A Pizza Recipe for Fall

October 17, 2019

The other day while I was visiting my nephew and his wife in Austin (after teaching for a couple of days at the Brazos Bluebonnet Quilt Guild in College Station), we went to Trader Joe's to shop for dinner. They had Honey Crisp apples on sale, and they were offering samples of a cinnamon-infused Toscano cheese. We were there to buy ingredients for pizza, and after tasting the cheese, I thought "Hmmm, that would go well with apples......on pizza!" So in addition to the pizza dough and apples and cheese, we grabbed some baby arugula, an onion and balsamic vinegar glaze. The resulting pizza was DIVINE!

The next morning, when I started warming up the leftover pizza for breakfast, I had another brainstorm: BACON! The only words that can describe this addition are Mmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmmm!

When I got back home to NYC I wanted to make the pizza again, but I didn't have any cinnamon-infused Toscano cheese. But I had a sharp white cheddar and cinnamon. The sweet tanginess of the sharp cheese was perfect against the honey crisp apples. This time I added the bacon in the first round. And once again, Mmmmmm Mmmmmm Mmmmmmm!

So here's the recipe for Apple, Bacon & Arugula Pizza (with a dash of Cinnamon)

Apple, Bacon & Arugula Pizza

1 large (12-15") thin pizza crust (either dough or pre-cooked. If you use fresh dough, pre-cook it for 10-12 minutes according to package instructions

1 large Honey Crisp apple, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/8" slices

2-3 ounces Mozzarella cheese, grated

4-5 ounces Fly Creek Cider Mill Mill-Aged Cheddar Cheese, or Trader Joe's Cinnamon-Infused Toscano Cheese grated or sliced

1 medium yellow onion, minced

1 Tablespoon butter

6 ounces bacon, cut in 1" pieces

2 handfuls baby arugula

Cinnamon (if you're using cheddar cheese)

Balsamic vinegar glaze

Olive oil (light-flavored, not heavy)

Pre-cook the bacon until it is cooked but not crisp, about 2 minutes in the microwave.

Saute the onion in butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil until transparent and sweet.

Brush the pre-baked pizza crust with olive oil.

Sprinkle the mozzarella over the crust

Spread the apple slices in a single layer over the crust.

Spread the onion over the apples.

Layer the cheddar or Toscano cheese over the apples.

If you're using cheddar cheese, sprinkle with cinnamon.

Spread the bacon pieces evenly over the cheese.

Bake 10-15 minutes, until crust begins to brown around the edges and cheese is bubbly.

Remove from oven, drizzle with balsamic glaze. Spread arugula on top, drizzle again with balsamic glaze.

Happy eating and happy quilting! ~ RaNae

www.FreeMotionMasteryinaMonth.com

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