Creepy Witch Finger Pizza Rolls

Take a bite out of these creepy-but-tasty witch finger treats for Halloween!  They are an easy and fun activity to do with the kids.  As one reader put it, "they look totally gross!"  That's the point, people!

Note:  You can substitute the shredded mozzarella with string cheese.  Remember to shape your dough "fingers" thinner than you want them to turn out because the pizza dough will expand in the oven.  If you would prefer to not use food coloring, you can simply leave it out and serve "Finger Pizza Rolls" instead.  

Chicken Parmigiana and Prosciutto Pizza

One Year Ago:  Peanut-Sauced Shrimp and and Pasta

Welcome to the 4th edition of "Fridge Fridays"

The purpose of "Fridge Fridays" is to share with you how I use leftovers from my fridge to create a meal.  

This pizza was so good!  It was even better leftover cold with a glass of milk!  

The Leftovers

Chicken Parmigiana:  We ordered out one night from a local Italian joint that we love and had leftover chicken parmigiana.

Homemade Stuffed Crust Pizza

Well, it's the weekend! Hallelujah! Every Friday night, we have family movie night. Have you ever watched Land Before Time? My husband watched it in the theater when he was a young boy and I had never seen it before! We all really enjoyed it, especially Madelyn. For family movie night, we alternate making our own burritos one weekend and then our own pizzas the next. Tonight, I made stuffed crust pizza. I don't know what much else to say other than goodness gracious make this now! It is so easy and so amazingly scrumptious! My new favorite way to make pizza!

Ingredients:

• Pizza dough
• 7 sticks of string cheese, cut in half
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• Pizza sauce
• Shredded cheese, for topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Roll the pizza dough onto a lightly-greased 12-inch pizza stone or pan.  Roll the dough 1/2 inch larger than the pizza stone itself.  Lay the string cheese pieces around the edges of the dough.

Roll the edge of the dough over and around the string cheese and seal the dough, pressing down with your fingers.  Spend some extra time on this step to ensure the dough is sealed.

Brush the crust edges with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt.  Dock the dough with a fork (not the part where you placed the string cheese), to allow steam to escape.  Spread the pizza sauce in the center of the dough.

Sprinkle with the cheese any other toppings you desire.

Bake for 12 to 18 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Yes, I'm still excited that I have a window in my new oven. I'm sure it will pass one day :)

Enjoy!

Madelyn Rating:"Muy Bien!"

Homemade Taco Pizza

Happy Veteran's Day! I was originally planning on making something red, white and blue but that fell through. Red tomatoes, white crust and a blue plate close enough, though? I was going to write a long intro for this recipe but I think it can all be summed up in two words: Taco pizza. Enough said.

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza crust - click here for my homemade recipe
• 1/2 c tomato sauce
• 1/4 lb beef seasoned with taco seasoning, recipe follows
• 1/2 c Iceburg lettuce, chopped
  
• 1 c shredded cheddar jack cheese
• 1 tomato, chopped
• Sour cream, to taste (optional)
  

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, or according to your pizza crust recipe directions.
  
• Spread the tomato sauce over top of your crust (I omit this step and we dip our pizza slices in the sauce).
  
• Sprinkle beef evenly over all.
  
• Place the lettuce on top of the beef.
  
• Top with cheese.
• Scatter tomatoes over all.

• Optional: Dollop with sour cream.
  
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or per your pizza crust recipe directions.
  
• Enjoy!

_____________________________________________________________

Beef Seasoned with Taco Seasoning:

• 1/4 lb beef
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 1/2 tbsp taco seasoning mix

Directions:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the beef; drain.
  
• Return the beef to the skillet. Add the water and taco seasoning mix.
  
• Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Madelyn Rating:
"Good!"

Pepperoni and Mozzarella Pizza Bites

I was browsing through some of my favorite cooking blogs the other day and came across a recipe for pizza bites that gave me inspiration for this recipe. Oh my goodness gracious are these good! You can stuff these with anything. I think I am going to try a buffalo chicken filling next time with blue cheese.

