Grilled Veggie Naan Pizza

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The last day of summer is here and we're celebrating in style with grilled pizza!

We love pizza and have it often.  I've used so many different bases for pizzas such as Zucchini and Sausage Flatbread Pizza, The BEST Pizza Dough, and this French Bread Pizza..but today we are going to use Naan bread, AND we are going to fire up the grill while we still can!

Naan is an Indian style flatbread and is the perfect base for a quick pizza.  It's sturdy enough to hold up against hearty toppings yet soft enough for a nice bite.

It's all about the GRILLED VEGGIES!  Yes, today's pizza is bursting with flavors from the addition of grilled vegetables for the toppings.  Just forage in your frig for your favorite veggies that will hold up on the grill and get going.  We used red onion, zucchini, tomatoes, and summer squash.

Grilling brings on the FLAVOR!  When grilling vegetables make sure to douse them in oil and season them with a little Italian herbs for extra flavor.  Get some good grill marks on your veggies too, cause that's where the flavor is!

Show your pizza a little love!  Top your naan bread with your favorite pizza sauce, then sprinkle on a seasoning mix to give it some more flavor.  Pile on the grilled and chopped veggies then add a little Parmesan cheese.  Pop it back on the grill to heat it all up then add a sprinkle of fresh basil and a douse of good olive oil!

Try this recipe out this weekend while the weather still allow for grilling.  You will be surprised by how easy this is to make, but you won't be surprised at how GOOD it tastes!

Enjoy!





Grilled Veggie Naan Pizza

serves 1

1 medium sized Naan flatbread (I used Stonefire's)
1 zucchini, sliced into planks
1 summer squash, sliced into planks
1 tomato sliced
1 red onion, sliced and left in whole slices
olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
pizza sauce
pizza seasoning
shaved Parmesan cheese
basil, chopped

Preheat your grill over medium heat.  Drizzle olive oil on the sliced vegetables, both sides, and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning.  Place on grill and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.  Turning when necessary.

Remove vegetables to a cutting board and chop into bite sized pieces.  Set aside.

To assemble pizza take your Naan flatbread and add some pizza sauce to the bottom.  Sprinkle with some pizza seasoning.  Add your grilled, chopped vegetables and place back on the grill.  Cook, covered, for about 7-8 minutes until warmed through.  Remove and sprinkle with Parmesan, douse with a little olive oil, and sprinkle chopped basil on top.  Cut and serve.

9 Summer Grilling Favorites 2018

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Summer is well under way and everyone is trying to beat the kitchen heat by grilling outdoors!

I have an array of some of my favorite grilling dishes that I think you will just love.  So look through them below and pick a few to try when you are planning your next meal on the grill!

9 Summer Grilling Favorites 2018



Let start off with something light and healthy like my Weeknight Balsamic Steak Salad.  This has such bold flavors that will leave you craving more.. Don't forget the Blue Cheese on this one, it's a definite must for those complex flavors!

For a great chicken dish you'll just love my Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Mediterranean Rice.  Again as with the steak dish above Balsamic is the primary flavor and it's just makes this chicken pop!  We love Mediterranean flavors and this dish is a winner!

For those who like fish or seafood you have to try my Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp and Scallops.  It is so light and delectable that it will just knock your socks off!

You certainly can't get through summer without having a burger.  And if you choose any burger it better be my Butter Burgers.  Man oh man are these the juiciest burgers you will have anywhere!  An absolute must in my book.

Oh this salad!  The marinade which is also the salad dressing is to die for.  This salad is worth eating just for that marinade.  Grilled Lemon Herb Mediterranean Chicken Salad with leave you feeling like you are sitting on a small island somewhere drinking Chianti and savoring the sea breeze! 

Let not forget the side dishes that are perfect for grilling.  Try The BEST Grilled Corn Ever and you will know what I mean.  Savory with chives and then there's the butter.  Need I say more?

What's better than a side of grilled vegetables?  Not much.  Grilling brings out the sweetness in the vegetables, and that char...oh that char!  Flavors are waiting.  Try my version of Grilled Vegetables with a balsamic marinade...they are truly perfection!

