Moroccan Pizza by guest Chez Nina

This week we go from Casa de Vanessa to Chez Nina...  

Nina had the pleasure of collaborating on Vanessa's culinary adventure recently, and they enjoyed a dinner of pear/ham/arugula appetizers, pizza made from scratch, and salad.

For the appetizers, take two pears and cut each of them into 8 wedges.  In a large bowl, toss the pears wedges with 2 teaspoons (about 2 squeezes) of fresh lemon juice.  Layer a slice of pear, an arugula leaf, and a small piece of blue cheese onto a piece of prosciutto, and roll the prosciutto around the pear-arugula-cheese.  You can also use melon, peaches, and cantaloupe as a substitute for the pears.  The end product should look something like this:

The first step in making the pizza is to prepare the crust.  You can either use a readymade one or make your own.  Here is a link to a simple pizza crust recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/main-courses/basic-pizza-crust/.

Put the crust in the oven for about 5-7 minutes before adding any toppings to it.  This will ensure that the pizza is cooked thoroughly.  Afterwards, add peeled tomatoes (you can buy these canned) and gently crush and spread them evenly on top of the crust.  Do not add the juice from the can though - this will create a soggy crust.  

Add toppings. We used: mozzarella di bufala slices, caramelized shallots (shallots sauteed in balsamic vinegar and a tiny bit of olive oil), and sausage slices.  Add seasonings to taste, such as salt, pepper, and oregano.  Cook until cheese is melted and browned slightly and crust is golden brown.

When the pizza is cooked, add fresh basil and crushed red pepper.

Serve pizza with a salad of arugula and romaine lettuce with shaved parmesan slices, and top it with black pepper and olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing.

ENJOY!