Making Stuff is Hard-The Pizza Stone

I know what you are thinking.  Wow I am an amazing chef to get that pizza in the shape of a triangle.  How neat. 

No, not neat. 

I finally attempted to use the pizza stone my mom bought for me.  What I did not realize was just how hard it is to transfer your pizza onto the stone once the stone is already in the oven (heating up).  I do not have one of those paddle things so I literally sat/stared/attempted to move my pizza dough (which was round and very pretty) onto the stone in the oven for about 20 minutes.  I almost cried.  Once I finally got it on, it was in this sort of triangular blob with sauce and cheese falling off the sides instead of the beautiful round pizza I had before I moved it.

It still tasted ok though.  (I mean who doesn't like the taste of fresh melted mozzarella?  Plus pizza is definitely one of my top 3 favorite foods.)

Have you ever used a pizza stone?

PS-Mo, this was not the craft fail attempt of your bday present.  I had many fails this weekend.

2 for 1 Dinners-Mini Pizzas and Pasta Bake

I'm not a huge fan of leftovers.  However, I'm usually only cooking dinner for my husband and me (or just me as he goes out of town a lot for work) and most food items are not portioned for 2 people.  So instead of having leftovers, I like to find ways to create 2 different (but similar) meals out of some of the same items.

This week at Harris Teeter, I found some Italian style chicken sausage on sale.  One time for my birthday when I was younger, my mom made mini pizzas using refrigerated biscuit dough as the pizza crust.  I decided to try this with the sausage as a topping.  Then the next day I used to rest to make a pasta bake.  I bought a package of Italian style chicken sausage (4 Links), a jar of Spaghetti sauce, frozen mixed bell peppers and shredded mozzarella cheese to be used in both dishes.  Then I just needed a can of refrigerated biscuit dough and some type of pasta (which I typically already have at my house).

Mini Sausage and Peppers Pizzas-Makes 10 mini pizzas
1 small container of refrigerated flaky biscuit dough (5 biscuits)
1 link of Italian style chicken sausage chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup of frozen mixed bell peppers chopped in to smaller pieces
1.5 cups of tomato sauce (I used Prego Spaghetti Sauce)
3/4 cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese

1-Split biscuits in half to make 10 circles of pizza dough.  Cook these at 400 F for about 5-6 minutes.
2-While the biscuits are cooking, heat up the sausage and peppers in a pan on the stove.  Add one-two spoonfuls of tomato sauce to that and set aside.
3-Pull biscuits out of the oven and top each with some sauce, then the sausage and pepper mixture and then some cheese. 
4-Put back in the oven and back for 6 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Sausage and Pepper Pasta Bake-For 2 or 3
2 links of Italian style chicken sausage cut into small pieces
1 cup of frozen mixed bell peppers
1.5 cups of spaghetti sauce
1 cup of mozzarella cheese
1.5 cups of pasta

1-Cook the pasta
2-While you are cooking the pasta heat up the sausage and peppers.  Then add in the spaghetti sauce.  Let this simmer a little.
3-Mix pasta and sausage mixture in a baking pan and top with cheese.
4-Bake at 400 F for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Ok, yes I realize that these two meals are very similar (at least ingredient wise) but it's enough of a difference to make me feel like I made two different things.  And I still have a sausage left over.  What should I do with it?
How do you feel about leftovers?

Pizza!

Today I would like to discuss a controversial subject.....Pizza Toppings.  Now I know that some people will strongly disagree with this but I'm just going to say it.  I love Pineapple on my pizza.  I know many people hate this...Beezus5, everyone in my family, most other people I know.  But I love it.  I also like pineapple and pepperoni together on one pizza.  I also like pineapple, prosciutto, and blue cheese on a pizza.  My husband is ok with it.  Usually he doesn't care about the pineapple as long as there is some sort of meat on it.  I think he's growing to like it more and more.

I will eat a pineapple-less pizza though.  I also like just pepperoni.  Then there is sausage, pepper, and onions or the Elizabeth's Pizza Special aka pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, mushroom, and cheese.  I have enjoyed a nice BBQ chicken pizza in my time as well and I also like a nice Pizza Margherita. One time I had a pizza with potatoes on it.  It was pretty good.  Essentially the only thing I don't like on pizza is my least favorite food ever...the olive, and then probably also anchovies.  One time I met this girl in college who would only eat mushroom pizza.  She refused to eat a plain cheese pizza or anything with more than mushrooms.  She was weird.

So here are my pizzas I made the other night.

Pizza....
Fresh (whole wheat) Pizza dough from the pizza place in the grocery store
Pizza Sauce (I got canned)
Pepperoni
Canned Pineapple
Mozzarella Cheese

I split the dough in to three pieces to make 3 smaller pizzas.  I put a little flour on it so it's easier to work with and doesn't stick to everything.  I spread out the dough and baked it a few minutes until it was brown before adding the toppings.  Usually I do a layer of cheese, then a layer of toppings then another layer of cheese.  Sometimes I don't.  Then I baked them until the cheese melted.  Pretty good stuff.

Who likes pineapple on their pizza?

What's your favorite topping or combo?

What's the weirdest pizza you've ever had?

Do you ever make your own pizza at home?

Mini Greek Pita Pizzas

I had some hummus left over from the wine fest/picnic that I went to this weekend so I decided to make something Greek/Mediterranean themed out of it. I like the idea of combining cultures to make a new dish. Instead of having a traditional Italian themed pizza with mozzarella and tomatoes I made Greek Pizza with Hummus, Feta, and Greek Salad on it.

I saw these mini pita pockets and the grocery store and knew I had to try them. I love mini stuff.

Mini Greek Pita Pizza's
Mini Pitas or Regular Sized Pitas
Olive Oil
Pre-made Hummus (or you can make your own)
Lettuce-of your choice (I used baby romaine leaves)
Tomato
Cucumber
Red Onion
Feta Cheese

-Split pitas in half and drizzle a little olive oil on them. Toast them at 400 degree F for about 10 minutes. Just watch them to make sure they don't burn.
-Let them cool for a couple minutes and then top them with hummus. I had five pepper fire roasted hummus. It was really good. Also spicy.
-Make a Greek salad with the lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion and feta cheese. You can add those Greek Olives if you have to or any other vegetable you want.
-Toss salad with your choice of Greek Dressing. I used Girard's Greek Feta Dressing.
-Top Toasted Pita's with some Greek Salad.
-Enjoy!

Do you like Greek Food?
What is your favorite non-traditional Pizza?