Finally yesterday we moved my furniture into my new house.
Originally, we planned to do that Sunday but it rained, so instead we sat inside and watched eight episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. No comment.
And since Adam is a little out of commission, I lured all the boys in my bible study to do the heavy lifting with two simple words: homemade pizza.
Works like a charm.
Since I was feeling ambitious (read: hungry), I made two. The first was a gorgonzola pear flatbread that I drizzled later with a balsamic reduction and the other was my personal favorite, a classic margarita pizza topped with goat cheese and mushrooms.
Oh yeah.
I feel like so often we get in a pizza rut with the typical shredded mozzarella and turkey pepperoni. Folks, there is so much more to life than pepperoni and shredded cheese. It’s time to get adventurous!
Homemade dough is a start and kinda necessary for superior homemade pizza. This is my standard dough although sometimes I use all white flour and no whole wheat because I’m a rebel. The dough is chewy and delicious—so much better than anything prepackaged!
Both pizzas were delicious and easy to throw together for my impromptu moving pizza party. What are you waiting for? Pizza’s for dinner!
Classic Margarita Pizza with Mushrooms and Goat Cheese
makes one 12 inch pizza
Ingredients:
1/2 recipe basic pizza dough
1 jar pizza sauce (I love Trader Joe’s brand)
10 oz sliced mushrooms
1 T butter
2 large balls fresh buffalo mozzarella, cut into chunks
2 tomatoes, sliced thin
3/4 cup fresh crumbled goat cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Melt the butter in a skillet and cook the mushrooms over medium/low heat until soft and juicy. Set aside.
Roll out pizza dough on a floured surface and stretch with hands to form a sheet pan-sized rectangle. Cover with pizza sauce, cooked mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes and goat cheese.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and crust is golden.
Time:
30 minutes (not including time to prepare crust)
Pear Gorgonzola Flatbread with Balsamic Drizzle
makes one 12 inch pizza
Ingredients:
1/2 recipe basic pizza dough
1 large anjou or bartlett pear, cored and sliced thin
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
1 T olive oil
1 cup balsamic vinegar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Bring balsamic vinegar to a simmer on the stove and cook for five minutes, or until the vinegar coats the back of a spoon. Take off stove and let cool while you make the pizza.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface and then stretch into a large rectangle on a greased sheet tray. Brush top of dough with olive oil and then scatter mozzarella cheese on top, followed by the sliced pear and gorgonzola crumbles. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden.
Drizzle balsamic vinegar on pizza and serve.
Time:
30 minutes (not including dough time)
{ 84 comments… read them below or add one }
i LOVE the pear/gorgonzola flatbread idea…SO much flavor!
I love pizza so so much and this looks amazing. I would have helped you move too with promises of pizza. Especially if you had thrown in a milano for dessert.
The idea of balsamic reduction on pretty much anything savoury gets me excited! These pizzas are so creative – and nice to look at too. I’m going to check out your dough recipe because the last one I bought was pretty lackluster!
Gorgonzola + pear is probably my favorite pizza topping combo. Plus balsamic reduction drizzle? Yes please!
I love homemade pizza – well ok let’s be honest – I just love pizza. I love the healthy kind, I love the greasy kind…mmm! Thanks for the awesome recipes. Love em’
Ummm I want to move to California and be your friend, mmmk?
Oh and can we work around the fact I’m vegan?
Yum! They both look delish!!
Yum. I have been wanting to make homemade pizza for a few days now. Maybe tomorrow night as I already have salmon on the menu for tonight!
These look wonderful
Homemade pizza is the best, although I’m still working on making that absolutely perfect dough! I’ve come close…one day it will be mine!
I’ve had a pear gorgonzola pizza with roasted hazelnuts and balsalmic before that was SO GOOD it changed me as a person, Im going to have to recreate it using your recipe!
You’re such a gourmet! Love that pear pizza. I swear you could open a restaurant just serving pizza’s like these. Can’t wait to try!
Looks great Jenna! Thanks for sharing. Friday night is always pizza night at our house – I will have to try these variations sometime soon… looks yummy!
These are gorgeous! Homemade pizza is one thing I have always been scared to make. I need to just buck up one day and do it!
