Anne's Favorite Pizza Sauce

Well, I did it. I found my new favorite pizza sauce. I've been working on perfecting a homemade pizza for our family because just like nearly everyone else, we really enjoy eating pizza but aren't so excited to spend the money on it. I'm sure we'll still order out here and there, but it's nice to know I can put pizza on our weekly menu if I feel so inclined.

While I was looking for the perfect sauce, I tried one that was way too spicy for me and one that was a little bit too sweet for me. I took a few ingredients from each recipe and came up with this one. And it was perfect for me. The best part is that Peter really liked it, too!

If you haven't found your own favorite pizza sauce, give this one a try.

Anne's Favorite Pizza Sauce

28 oz can tomato puree

3 T olive oil

1 T sugar

1 t dried basil

1/2 t dried oregano

1/2 t dried marjoram

1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 t salt

4 cloves garlic, minced

Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. (You might want to cover it because mine start splattering all over the place!) Reduce to a simmer. Simmer probably at least 15 minutes or so.

Makes enough for 3 or 4 14-inch pizzas. So you can just freeze whatever you don't use and use it next week. Your pizza will be that much quicker to make.

Cuban Pizza

This is what you can use some of that extra pork from the roasted pork, beans and rice. Lately I've been all about using leftovers in pizza form, and I think this is my husbands favorite so far. This is so good, it tastes like a Cuban sandwich (minus the ham). This is from the same blog I got the pork, rice and beans from, and yes, I still can't figure it out.

CUBAN PIZZA

1 pizza dough

yellow mustard

3 cups mozzarella cheese
2 cups Swiss cheese

Dill Pickles

Left Over shredded Roast Pork

Adobo Seasoning

Directions
Preheat your oven according to your directions on the dough package, mine was 400 degrees.

1. Roll out your pizza dough. Spread is with a nice helping of mustard( I know I know..just trust me on this one)
2. Cover it with the mozzarella and Swiss cheese
3. Put on the pork
4. Put your pickles on some paper towel and pat this dry. Put the pickles on the pizza.
5. Sprinkle with a bit of Adobo Seasoning.
6. Cook according to your dough package, mine was 13-15 minutes.

What to do with corned beef leftovers???

Since you have probably just made a corned beef this week for Saint Patrick's Day, here's a new way to use leftover corned beef. It's a Reuben pizza! We made if last night and was oh so good. My husband doesn't like sauerkraut, so we didn't put that on. But it was still good!

Ingredients
1 refrigerated pizza dough (we used thin crust)
2/3 cup Thousand Island salad dressing
8 thin slices of cooked corned beef, cut in fourths
1 can (14 oz) sauerkraut, rinsed and well drained
3 cups of shredded Swiss cheese

Directions

1. Place the crust on a cookie sheet; spread with salad dressing.
2. Layer with corned beef and sauerkraut; sprinkle with cheese.
3. Bake according to your pizza crust package. Mine was 400 degrees for 13 minutes.

Farmer's Market Pizza

Hello, again!

It's been awhile since I've posted either here OR on my own cooking space, mostly since I've been in a food-rut: protein, protein, protein!! There's only so much I can do with the protein...plus, any veggies or fruit I've been eating have been pretty much straight from my shopping bag to my tummy, since fresh, organic produce from the Farmer's Market just really doesn't need to be improved on, in my book! :)

HOWEVER. We had a visitor this week, and I wanted her to meet some of my local friends, AND see some of the local color, so we downtown to meet some folks at the Thursday Farmer's Market, where we picked out some fresh veggies, and took them home to put on homemade pizza!

Here are the toppings we came up with:

Zebra-striped eggplant, summer squash, pepperoni and (sauteed) garlic.

Zebra-striped eggplant, mushroom and bell pepper.

Summer squash, banana pepper and pepperoni. (In the words of our houseguest: "It wasn't too hot...more 'tingly' than spicy!")

It was fun to try different combinations of these delicious (and beautiful!) veggies! It's a great way to get everyone involved in the cooking process, and I imagine it would make kids more enthusiastic about eating their vegetables! ;)

Cold Weather Comfort Food

Here's a recipe that I've been thinking about ever since I woke up to a cold, grey, foggy day.

This recipe originated (in my family, anyway. I don't think he actually invented it.) from my firefighter Grandfather, who either learned it at the station, or at least made it for the guys a lot. After he retired, he made it for us kids even more!

Kids love the concept, and no one can get enough of...

Grandpa's Upside Down Pizza

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can or jar (15 oz) pizza sauce
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp oregano (dried)
8 oz grated mozzarella cheese

2 eggs
1 c. milk
1 tbs oil
1/2 tsp salt
1 c. flour
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese

Assembly:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brown the beef with the onion on the stovetop. Pour off the fat. Blend in the pizza sauce, garlic salt and oregano. Place mixture in a greased 9x13 pan and sprinkle with the mozzarella.

In a small bowl, mix the remaining ingredients, EXCEPT for the parmesan, and pour it over the meat mixture. Sprinkle with the Parmesan, and bake 30 minutes.

(You can also add mushrooms, bell pepper strips, sausage, or any of your favorite pizza toppings! But I haven't heard of anyone trying it with anchovies...yet!)

My favorite part of this dish is the Parmesan cheese making that salty, slightly crunchy crust on top. The ACTUAL crust is more cake-y than a regular pizza crust, though.

I haven't made this since Matt and I were first married four years ago, but I think today is the day to un-retire this old favorite. I'll try to post a picture when it's done.

(Of course, making this means I have to go to the store first, since I'm out of ground beef, and today is such a GREAT "sit at home and read with a cup of tea and a blanket" day...wish me luck!)

ETA: I just HAD to come back and tell you guys...I made it to the store. When I got home, I realized I forgot to get the ground beef. This is not an uncommon thing in this household. :)