Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Ingredients:
GARLIC BUTTER:

2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced
pinch dried rosemary
pinch of salt

ALFREDO SAUCE:

4 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash of ground pepper
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup grated romano cheese

OTHER INGREDIENTS:
1-2 loaves frozen bread dough, completely thawed and let rise
1 fully cooked italian seasoned/plain rotisserie chicken, meat removed from bone and chopped
2 cups torn fresh spinach leaves
1 1/2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
1-2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 1/2 cups italian cheese blend, shredded

Directions:

1. Garlic Butter: Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl. Blend in garlic, rosemary, and salt. Set aside.

2. Pizza Dough: Pre-heat oven to 400°. After dough has completely thawed and risen until doubled. Turn out on a greased pizza pan, spreading to edge. Poke dough repeatedly with a fork to get minimal rise. Spread garlic butter over crust with a pastry brush. Cook dough in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes. Remove and pierce any air bubbles that rose while baking, flattening surface.

3. Alfredo Sauce: Melt butter, salt and pepper in a small saucepan. Add flour, creating a roux. Whisk in milk and Romano cheese. Simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat.
In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of Alfredo sauce and the chopped chicken. This helps the meat from drying out while cooking.

4. Assemble: Cover dough with alfredo sauce. Then add mozzarella cheese over sauce. Top with torn spinach, sliced mushrooms, and cooked chicken. The last layer is an Italian Pizza blend cheese (or additional mozzarella).

5. Bake: Put in the oven at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let set for 3-5 minutes before cutting.

Turkey Calzones

Ingredients:

3 Jennie-o turkey Italian sausage, casings removed
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (10 oz) can refrigerated pizza crust
2 tablespoons low-fat ricotta cheese
1 cup pizza cheese
1 (4 oz) can mushrooms
1 (2.25 oz) can black olives
SAUCE
15 oz can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
EGG WASH
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon water

Directions:

1. In a skillet, cook the turkey sausage until cooked through. Add onion, green pepper, and galric; cook over medium heat, drain and set aside.

2. In a saucepan, bring tomato sauce and Italian seasoning to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir 1/2 cup of sauce into meat mixture; keep remaining sauce warm.

3. Unroll pizza crust on a floured surface. Roll into a 12 inch circle; cut into 2 sections. Spread ricotta cheese over each section to about 1/2 inch of the edge. Top with meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese, mushrooms, and olives.

4. Fold dough over filling, forming a triangle; press edges together with a fork to seal.

5. Place on a greased cookie sheet. In a small bowl, combine egg and water, whisk together. Lightly brush over calzones with a pastry brush. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with remaining sauce.

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

2 c Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 c White Flour
1TBS Sugar
1 TBS dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 c Hot Water
2 TBS Olive Oil

Mix 2 cups of whole wheat flour, sugar, yeast, salt. Add water and oil. Mix well. Cover bowl & let set for 10 minutes. Add remaining flour & knead. Let rest for 5 minutes. Roll out onto greased pan. Bake 5 minutes in 500 degree oven. Top with pizza sauce, desired toppings and cheese. Bake 10-12 minutes in 500 degree oven.

Note: I have learned it is best to just hand mix this and to not use an electric mixer.

Healthy Calzones

• 3 Jennie-O Turkey Italian Sausage, casings removed
• 2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 2 Tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 (10 oz) can refrigerated pizza crust
• 2 Tablespoons low-fat Ricotta cheese
• 1 cup pizza cheese
• 1 (4 oz) can mushrooms
• 1 (2.25 oz) can black olives

1. In a skillet, cook the turkey sausage until cooked through.

2. Add onion, green pepper, and galric; cook over medium heat, drain and set aside.

3. In a saucepan, bring tomato sauce and Italian seasoning to a boil. REduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir 1/2 cup of sauce into meat mixture; keep remaining sauce warm.

4. Unroll pizza crust on a floured surface. Roll into a 12 inch square; cut into 4 squares. Spread ricotta cheese over each square to about 1/2 inch of the edge. Top with meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese, mushrooms, and olives.

5. Fold dough over filling, forming a triangle; press edges together with a fork to seal.

6. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

7.Serve with remaining sauce.

Serves: 4