Every couple Fridays, Nate and I make homemade pizza for dinner. This is one of the rare times we are actually in the kitchen making dinner together (something I would like to do more often), me stretching out the dough, Nate shredding cheese and slicing toppings, deciding together what to put on each pie. We always do one Blue Hawaiian, and the second is usually a mish-mash of whatever else we have on hand – salami, olives, sautéed mushrooms and onions, chopped bell peppers… Last week at Aaron’s birthday pizza dinner, Nate and I shared the pizza special of the day, which was topped with crumbled homemade Italian sausage, fresh sliced Anaheim peppers, and cherry tomatoes on a creamy, cheesy base. It was such a good, simple combination of flavours that I knew I wanted to add it to our homemade pizza topping arsenal. I feel a bit silly posting an actual “recipe” for a pizza because I never follow one myself, so instead here’s the basic rundown for this cheesy sausage, jalapeño and fresh tomato pie.
Stretch out your favorite pizza dough onto a lightly oiled baking sheet (I love this pizza dough – I use a little bit of whole wheat flour and freeze half the dough for our next pizza night). Drizzle it with a few tablespoons of heavy cream (spread it around) and shower it with a good amount of freshly grated parmesan cheese and a few shreds of mozzarella.
Scatter it with some cooked and crumbled homemade Italian sausage, some sliced fresh jalapeños (or Anaheim peppers, if you can find them), and a few quartered grape or cherry tomatoes.
Sprinkle with a bit more mozzarella (less is more in this case – I find too much cheese keeps the crust from cooking properly) and bake in a hot oven until the crust is golden and the cheese melted and browned. Let it rest for a few minutes, then sprinkle with more parmesan and some black pepper before cutting into wedges.
sugaredpecan says
Wow, this sounds so good, with the cream and parmesan cheese on the bottom….YUM!
Korena in the Kitchen says
It was really tasty, more almost more like a flatbread than a pizza.
jehanne@thecookingdoctor says
your bonding time over pizza making sounds so fun, Korena. I think I must take that cue from u and get the hubs to rustle down with the flour, instead of just being the king, served meals from the slave (wife!). the toppings are awesome!
Korena in the Kitchen says
Haha. I really do need to get better at having help in the kitchen – usually I just want to take over! But pizza is a good way to start because everyone likes it, so there’s a good buy-in!
Sibella at bakingwithsibella.com says
What’s better than a Friday night homemade pizza (especially when you get some help)?! I like the toppings, I like how it looks and I wish some of it for dinner tonight! 😀
ChgoJohn says
Your pizza looks fantastic and I like the idea of adding a bit of heavy cream, as well as halved cherry tomatoes instead of sauce. How ever did Friday night become pizza night in so many homes? I’m not complaining, mind you. I’m a participant myself. 🙂
Korena in the Kitchen says
Friday night is pizza night because pizza goes so well with a glass of wine or a beer, which is usually necessary by the time Friday hits! 😉
wendyjv says
This looks SO good! I like the idea of no tomato sauce.
milkandbun says
mouth-watering photos!!!!! 🙂
The Little Spork says
wow your pizza turned out perfectly!! looks mouthwateringly good 🙂
Bam's Kitchen (@bamskitchen) says
I never thought to put cream on my pizza I bet that is your special secret for your delicious Friday night pizzas.,
Karen says
Your pizza looks terrific…and I agree with you about less is more on the cheese.
Korena in the Kitchen says
Funny but this is pretty much the only circumstance where I would say that about cheese 😉