach in a bowl and coat with olive oil. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and garlic salt.

6. Drizzle a capful of olive oil onto the pizza dough and spread with a spatula. Drop the ricotta cheese around the dough - it does not need to be spread. Add the spinach. Add the other cheeses.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Finale: Sausage, Pepper, Broccoli Stuffed Crust Pizza

*Pre-made Pizza Dough (I always use Trader Joe's white pizza dough)

*8-9 mozzarella sticks (string cheese)

*1/2 cup pizza sauce (we like Sweet onion & garlic Ragu)

*1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

*1 green pepper - sliced into small slivers

*3 Spicy Italian Sausages

*1/2 cup black olives

*1/2 cup broccoli - rinsed and chopped into small pieces

*Extra Virgin Olive Oil

*Flour

*Pizza Stone - or cookie sheet

1. Take the pizza dough out of its packaging, form it into a big ball, put it on a floured surface, and walk away. The dough needs to rest for atleast an hour.

2. Preheat your oven for 500 degrees F. The best pizza is cooked in a HOT oven.

3. In a medium skillet over med-low heat, coat the bottom with olive oil. Remove the casings from the sausage and add to the skillet. Crumble it as it cooks for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink.

4. When the dough has risen, sprinkle some flour over the top of the dough ball and onto the counter top. Make sure that you use a well-floured surface that is large enough to roll out your dough to the size of your pizza stone or cookie sheet. Use a well floured rolling pin to flatten your dough to a shape that is a little larger than the pizza stone you are using.

5. Carefully transfer your dough onto its baking stone - make sure that there is about an inch of dough draping over the side of the stone. Place mozzarella sticks along the edge of the stone, all the way around, and fold dough over the stick. Pinch dough to make sure the cheese is sealed in. Bake for 5 minutes.

6. Assemble the pizza - spread the sauce around, sprinkle the sausage, peppers, olives, and broccoli on top of the sauce, cover with cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes. ENJOY!!