I love the combo of mushrooms and goat cheese but both of these pizzas look delicious! I wouldn’t know which one to eat first.
The last time I made pizza, I made spinach and artichoke pizza, and my bf made buffalo wing pizza! They were delish.
that looks amazing
I LOVE homemade pizza! yummm! xo
omg I love the apple pizza idea!!! I must make this. I love cheese + apple combo, so it must work on a pizza
I love homemade pizza. My 2 favorites to make are buffalo chicken pizza & a kind of Greek/Italian thing with pepperoni, spinach, red onion, feta, tomato, mushrooms and mild peppers. It’s wonderful.
Yum!! We had homemade pizzzas a couple weeks ago and we used Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Dough Flour and they turned out amazing!!!! I will have to try your pizza dough!
I love homemade pizza! They both sound delicious
Homemade pizza is a sure way to get help when you need it
We love making pizza at home now. It turns out great every time, and we know exactly what’s in the dough and what the toppings are made of.
i’ll admit it..i’m not adventurous when it comes to my pizza at all!!! But that pear pizza looks and sounds amazing!!
Pizza doesn’t get much better than this!!
Homemade pizza night is my favorite! Your topping choices are perfect.
OH my. I just may have to make one (or both!) of these this weekend. I love PW’s Eggplant Tomato Pizza to death, but I may have to make an exception and make this instead.
Looks fantastic! Kind of minimalistic and elegant
especially the pear pizza! I couldnt help but posting that comment 
My first one here 
ha! Pizza was already on the menu for tonight…so trying out the pear/gorgonzola is gonna be fun
cathy b.
the pear gorgonzola was my favorite last night–let me know how y’all like it!
The thought of making homemade pizza crust scares me… But I really think I’m going to have to give it a try.
Am I ever happy to see this recipe…. I have been wanting to make homemade pizza for awhile now but wasn’t sure what recipe to go by or the best dough etc. I will definitely try this though!! Thanks for sharing!!
YUM! YUM! YUM! That pear gorgonzola pizza looks fabulous! I tpyically just use pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil on my pizzas. But I am gonna give this pear one a try ASAP! I also seriously love fried egg on top of my pizza! I had it for the first time in this resturaunt in Austin on South Congress called Vespaio Enotecha (you and Adam should try it) and it was heavenly! http://www.austinvespaio.com/enoteca/enoteca.html
Love that you added a balsamic reduction to the pear and gorgonzola pizza! It must add such an incredible dimension of flavor!
Yum! I love homemade pizza. One of my favorites is pesto, arugula, shrimp and red onion with a little parm.
Great recipes! Can’t wait to try these! : )
I’ve been craving pizza for two days now, but lacked a good option. This is perfect! Thanks
luved both the version,will try the dough recipe nd let u knw..-)
Yum, thanks for the pizza dough recipe.
Yummy! I am definately trying this for the fam. Thanks for sharing!
Mmm both of those pizza look soo scrumptious! Can’t decide which I’d want to try first!
I’ve actually never made homemade pizza and always, always wanted to. I got obsessed with the idea last summer but it was just too dang hot. I should really hop on it before winter’s end. My dream pizza? Breakfast pizza with an egg cracked onto it just before the end of cooking. Yum.
breakfast pizza is one of my favorites, too! I need to make one of those soon.
PIZZZAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how can you go wrong?!:)
GREAT ideas! Pizza is my one weakness and I am always looking for new ways to make it!
Those sound lovely! I haven’t gotten very creative with my homemade pizza and need to try some new variations! Thanks for the ideas
.
I want a slice of each!
The pizza is looking too gud…. !
Yum! These both look great.
What is it about Grey’s that sucks you in for all those episodes?? I swear that I can’t watch less than three at a time. It just snowballs!
I’m so going to use that line with my husband ” there is so much more to pizza than shredded mozzarella and pepperoni”.
I love Margarita pizza oh but the other one is stealing my heart too. And yes homemade dough it shd be!
Those look bomb. I really want to try making my own pizza dough.
Fruit on pizza is always a good idea.
gorgonzola pear is one of the best combos i think! i LOVE the mix of super savory with something sweet. such fun to eat!
Looks so amazing, I am actually drooling. I need to get pans like that!
They look fantastic. I am planning on making pizza next Monday for Pi day (dork), and I might just have to make the pear one!
