••••PIZZA MARGHERITA••••

*PIZZA COLLECTION*

•1 pound store-bought pizza dough

•Flour, for work surface

•8 oz. fresh mozzarella

•1/2 cup store-bought marinara sauce

•12 fresh basil leaves

•1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional)

1. If frozen, place the dough in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.

2. When ready to use, cut the dough in half. You want to make each half into a round ball, so working one at a time, cup the piece in your hand and tuck the sides under to shape into a smooth ball.A Place on a lightly floured work surface, sprinkle with a little extra flour, cover with plastic wrap, and let come to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

3. Heat the oven (with the oven rack in the lowest position) to 475 degrees. Lightly flour a rimmed sheet pan. Slice the mozzarella into 1/4-inch thick rounds.

4. Gently flatten a ball of dough with your fingertips.B Then stretch it evenly, starting at the edges, until it's about 8 inches in diameter. C You can pick the dough up and gently pull at the edges while rotating to help stretch it. D It should be thin but not see-through. If the dough refuses to stretch, let it rest for 10 minutes to relax the glutens. Repeat with the second ball. Transfer to the prepared pan (2 pizzas should fit on one pan). It's okay if they are a little wonky and not perfect circles.

5. Spread 1/4 cup of the sauce over each pizza, leaving a 1-inch border for the crust. Top with the cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake until the edges are crisp and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and scatter in the fresh basil leaves over the top. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper if you like a little heat. Slice and serve.

ACTUAL WORK TIME: 15 minutes TOTAL TIME: 1 hour SERVES: 4

(Source: THE CAN'T COOK BOOK by Jessica Seinfield & photos & google+ photo)

••••FETA & BEAN FLATBREAD••••

*PIZZA COLLECTION*

1. Crumble some feta over a whole wheat pita and warm in the oven. Once the feta is melt-y, top with butterbeans (drained and rinsed), sliced red onion, halved grape tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

(Source: THE CAN'T COOK BOOK by Jessica Seinfield & photo also)

••••PARTY PIZZA SQUARES••••

*PIZZA COLLECTION*

PREPS: 15 minutes BAKE: 10 minutes MAKES: 20 pizza squares

•1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage

•2 Italian bread shells (8-inch)

•1 jar (14-ounce) pizza sauce

•1 cup chopped red and/or green bell pepper

•1/2 cup sliced ripe olives

•1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend

•1/4 cup coarsley chopped fresh basil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In large skillet, brown sausage over medium heat, breaking up large clumps with a wooden spoon. Drain any fat; set aside.

2. Place bread shells on a large sheet pan. Divide pizza sauce between shells, spreading to edges. Divide the cooked sausage crumbles, chopped peppers, olives, and shredded cheese blend between the shells, sprinkling each evenly over each shell.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven. Sprinkle chopped basil over pizza. Cut each pizza into about 10 squares. Place on a platter; serve hot.

NOTE: For an even easier appetizer, bake a frozen pizza according to package directions. Remove from oven; sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped basil. Cut into squares; serve on a platter.

(Source: Sandra Lee Semi Homemade•Money Saving Meals•& photo also)

••••NATIONAL COTTON CANDY DAY••••

(photo-google+ food network-Alton Brown) 

I LOVE COTTON CANDY!!!

•••CHECK OUT ALTON'S EASY HOMEMADE COTTON CANDY VIDEO ON FOOD NETWORK.COM••••

(photo-google+)

••••MORE PIZZAS ON THE WAY••••

(photo-google+)

••••ISLAND CHICKEN PIZZA••••

*PIZZA COLLECTION*

START TO FINISH 30 minutes

MAKES 4 servings

•+Nonstick cooking spray

•3/4 cup chili sauce

•1 cup refrigerated tropical fruit

•2 teaspoons Jamaican jerk seasoning

•2 teaspoons minced ginger

•1 can (13.8-ounce) refrigerated pizza crust

•3 cups shredded Jack cheese

•2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

•1 TB chopped fresh cilantro

•+Fresh cilantro sprig (optional)

•+Crushed red pepper (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside.

2. In a small bowl, stir together chili sauce, 1/4 cup juice from tropical fruit jar, jerk seasoning, and ginger; set aside.

3. Press out pizza dough on prepared baking sheet into a 12-inch square. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes.

4. Remove crust from oven and spread sauce mixture over, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with cheese, fruit, chicken and cilantro. Bake for 14-18 minutes or until cheese is melted and beginning to bubble. Garnish with cilantro sprig and serve with crushed red pepper (optional). Serve hot.

(Source: Sandra Lee money saving meals and photo also)