For something fun and different on the grill try Grilled Pita Pizzas.  They are a quick weeknight meal or can be a great appetizer.  They're easy to throw together and taste superb on the grill!

Let's not forget about dessert!  You gotta try a dessert on the grill.  Yes, grilled peaches and nectarines are tasty, but let's go a step further and have my Grilled Lemon Pound Cake with Strawberries and Vanilla Ice Cream!  Oh boy, oh boy!  I'll take the dessert over the meal when this is served!

Have a wonderful "grillful" summer!



Zucchini and Saugage Flatbread Pizza

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Father's Day is next weekend and I think this recipe will excite him to no end.

My father always loved a good pizza.  Today there are so many options on which to use as a base for the pizza it opens up a endless variations.

Today we are using Flatbread.  I found a really nice flatbread pizza at the store made by Brooklyn Bred Pizza Crust Thin Traditional.  It's really long and the dough is thin enough to crisp up well.  If you can't find this brand any brand will do.  Naan makes a great pizza!

What makes this pizza different.  Well the toppings for one.  We have zucchini.  Not just any old zucchini, but one that is broiled and seasoned just right with a touch of Italian Seasoning.  This creates a moist and crispy zucchini round that is just a fabulous topping.  The other is sausage.  What's better than sausage on a pizza?  But in this case to keep this a little healthier I chose a great turkey mild Italian sausage.  This flavor combination is awesome together.  You and your family are gonna love it.

Everyone loves a good pizza and this is the perfect dish to serve Dad on Father's Day!  It a little different than your normal burger or steak but just as hearty when you serve it with a nice Italian side salad, and a beer! Plus the best part is that you can have this done and served in about 30 minutes.  Don't you just love quick meals.

Being a quick meal allows you to spend more time with your loved ones.  Win, Win!  I would say that this is perfect for a weeknight, or Friday night pizza night as well.  Heck, pizza is good anytime in my book!

One flatbread serves 2 people, maybe 3, so if you are feeding more just make two!

Happy Father's Day to all the guys out there!  What would we do without their strong guidance and love.

Enjoy!





Zucchini and Sausage Flatbread Pizza

serves 2-3

1 Long Rectangular Flatbread Pizza Crust (such as Brooklyn Bred)
1/2 cup pizza sauce
9 oz of Turkey mild or hot Italian Sausage, casings removed
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1 medium zucchini
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
olive oil

Preheat oven to broil. Trim the zucchini, then cut into ⅓-inch-thick rounds. Place zucchini on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Season with salt, pepper, and the Italian seasoning. Place under broiler and broil until softened and browned, 5-7 minutes. (TIP: Keep an eye on the zucchini—it can burn easily.) Remove sheet from broiler, then adjust oven temperature to 450 degrees.

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove sausage from casings; discard casings. Add sausage to pan, breaking up meat into small pieces. Cook, tossing occasionally, until cooked through, 4-6 minutes.

Place flatbreads on baking sheet. Spread sauce evenly over the flatbread. Scatter mozzarella over the sauce, then arrange the zucchini and the sausage on top.

Bake in oven until cheese melts and crust is golden brown and crisp, 5-7 minutes. Cut into slices, and serve.

Naan Pizza - 2 Variations (Pesto Chicken Pizza and Pepperoni)

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Individual Naan Pizza made your way!

We love pizza in our house but don't eat it as often as I would like.  So when we decided to throw a  get together with friends MGG asked if we could make pizza. So I had the idea of letting our guests make their own individual pizzas and knew that Naan Bread would be the perfect way to accomplish that.

Now I've made pizza using many vehicles as the base.  My recipe for homemade Pizza Dough is the best.  I've also made grilled pizza using pita bread.  English muffins, tortillas, and even a can of biscuits will work in a pinch.  Naan Bread is another perfect platform for pizza and a great way to serve kids at a birthday party, friends over for game day, or just a quick lunch or dinner for your family!

