Date and Goat Cheese Pizza

Oh man! Oh man! That is basically all I can say when it comes to this recipe. How can you not enjoy the sharp creaminess of goat cheese with the sweet bite of dates? I throw on some other toppings and it is a match made in pizza heaven. I really hope heaven has pizza....

Here is the recipe for your foodie enjoyment....

 

Ingredients

1 pound of pizza dough (16oz) *I used Trader Joe's garlic and herb pre-made dough, which was only $1.19 by the way, but any dough will do!

1/2 cup of pesto

1/4 cup of olive oil

1 cup of chopped dates

1 cup of goat cheese

1 cup of sharp white cheddar

1 cup of cooked sausage

1 cup of caramelized onions

Directions

1. Roll out your dough onto a floured surface and preheat the oven to 475 degrees. *I chose a rectangular shape because I used a rectangular pan, but if you have a pizza pan go circular or one of those fancy pizza stones!

2. Carefully, transfer the dough to a greased pan before adding any toppings. *If you roll the dough out too thin just press it back together.

3. Spread the pesto onto the crust in an even layer. Leave 1 to 1/2 inch of space for a nice rising edge crust. 

4. Evenly distribute the sharp cheddar, sausage, caramelized onions, and dates over the dough. Top with goat cheese. *A drizzle of olive over the entire pizza may be needed if your pesto was thick like mine..... 

5. Pull out your camera and take lots of pictures of your creation. It is very Instagram and Snapchat worthy to make your own pizza.

6. (The real step 5) Bake for 10-15 mins or until the crust has risen and is brown around the edges. *Lift up the pizza to check for an even doneness before removing from the oven. 

7. Slice and Eat!

Tips and Combinations

Before you even start to make this one go ahead and invite the friends over. Take your closest peeps on a shopping trip with you to buy ingredients. You and your besties can make homemade pizza together and sip on a nice wine (if you're over the age of 21, if not just grab some sodas) for a lovely night in. 

There is no wrong way to top a pizza. What do you usually like on your pizza? Pepperoni? Pineapple? Sardines? Barbeque Sauce? Buy it! I am always telling you to try something new and to think of exciting combinations to inspire your taste buds. Go simple with a fresh tomato, basil, and mozzarella pizza if you love a classic. You can leave off any ingredient you don't like and add a new one, just make sure you top the pizza in the right order. Some toppings may cook quicker than others, so place them on shortly after the cheese. I've said enough, go make this freaking pizza now! 

Cook.Discuss.Reflect

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