Monday, August 22, 2011

August Pizza

It's the time of year when people sneak around neighbors' back yards with plain brown paper sacks.  Yes, I do have a Halloween book coming out on September 6th, but I'm not jumping the gun.  There's something sinister going on in back yards right now as you read this.  People are finding paper bags on their doorsteps, full of -- tomatoes!  Sometimes also full of squash, basil, and green peppers.

Why the secretive behavior?  Because neighbors who don't garden are being bombarded with these gifts. They're frantically avoiding their gardening neighbors, drawing the drapes, letting the answering machine pick up calls, even fabricating a few white lies. They're putting up signs that say Away for the month of August, locking the doors and pretending they're not home. 

By now, those of you with gardens have made gallons of tomato juice, and untold numbers of jars of tomato sauce.  What to do with the tomatoes that keep coming?

Today I'm posting a recipe that will help you avoid the sneaky trips to your neighbors' back doors, armed with bags of veggies.  A white pizza.  Or more precisely -- a red and green one!

For those of you not familiar with white pizzas, they are made without tomato sauce.  I've been having a lot of fun experimenting with them this summer.  The flavors are a very nice change from the typical tomato sauce pizza.

But I didn't overlook tomatoes. I made this pizza with freshly picked basil (which went into pesto) and tomatoes.  You can use your favorite pesto recipe, or Judy Alter's recipe, or (shh, don't tell) one that you bought at the store.


Technically, we're supposed to take the seeds and watery parts out of the tomatoes.  As you can see from the photo -- I didn't bother.  If you love tomato sandwiches, you'll love the juiciness.  Otherwise, go ahead and poke out the non-meaty parts.


Of course a homemade pizza crust is always best, like Mary Jane Maffini's recipe, but I was lazy and bought a ready made crust.


Be sure to follow the instructions regarding the baking of the crust, with one major exception.  Pesto already contains so much oil, that you don't want to brush the surface of the pizza dough with additional oil.  So skip that little step.

Mozzarella is always a favorite pizza cheese, but I like to add a second cheese on top. On this one, I used my current favorite, Cablanca, a goat Gouda that's white in color and delicious in flavor.

And by the way -- the neighbors who have been avoiding you?  They've been known to miraculously return home when approached with homemade pizza!


August Pizza

1 pizza crust
pesto
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion
3 tomatoes (depending on size)
6 ounces shredded mozzarella (2% is fine)
3-4 ounces shredded cheese that you love

Follow the instructions for the pizza crust with one exception.  If it says to brush with olive oil -- DON'T!

Preheat oven according to pizza crust directions.

Slice the onion and saute until translucent.

Brush the top of the pizza with pesto.  Top with cooked onions.  Sprinkle enough mozzarella over the pizza to cover it (about 4 ounces).

Slice the tomatoes.  Remove seeds and watery bits.  Arrange on top of the mozzarella.  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and the other cheese.  Bake according to the directions for the pizza crust.


ENJOY!





14 comments:

  1. This looks fabulous. I know what you mean regarding the vegetables. You just can't seem to use them all up. That's why lately I've been finding ways to use things - basil, carrots, etc. I hate wasting anything. Too funny regarding the sneaky.

    And for those of you who haven't pre-ordered Krista's new book, do. It's a great mystery and fun, fun, fun! Vampires, suspicion, and more!

    ~Avery

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  2. Hey Krista... got mine on order! and how do i get on a list to get these extras delivered... Marinara Sauce for everyone!!!

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  3. And here I was wondering what to do with all those pretty tomatoes I keep buying at the farmers' market! Problem solved.

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  4. Aww, thanks, Avery! I'm getting in the Halloween mood a little bit early this year.

    You're so right about not being able to use up all the wonderful veggies. They all seem to ripen at once!

    ~ Krista

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  5. Dave, you're a sweetheart to read my books. Thanks so much! Sometimes I think the whole MLK group ought to be neighbors so we could share the goodies. I'm surprised that none of your neighbors have brought over a bag of veggies hoping you'll whip them into something delicious!

    ~ Krista

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  6. LOL, Sheila! The plain brown bags work best because people can't see what's in them. Why don't tomatoes last longer? We wait and wait for them to ripen and then whammo -- dozens of them.

    ~ Krista

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  7. Looks delicious, Krista. I'll never pass up homemade pizza!

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  8. Yum! This will be delicious, Krista! Can't wait to try it. Like Sheila, I've been to the farmers' marker and have lots of tomatoes. Onions too, and I never yet met an onion I didn't want to carmelize.

    Your funny veggie stories reminded me of the time I put in a lot of zucchini plants and then discovered I didn't have a friend in the world. Gardeners, beware! This is your fate.

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  9. Cleo, I'd forgotten how easy they are to make. If you cheat and use a ready made crust, it's so easy! Fresh from the oven -- yum!

    ~ Krista

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  10. LOL, Mary Jane! I think it's great but a lot of people hate zucchini. Can be very tricky to give away. Sneaking around is a must!

    ~ Krista

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  11. Yum. Homemade pizza! This looks delicious, Krista. And so simple to make. I live in the middle of the city so there aren't any paper bags at my front door (I'd go into a panic) but you made my mouth water for fresh tomatoes. Nothing beats fresh off a local vine.

    Rochelle

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  12. Rochelle, I think we're a lot less likely to panic about an unmarked paper bag in the country! Wish I could cyber-send you some of our tomatoes. And you're so right -- home grown tomatoes fresh off the vine are just the best.

    ~ Krista

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  13. Oh, I love the way this looks! Yes, I'm one of those people who has too much garden produce. :) So *that's* why people have been running the other way, lately! Thanks for the recipe, Krista.

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  14. My tomatoes aren't ready yet. I was late planting my garden, but when they are ready I want to try this pizza.

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