Monday Menu Makeover: Semi-homemade White Pizza

White Pizza

You can go all out homemade if you want to make your own crust.  I'll give you a figurative gold star if you do.  Or, you can be like me and buy dough from Trader Joe's or Publix.  FYI: Trader Joe's is less than half the price of Publix - $1.09 vs. $2.29 in the Atlanta area, and while there is a little less in the package, it's still plenty for a medium sized pizza.

Ingredients:

Premade Pizza Dough

A palmful of cornmeal

2 Cloves of Garlic, minced

2-3 Tablespoons Butter (depending on how much you like butter)

5-8 ounces Italian Blend Cheese (Mozzarella, Asiago, Provalone, White Cheddar, Romano)

1 Tablespoon Oregano - divided in half (reserve 1/2 tablespoon for after pizza is cooked)

1/2 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Basil

EVOO to prevent sticking

Options:

Sliced Red Tomatoes

Sliced Onion

Sliced Red Bell Peppers

Whole Leaf Basil

1/2 Tablespoon Red Pepper Flakes

Black, Green or Kalamatta Olives

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 415.
2. Follow instructions on premade dough - typically you want it to sit at room temperature for 20-25 minutes.
3. Melt butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat and add garlic.  Roast garlic until aromatic, being sure not to burn.  Keep on very low heat until step 6.
4. Sprinkle cornmeal on a round pizza stone (if it's the first few times you have used the pizza stone, rub butter on it and then sprinkle cornmeal.)
5. On a separate (non-stick) work surface work out the dough with EVOO coated fingers into a circular shape (or flip in the air if you think you are a professional).  Once stretched out, transfer to the prepped pizza stone, and roll up the edges of the dough to create a lip.
6. Brush the entire surface with 1/2 of the garlic butter mixture and place in oven for 10 minutes on the second to lowest rack.  Doing this prior to adding the cheese (or sauce if you are doing a more traditional pizza) aides in creating a crisp crust.  If you have a super thick crust you may want to add another 5-7 minutes baking time to this step.
7. Remove crust from oven and sprinkle desired amount of cheese evenly.  Sprinkle herbs evenly and add any of the desired optional ingredients.  (The KISS concept is a good thing to remember when adding on options.  KISS = keep it simple, stupid).
8. Brush the remaining garlic butter mixture on the edge of the pizza and drizzle atop cheese. Return to oven another 8-10 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly.  Cool about 5 minutes before cutting and adding an additional 1/2 tablespoon of oregano.