Ingredients:

• Fresh pizza dough - Click here for my recipe
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Sandwich pepperoni slices, chopped
  
• Olive oil
• Garlic salt
• Oregano
• Marinara sauce for dipping
  

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  
• Roll out pizza dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
• Use a large cup to cut out circles in the dough.
• Place pepperoni in center and top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bring up sides together and seal, making a ball.
  
• Place pizza balls seam side down in a greased pie plate.
• Drizzle with olive oil and season with garlic salt and oregano. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.

• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
• Serve with marinara sauce.
• Enjoy!

Homemade Italian Three-Cheese Pizza

This is my husband's favorite way that I make pizza. Making homemade pizza is wonderful because it is so cheap to make, extremely versatile and delicious!

Ingredients:

Pizza Crust

• 1/2 c warm water
• 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
  
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese to sprinkle
• 1 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese to sprinkle
• 1 tbsp shredded Romano cheese

Topping

• Tomato sauce, to taste
  
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  
• 1/4 c Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 c mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 c Romano cheese
  

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine water, 1 tbsp olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt, sugar, flour, Italian seasoning, 1 tsp Parmesan and yeast. Knead until smooth. Shape into a disc.
  
• Place dough in a warm, dry and moist place. Cover and allow to rise, until double.
  
• Pound down dough and knead again.
  
• With your fingers, press down at about 1/2 inch from the edge of the dough to form the crust while stretching at the same time from the inside, forming a 12-inch round pizza.
  
• Place dough on a greased pizza pan and sprinkle with 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp mozzarella and 1 tbsp Romano cheese.
  
• Dock (poke holes) with fork.
• Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until light brown.
• Allow to cool completely.

• Melt butter and add to 1 tbsp olive oil and garlic salt. Generously brush all over the outer portion where the crust of the pizza is to ensure it does not dry out.

• Spread tomato sauce over all and season with oregano.
• Top with 1/4 c Parmesan cheese, 1/4 c mozzarella cheese and 1/4 c Romano cheese.

• Bake at 425 degrees until toppings begin to turn golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
  
• Enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

I had a very light workload today, so I was able to spend the whole day cleaning my house. It is about one week since I have been to the grocery store, so the contents in my fridge are running a little low. The last thing I want to do is run to the store after a day of scrubbing on my hands and knees, so dinner had to consist of whatever was in the house. I had about a pound of leftover roasted chicken and my daughter kept asking for pizza or chicken wings for dinner, so I decided to make buffalo chicken pizza. YUM! This earned me a rare "fantastic" rating from my husband.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked (I used left over roasted chicken)
• 1/4 c Frank's hot sauce
• 1/4 butter
• Ranch dressing
• 2 c mozzarella cheese
• 1 pizza crust - Click here for my homemade recipe

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  
• In a small sauce pan over low heat, melt the butter and add the hot sauce.
• Shred the cooked chicken and stir it into the sauce mix.
• Spread ranch dressing over the pizza crust and top with chicken.

• Top with mozzarella cheese.

• Bake for about 10-15 minutes, until crust is light brown and cheese is melted.
  
• Enjoy!

Ham, Green Pepper and Onion Pizza

We are leaving for the beach tomorrow morning and I had some deli ham I needed to use up before it expired, so I decided to add it to our pizza for lunch. I love this combination of pizza toppings!

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza crust - Click here for my homemade recipe
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 1/4 sweet onion, thinly sliced
• Cooked ham, to taste
  
• Tomato sauce, to taste
• Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  
• Place pizza crust on greased pizza pan (or large baking sheet).

• Spread tomato sauce over and top with green pepper, onion and ham.

• Generously brush olive oil over the outer portion where the crust of the pizza is to ensure it does not dry out. I like to sprinkle some garlic salt over it as well.
  
• Bake until toppings begin to turn brown, about 10-15 minutes.
  
• Enjoy!