Homemade pizza ANY way is a winner, but these make me swoon!
Mmm… we made gluten free, vegan pizza for dinner last night! Artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, pesto, kalamata olives & daiya vegan cheese. SO good!
hmm… breakfast…..
Pear and gorgonzola with balsamic?!? I never thought of putting them on a pizza. I absolutely can’t wait to try this. Thanks so much for the wonderful ideaand recipe!
Homemade is is definitely the way to go!
Plus, this is perfect because pizza is on the menu for dinner tonight! I think I will be going to the grocery store to pick up these topping ingredients!
Yum, never would have thought of putting pears and gorgonzola together.
Vespaio is awesome in Austin, like Kelly mentioned above.
We got adventurous with homemade pizza last weekend. It’s great for everyone to make their own with personalized toppings.
http://www.marcigilbert.com/2011/03/01/pizza-pizza/
We’ve been making our own pizza now for a few weeks! It’s so much fun and we’re finally getting the hang of it.
I love homemade pizza. It’s become a Friday night tradition!
Yum!! Looks great!
I use a similar recipe for veggie pizza dough and love to play with the toppings. last time i almost went cheeseless and it was still one of my favorite pizzas!
I’ll take one of each, please. Those look delicous! You did such a good job keeping them thin with a nice crust. I always screw that up somehow.
I am making pizza tonight and I am going to try out your dough recipe.
Does is turn out as well if you don’t use a stand mixer?
You don’t need a stand mixer–how do you think our great grandmas made bread?
Just knead on a floured surface until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
Love your creative toppings! I agree- there is so much more to (pizza) life than just plain ol’ pepperoni and cheese! Amen sista
I love the flatbread pizza ideas, Jenna!
They look wonderful and I love any pizza that is heavy on the tomatoes. And pineapple. I loooooove pineapple on my pizza!
Intrigued with pear and gorgonzola! Must give this a try
Pizza and me are tight. I post random pictures on a semi-weekly basis.
And not always as healthy as yours!
The dough looks incredible! I love a thin-crust but not too think that’s not too doughy but not burnt (which I tend to do…alot).
So – 12 inches – that’s One Serving right?
(no joke)
why can’t we be neighbors? seriously.
cannot wait to feast on authentic italian pizza in two weeks!! oooh florence, here i come. and now i want one with pears on top. i’m all about the mushroom pizzas, but that looks SO good.
I’m dying to try this! but first I need to buy a baking pan for my dorm apartment….
Oh yummy! That reminds me I need to go back to my own blog and post my BBQ Chicken Pizza and normal Pizza Sauce recipe..its so good! I’ve got a crust up there but need the rest! I’ll be trying these soon! Thank you!
Thanks for such a great recipe for pizza dough.
Even with my poor kneading skills – the dough turned out beautiful!!
That looks fab! We always make a his & her’s pizza. WW for me and regular flour for DF and we get to change up our toppings! I’m a fan of artichokes, mushroom, diced garlic & onion (like Round Table’s Queen Guinevere) and DF is pepperoni and kalamata olives.
Why can’t we have smell-ovision or taste-ovision?
I miss your step by step pics. I know it’s more work for you but you could almost taste and smell the recipes!
Yum, I was just thinking how I need to make my own pizza dough since I’ve never made it before! Obviously, Grey’s Anatomy wins over other choices – the first few seasons are SO GOOD!
I can’t tell if it’s a plate or a bigger dish, but I really love your serving dish in this post! Where is it from?
I adore homemade pizza! It’s my favorite thing to make with my hubs!
i’m a student at tennessee, and i made bbq chicken pizza for pretty much every other home football game last season. i definitely need to try making your crust though!! good thing the spring exhibition game is soon
Goat cheese and mushrooms sound awesome together!! Pizza definitely always works like a charm in convincing boys to help out
It will even convince me to do some heavy lifting myself!
Wow, they look amazing! I might just have to purchase my first packet of yeast and break out my Kitchen Aid mixer for the first time (it’s still in the box from my wedding shower over a year ago… oops!). One question… how do you cook a pear?
I ended up making your pear goronzola and cheesy zucchini on Wednesday night. Both were big hits. Thanks for sharing your recipes!!
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