Yesterday I made my first attempt at semi-homemade pizza. By semi homemade, I mean I didn't make the dough, but I did have to shape it! I was proud of the lovely looking outcome and, even better, it was delicious! The recipe is pretty simple, so I'm going to share it because it's too good to keep to myself!
(Also- I am an extremely imperfect chef, so my recipes will probably be imperfect, too. You should see my kitchen after I cook a meal...and you should see me as I cook it. It's honestly a mess, but I love it! I'm learning each day!)
The dough I used was from TJ's, and it was whole wheat and only 110 calories / serving! Of course, add the rest of your calories from the toppings, but to me that doesn't seem too bad! A "serving" is cutting the pizza into 8 even slices and just eating one, or if your slices are uneven, two smaller slices can't hurt ...or three ;)!
Ingredients:
- 1 package Trader Joe's whole wheat pizza dough
-Whole wheat flour (for sprinkling and rolling out the dough)
-1/2 jar pizza sauce (I used TJ's)
- About 4 oz of shredded Mozzarella cheese depending on your preference (I used a little less than half of a bag)
-1 sweet bell pepper, sliced thin (I used an orange one because it was on sale)
-2-3 Chicken Tenderloins (I LOVE TJ's bags of frozen tenderloins..you don't even have to thaw them!)
-3-4 artichoke hearts (from a can or jar)
- Oregano, Basil, and Garlic powder to taste
- cooking spray
- About 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 package Trader Joe's whole wheat pizza dough
-Whole wheat flour (for sprinkling and rolling out the dough)
-1/2 jar pizza sauce (I used TJ's)
- About 4 oz of shredded Mozzarella cheese depending on your preference (I used a little less than half of a bag)
-1 sweet bell pepper, sliced thin (I used an orange one because it was on sale)
-2-3 Chicken Tenderloins (I LOVE TJ's bags of frozen tenderloins..you don't even have to thaw them!)
-3-4 artichoke hearts (from a can or jar)
- Oregano, Basil, and Garlic powder to taste
- cooking spray
- About 2 tbsp olive oil
Directions:
(Yes, I know this picture is awful and blurry, but it's the only one I took of the preparation!)
1. Let dough sit out of the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to "rest."
2. While dough is resting, start preheating oven to 425, and in a skillet, cook the chicken fully through. Add spices to taste.
3. Chop peppers and fry in skillet until they turn softer and darker in color. Add spices.
*I cook my food using coconut oil spray and sometimes add olive oil at the end. Also, I use lots of spices!
2. While dough is resting, start preheating oven to 425, and in a skillet, cook the chicken fully through. Add spices to taste.
3. Chop peppers and fry in skillet until they turn softer and darker in color. Add spices.
*I cook my food using coconut oil spray and sometimes add olive oil at the end. Also, I use lots of spices!
4. Once dough has rested, clean an area, dust area with flour, and remove dough from packaging. This will be where you roll out the dough.
5. Sprinkle flour on the dough and fingers and begin to roll out the dough into a circular shape. It is hard to get an even surface and you may get some holes in the dough...if you do, give those holes a pinch to close them up!
5. Sprinkle flour on the dough and fingers and begin to roll out the dough into a circular shape. It is hard to get an even surface and you may get some holes in the dough...if you do, give those holes a pinch to close them up!
6. Once dough is in desired shape, lightly grease a cooking sheet with 1-2 tbsp of olive oil and transfer dough onto sheet.
7. Add sauce and spread with the back of a spoon. Add cheese (just make sure sauce is covered with cheese). Add toppings: place sliced peppers all around, shred up your tenderloins into small chunks and place them evenly, and open/ drain the can of artichoke hearts and pull apart about three as you sprinkle the pieces around the pizza. Sprinkle lots of spices on top of everything.
7. Add sauce and spread with the back of a spoon. Add cheese (just make sure sauce is covered with cheese). Add toppings: place sliced peppers all around, shred up your tenderloins into small chunks and place them evenly, and open/ drain the can of artichoke hearts and pull apart about three as you sprinkle the pieces around the pizza. Sprinkle lots of spices on top of everything.
8. Add pizza to the oven and let bake for about 10-12 minutes! Remove from oven and let cool at least 5 mins before cutting with a pizza cutter!
*this makes about 8 small/ medium sized slices of pizza. For us, it fed two people (Nick ate 5 pieces, I ate 3). However it could probably feed 3-4 people if you add a side to the meal!*
I really wish there were leftovers because I keep thinking about how delicious this was! The toppings went wonderfully together, and Nick certainly approved!
We decided we will make a tradition out of "Humpday Pizzas- A pizza to get you over the hump to finish the week strong!" Nick decided that is what we will call it. So, at least every other Wednesday I am going to try to make "healthy" versions of pizza!
If you make this recipe, I encourage you to listen to 50's music, take in the amazing smell of fresh dough baking, and sit around a table with the ones you love and devour the whole thing! Yes, even if there are only two of you! Oh, and don't stress about the flour that is still on the floor the morning after...
Next time I post a recipe, I will try to add more pictures of the process, but honestly, I don't know how to fit that in to the mass chaos that happens in the kitchen when I cook/bake.