NAAN PIZZA - 2 VARIATIONS

(PESTO CHICKEN PIZZA AND PEPPERONI PIZZA)

Pepperoni Pizza

Pesto Chicken Pizza

We decided to do a dry run before the actual party.  So we made 2 variations of Naan Pizza.  Pepperoni (my all time favorite) and Pesto Chicken Pizza.  I must say that I loved my Pepperoni pizza but the Pesto Chicken Pizza was to DIE FOR!  And the best part is that you can get it in the oven in no time and in 10 minutes dinner is served!

Pesto Chicken Pizza

Enjoy!





Naan Pizza - 2 Variations
(Pesto Chicken Pizza and Pepperoni)



Pepperoni Pizza

1 Naan Bread (individual size)
4 Tablespoons pizza sauce
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, sliced (from fresh whole mozzarella)  (I used Galbani)
Pepperoni

Spread pizza sauce on naan bread.  Top with pepperoni and sliced cheese.  Place on a baking sheet.  Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until cheese has melted and edges of the bread has browned slightly.

Pesto Chicken Pizza

1/2 cup precooked chicken, shredded

4 Tablespoons pesto

4 Tablespoons pizza sauce

1 Naan Bread (individual size)

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, sliced  (from fresh whole mozzarella)  (I used Galbani)

Red, Yellow, and Orange Bell pepper, sliced into rings

fresh tomato, diced

1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated

In a skillet over medium low heat, add the shredded chicken and 2 Tablespoons of pesto.  Stir to combine and heat.  In a small bowl add the remaining 2 Tablespoons of pesto and the pizza sauce and mix until blended. 

Spread pizza sauce on Naan bread.  Top with chicken pesto mixture.  Top with slices of mozzarella cheese, bell pepper slices, and chopped tomato.  Sprinkle with grated Parmesan.  Place on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until cheese has melted and edges of the bread has browned slightly.

Optimize your cooking time: One Pot Meat Lovers Pizza Ravioli Bake

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I'm and avid cookbook hoarder collector.  I have tons of cookbooks that I've collected over the years.

At some point (when my bookcase was full!) I had to stop buying them.  But then the magic of the Kindle Fire was born that allows you to buy kindle cookbook versions and store them digitally.  Woohoo!  I'm back to collecting cookbooks without taking up literal space in my house.  How dangerous is that?

One of my recent purchases is by the blogger Joanne Cismaru of the blog, Jo Cooks.  She has a wonderful blog and her book is titled "30 Minute One Pot Meals" which is geared toward busy cooks who need fast flavorful meals on the table in 30 minutes, using 1 pan!  Sounds perfect for me during hectic weeknights.

Browsing the book I came across a recipe for Quick Pizza Tortellini Bake.  This sounded sooo good, plus I get to use my newest 10" Cast Iron Skillet.  Since I didn't have exactly all the ingredients she used I made a variation of that and One Pot Meat Lovers Pizza Ravioli Bake was born.

ONE POT MEAT LOVERS PIZZA RAVIOLI BAKE

Filled with hearty sausage filled ravioli and cooked in a mouthwatering sauce that has pepperoni in it, then topped with cheese that melts into ooey gooey goodness.  This is seriously one kick-ass meal!  Everyone, especially the kids, will love it! 

As everything is made in one skillet, you can optimize your cooking time and get dinner on the table quickly, in 30 minutes in this case.  Using one pan also makes clean up a breeze.  Don't you love that?  I sure do!  This was such a tasty dinner and if you crave pizza but only have pasta on hand make this dish.  It will satisfy your cravings so you don't even miss the crust!

Enjoy!

Kitchen Note:  I found Guy Fieri's Pepperoni Marinara at my local grocery store.  I've also seen it at Walmart.  You can also purchase individual bottle online here or use your favorite marinara.








One Pot Meat Lovers Pizza Ravioli Bake

adapted from Quick Pizza Tortellini Bake, "30 Minute One Pot Meals" cookbook

serves 6

10 oz pkg Sausage Ravioli
2 c Pepperoni Marinara (Guy Fieri)
1/2 water
1 1/2 c mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/3 c mini pepperoni
Garnish:  fresh chopped basil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a large oven proof skillet with cooking spray.

Add the ravioli to the skillet.  Pour the marinara sauce over the top, trying to cover all the pasta.  Add the water to the skillet (do not stir).  Sprinkle the cheese over the top and then add the mini pepperoni.

Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes.  Remove with oven and garnish with basil if desired.

 

Chicken Taco Pizza

I love French bread pizzas.

They bring back memories of mom making them for me when I was growing up.  There is just something about the way the bread gets all crispy when it's cooked.  It's just the perfect vessel for pizza....other than pizza dough!

So today is the day that I re-created my childhood memories.  So digging through the frig to see what I have in leftovers I pull out some shredded chicken, tomatoes and some Mexican cheese I had stashed.  So I decide to mix it up and make this a Mexican flavored pizza. 

Oh my!  This satisfied my pizza craving and it boosted my mood with the Mexican flavors!  Yum!

This is one the kids are sure to love.  Easy to make for lunch as snack, or a quick weeknight dinner.  Make sure to try this soon and keep it in your rotation.
It's that good!



Chicken Taco Pizza

serves 4

1 French Bread loaf
1 cup pizza sauce (or you could use salsa)
1 Tbsp taco seasoning mix
3/4 cup shredded cooked chicken breast
3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese
1 tomato diced (optional topping)
additional toppings optional: olives, green onions, avocado.

Split French Bread Loaf in half crosswise and then spit both pieces in half lengthwise.  

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Place bread pieces cut side up on a cookie sheet.  Spread pizza sauce over each slice.  Sprinkle taco seasoning over the sauce evenly.  Divide chicken among the bread slices.  Top with cheese.  Sprinkle with diced tomato.  Add any additional toppings if desired.

Bake 10-13 minutes until bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.  Allow to cool 2-3 minutes and serve.

It's almost New Year's Eve!

Usually, I make several appetizers for our New Years Eve get together. However, this year I came across a wonderful recipe that I just had to share with you. Its called New Years Eve Pizza which I found on the King Arthur Flour site.

A wonderful tradition in Sicily is to make this pizza on New Years Eve. The pizza is a deep dish style Sicilian pizza however, the ingredients are simple with tomatoes, onions and cheese, and the secret is to top it with breadcrumbs creating a crusty texture on top. YUM!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and get to make this pizza this New Year's Eve! Its always fun to carry on your own or someone else's tradition.  

I hope you have a safe and Happy New Year!!

Kitchen Tip:  Use store bought pizza dough to save on time! Optional items are sometimes specialty items that can be bought at KingArthurFlour.com and are just that...optional. They can be left out if you like.

Note:  pictures courtesy of www.KingArthurFlour.com

new year's eve pizza

source:  www.kingarthurflour.com

Hands-on time:	25 mins. to 35 mins.
Baking time:	35 mins. to 35 mins.
Total time:	4 hrs to 4 hrs 10 mins.
Yield:	One large pizza, about 12 to 15 servings

Crust

• 3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 4 teaspoons Pizza Dough Flavor, optional but delicious
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons to 1 cup + 2 tablespoons lukewarm water*
• *Use the lesser amount in summer (or in a humid environment), the greater amount in winter (or in a dry climate), and somewhere in between the rest of the year, or if your house is climate controlled.
• 
  

Topping

• 2 large sweet onions
• 28-ounce can chopped or diced tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons Pizza Seasoning, optional
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 4 ounces provolone, shredded
• 3/4 to 1 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
• 3 cups coarse dried bread crumbs, such as Panko
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Pizza Seasoning, optional