Homemade Pizza Crust

When my husband came home late the night I made Chicken Alfredo pizza, he raved about the crust. I had no pictures of it on hand to post the recipe on my blog, so I thought I would make another today and have pizza for lunch. The dough is very easy to work with. This is my go-to pizza dough recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c warm water
• 1 pkg active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning 
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp olive oil PLUS extra for brushing
• 1/2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to sprinkle
• 1/2 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese, to sprinkle (you can use any cheese -- Romano tastes great; it just won't brown like mozzarella does)
  

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine the warm water and yeast.   Stir in the flour, garlic powder, salt, sugar.  Knead the dough and shape into a round disc.
  
• Cover and place dough in a warm, dry and moist place and allow to rise, until double.
  
• Pound down the dough.  Press and stretch to form a 12-inch pizza.

• Place dough on a greased pizza pan and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
  
• Dock (poke holes) with fork.

**I like to pre-bake the dough early in the day at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, place the toppings on and refrigerate until I'm ready to bake it for dinner.  I then throw the pizza in at 425 for 10 to 15 minutes.  

To make a pizza without pre-baking:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  
• Top with your favorite toppings.  Sprinkle oregano over all.
  
• Generously brush olive oil over the outer portion where the crust of the pizza is to ensure it does not dry out. I like to sprinkle some garlic salt over it as well.
  
• Bake until toppings begin to turn brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.
  
• Enjoy!
  

Chicken Alfredo Pizza with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Tonight, my husband is bringing home a new addition to our family, a kitten! We have not named her yet but we are thinking Molly is a cute name. He had to drive all the way to Philadelphia after work to pick her up, so I knew it would be a late night for him. Therefore, I decided to make a dinner that I knew he would NOT enjoy. I am so glad I made this because it is to die for! Next time, I will add onion!

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza crust - Click here for my homemade recipe
  
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 c fresh spinach
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
  
• Sea salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 c Alfredo sauce - Click here for my homemade recipe
• 4 pieces sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  
• 1/2 c shredded Asiago cheese
• 1/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 c Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  
• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add garlic and stir until fragrant.
  
• Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Add lemon. Stir constantly and cook until no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes; set the chicken aside in a bowl.
  
• In the same skillet, add the spinach, season with salt and pepper if desired and stir constantly until cooked; about 1 minute. Add to chicken and toss well.
  
• Spread Alfredo sauce over crust.
• Top with sun-dried tomatoes and chicken/spinach mixture.
  
• Sprinkle cheeses over all.
• Bake pizza for 12 minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.

• Enjoy!

Pizza Roll Ups

Oh, happy day!  I just got a new refrigerator and I am loving it!  While happily transferring the contents of my freezer into my new one, I decided to lay a few things in the fridge to thaw out, one of which was some homemade pizza dough.  My daughter was watching as I was rolling out the dough and I thought it would be fun for us to make roll ups instead of a boring old pizza.  She loved the idea and helped roll some up herself.  These are simple, tasty and a great treat for kids!

Pizza and Spinach Wraps

School is back in session and my little girl is in 1st grade this year.  Where did the time go?  I pack a lunch for my husband every day for work but this is the first year that I have had to pack one for my daughter.  I want to instill healthy eating habits for my family and spending a little extra time planning for school lunches is a great way to do it.  In her lunch, I packed this wrap along with carrot sticks and dip (made from a ranch seasoning mix combined with Greek yogurt), mandarin oranges and a packet of raisins.  This is a healthy, quick and tasty wrap that your children will love and it is a wonderful alternative to the typical sandwich.  Do you have any healthy school lunch ideas?

Blooming Pizza Bread

Remember the Blooming Bacon Cheddar Ranch Bread that hit the front page of AOL.com back in February?  Well, I decided to go along with a pizza theme this time.  The results?  Amazing!  I really need to reserve making these for when I have company -- when left to our own devices, my husband and I embarrassingly polish off an entire loaf in one day!