Tomato, Herb and Blue Cheese Pizza - Blue Monday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I have one other pizza that counts blue cheese in its ingredients list. This pie is all over the internet, but I have been unable to trace its original source. Folks who love to cook and eat, sometimes bypass a recipe because it's parentage is suspect or it comes from a source that is not properly credentialed. It's the old "whose your daddy" school of cooking. In the case of this pizza, that would be a mistake. This will not set the culinary world on fire, but it makes a fast, easy and delicious meal. It has the colors of a calico quilt and is as pretty to look at as a pizza can be. I bake my pizzas in a rectangular pan because I find this shape easier to serve and store. If you prefer a round pie, the only thing that changes in this recipe is the type of pan you use. Don't be put off by the blue cheese. It blends nicely with the other ingredients and doesn't overpower the pie. While the recipe uses frozen bread dough, you can use your favorite crust or bake it on lavash or another type of flatbread. Here's the recipe.

Tomato, Herb and Blue Cheese Pizza...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 (1-lb.) loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 small red onion, thinly sliced, pulled into rings
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3 ounces of crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1) Cut bread dough in half. Press each portion onto bottom of an 9 x 13-inch baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray; build up edges slightly. Prick dough several times with a fork. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
2) Brush dough with oil. Combine basil, oregano and garlic powder and sprinkle dough. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Arrange onion and tomatoes over crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella and blue cheese. Bake until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes longer. Yield: 2 pies.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Greek-Style Flatbread Pizza - One Perfect Bite
Caramelized Onion, Blue Cheese and Walnut Pizza - One Perfect Bite
Mexicali Pizza - One Perfect Bite

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday
Meatless Monday at My Sweet and Savory

Caramelized Onion, Blue Cheese and Walnut Pizza

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I used to serve small squares of this pizza as a cocktail appetizer. People loved the combination of caramelized onions with blue cheese and toasted or candied walnuts. We had it so often that I grew tired of it and that usually marks the death knell for my recipes. Once retired, they're rarely used again. This one has been pardoned and given a second life because of Meatless Mondays. As you can see, I've resurrected the recipe and we had the pizza for supper tonight. The recipe makes a nice pie and if you're looking to serve something a bit outside the box, you might enjoy this one. The pizza can be made with a standard dough or served on a flatbread or tortilla. While this is simple to make, it is not speedy and you'll need time to caramelize the onions. The mantra here remains the same. The onions must be watched as they cook. Once they start to caramelize they move from brown to black in the wink of an eye. If they char or burn you'll have to start again. This is a highly flavored pie and to enjoy it, you have to love all three of its major ingredients. If the trio appeals to you, you'll love this pizza. Here's the recipe.

Caramelized Onion, Blue Cheese and Walnut Pizza - Meatless Monday...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided use
2 tablespoons butter
2 pounds yellow onions, very thinly sliced
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 pound pizza dough
1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

Directions:
1) Heat 2 tablespoons oil and butter in a large heavy skillet set over medium heat. Add onions and salt, stirring frequently until onions begin to brown, about 20 minutes. Add sugar and cook, stirring frequently until onions are well-browned, about 15 minutes longer. Do not allow onions to burn. Season with pepper to taste.
2) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray bottom of a round or rectangular pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray. Press dough into pan, building up sides slightly. Brush crust with reserved 1 tablespoon oil. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread onions on crust. Top with walnuts and blue cheese. Return to oven and bake until cheese starts to soften and brown, about 10 minutes. Serve hot. Yield: 4 -6 servings.

You might also like these recipes:
Greek-Style Flatbread Pizza - One Perfect Bite
Onion Parmesan Focaccia with Tomatoes - One Perfect Bite
Whole Wheat Olive Flatbread Focaccia - One Perfect Bite

Greek-Style Flatbread Pizza

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It was a wonderfully busy day today. We headed into the Lorane Valley to look at property and on our way back stopped for a quick visit with friends who have just opened their nursery and farm stand for the season. We did a quick walk through of our Saturday Market and had a very late lunch at a favorite local Thai restaurants. By the time we reached home the sun had set and we knew that dinner would be light and late. I decided to make Greek pizzas that use lavash as a base for Mediterranean-style ingredients. They are much lighter than their doughy cousins and I actually prefer the thin crisp crust to that of a standard pizza. These are easy to do. If you don't care for the Greek version, use standard pizza ingredients or better still use the flatbread for a wonderful pissaldiere. I think many of you will like this light pizza. Here's the recipe.

Greek-Style Flatbread Pizza...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 soft lavash bread
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup minced pitted Kalamata olives
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1-3/4 cups crumbled feta cheese
1-1/2 cups baby spinach, wilted
1-1/2 cups thinly sliced cremini mushrooms

Directions:
1) Preheat broiler. Place lavash on large baking sheet; brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and broil until it begins to crisp, about 1 minute.
2) Reduce oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Turn lavash over on baking sheet, broiled side down. Brush with remaining 1-1/2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack and feta cheese. Top with wilted spinach, olives and mushrooms. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using a wide spatula, slide lavash dierectly onto an oven rack. Bake until pizza is heated through and cheeses melt, about 5 to 7 minutes. Cut into squares. Yield 2 to 3 servings.

You might also like these recipes:
Mexicali Pizza - One Perfect Bite
Focaccia Bread - One Perfect Bite
Whole Wheat Olive Bread - One Perfect Bite

Mexicali Pizza - Outdoor Wednesday

Mexicali Pizza before and after baking.



The first hellebores of the year are now in bloom.



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I originally put this recipe together for my Texas grandsons. I wanted something that they could make by themselves for a quick lunch or light supper. We were so busy last summer that they never got to try them, but somewhere along the line the pizzas became a go-to recipe for our dinner on those nights when the clock winds down before the day has ended. They take 10 minutes to assemble and another 10 minutes to bake. Everything needed to make them can be found in most pantries. I've deliberately kept them meat free, and will leave any additional toppings to your imagination. You can also use low-fat refried beans without changing the nature of the "pies". While I make them with flour tortillas, there's no reason a pizza crust can't be used. We like a little heat with our meals, so I use a spicy salsa and Pepper Jack cheese. If you prefer your food less spicy, use a mild salsa and a bag of pre-shredded Mexican cheese. Toppings can include olives, tomatoes, scallions and cilantro. I've tried to keep this a recipe a canvas that you can paint as you choose. I think you'll like this. Here's the recipe.

Mexicali Pizza...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
2 8-inch flour tortillas
Cooking spray
1 can (16-oz.) traditional Mexican refried beans
1 cup medium thick and chunky salsa
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or a mix of shredded Colby and Pepper Jack cheese
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro or other toppings of your choice

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a large baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2) Warm refried beans in a microwavable bowl for 1 minute on High power. Carefully spread beans over tortillas. Top with salsa and cheese. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until tortillas are lightly browned and cheese melted.. Sprinkle with toppins of your choice while the pizzas are warm. Carefully move to serving plates. Yield: 2 small pies.

This is being linked to:
Outdoor Wednesday - A Southern Daydreamer