Directions

1. 1) To make the crust: Combine all of the ingredients and mix and knead to make a smooth, soft dough, using a stand mixer, bread machine, or your hands.
2. 2) Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl or large 8-cup measure (or leave it in the bread machine), and let it rise till it's very puffy, about 90 minutes.
3. 3) While the dough is rising, prepare the toppings. Start by peeling and slicing the onions, and frying them with a bit of olive oil till they're golden brown. This will take about 20 minutes. Midway through, add salt and sugar to taste, if desired; about 1 tablespoon sugar will heighten their flavor.
4. 4) Add the tomatoes to the fried onions, along with the Pizza Seasoning, if desired. Simmer and stir for a couple of minutes. If the sauce seems overly liquid, continue to cook till it's firmed up a bit. You don't want it totally dry, like scrambled eggs, but neither do you want it swimming in liquid. Use your judgment. Turn off the heat, and let the mixture cool while the dough rises.
5. 5) Stir together the bread crumbs, oil, and Pizza Seasoning, if you're using it. Set it aside.
6. 6) Spray a large rimmed baking sheet (a 13" x 18" half sheet pan is perfect) with non-stick vegetable oil spray. Drizzle it with olive oil, tilting the pan so the oil spreads out a bit.
7. 7) Gently deflate the risen dough, and stretch it into an oval in your hands. Plop the oval onto the baking sheet, and press it towards the edges. When it starts to fight back, walk away for 15 minutes. When you return, you should be able to press it to the edges and nearly into the corners. If you can't, give it another short rest, and try again. You want the dough to cover as much of the pan's bottom as possible (without making yourself too crazy about it).
8. 8) Cover the dough, and let it rise till puffy, about 90 minutes. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.
9. 9) Uncover the dough, and sprinkle it with the shredded mozzarella and provolone. Then spread the tomato/onion sauce over the cheese.
10. 10) Top with the Parmesan, then the bread crumbs.
11. 11) Bake the pizza for 35 minutes, or until the crust and crumbs are brown. Remove it from the oven, and serve it hot or warm. Hint: to prevent a soggy bottom crust, cut the pizza in half crosswise, then lift each half onto a cooling rack. Cut individual slices with a pair of scissors.
12. Yield: about 12 servings.

Man Food! Grilling At It's Best!

Cooking for a man is serious business! 

They want hearty, hot, and delicious food.  To me, some food just screams "man food".  Especially if it's grilled.
Most men love to do the grilling, but what's sexier than his woman grilling for him?

Here's a gathering of my favorite "man food" dishes.  There's something for everyone, with most types of meat covered and even a pizza.  These recipes are the way to win any man's heart!

Enjoy!

(starting in the upper left and going clockwise)

Pineapple Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu

Grilled Turkey with a Balsamic BBQ Sauce

Cowboy Salad

Grilled Pita Pizza

Grilled Flank Steak in an Adobo Tomato Sauce

It’s French Bread Pizza time!

It’s French Bread Pizza time!

We did a lot of running around last weekend doing so many fun things.  I just love when we have a 3 day weekend and are able to make the weekend fun and relaxing.  It just makes the weekend more special when we don’t do the usual…you know chores, errands, laundry and such!
So in between running around I found myself hungry…go figure.  With not that much time on my hands to cook I had to make and eat something fast so I could get on with the partying!

Looking around the kitchen I spotted a loaf of fresh French Bread and that sparked an idea.  I’ll make French Bread Pizza.  I don’t usually eat pizza this way but I remember that I used to love it when I was younger…huhhmmm…and French Bread Pizza was in style; the big thing at that time!

I pretty much always have the makings of pizza on hand.  So out came some pizza sauce, some pepperoni that I keep in the freezer, (Turkey pepperoni is really, really good.) and some shredded mozzarella cheese.  Honestly, any cheese is the bomb on a pizza.  Hello, melted cheese? Yes please!

This is so easy to make.  Just cut the French bread in half and you have your crust or base to put on the toppings.  Heat up your oven and pop it in to bake for about 10 mins until everything is hot and melty and the bread starts browning.  That’s it!  Lunch is served!

Kitchen Tip:  Enjoy some extra zing by sprinkling on some Pizza Seasonings on top of the sauce.  You can pick up some here.

Enjoy a quick meal of old school French Bread Pizza when you can.


French Bread Pizza

Serves 2

½ loaf of French bread – sliced in half lengthwise
Pizza sauce
Pizza Seasoning – a sprinkle
Shredded mozzarella
Pepperoni – turkey or the real stuff
Optional: any topping that you like

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Place bread sliced side up and spread on pizza sauce.  Sprinkle pizza seasoning over the sauce.  Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.  Top with pepperoni or your favorite toppings.  

Place on a cookie sheet and place in the oven.  Cook for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the bread has slightly browned on the edges.  Serve immediately.