Onion and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza

It should come as no surprise that I love pizza.  Lots of gooey cheese, crispy bacon, or pepperoni, sometimes fruit or roasted veggies... YUM!  The main reason why I have only posted one other pizza here, is because my pizza's are usually not pretty enough to photograph.  I make my own dough, so typically they end up in a less than perfect circle (I always get impatient, and they usually turn out looking like an amoeba).  So these photos are a triumph, because I actually LOVE pizza and we have it often.  

Onion and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza 

1 pizza crust

2 Red Bell Peppers (alternatively, you can buy roasted red pepper in a jar from the store)

1/4 cup chopped onions

1 cup of shredded Mozzarella Cheese (if you are like me, you might want more like 2 cups)

2 Tbs butter

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp dried basil

3 oz of cream cheese

3/4 - 1 cup milk

1/4 cup parmesan, shredded

salt and pepper to taste

Roasted red peppers:

technique from Tori Avey

Put two whole bell peppers on a cookie sheet lined with foil in an oven preheated to 400° for 20 minutes, flipping them over with tongs 10 minutes in.  Pull them out when they are turning black on the outside, and put them in a brown paper bag for about 10 minutes.  Peel the outer layer off, and pull out the seeds and top.  Slice into smallish pieces.

Caramelized Onions:  

Put 1 Tbs of olive oil, or butter in a frying pan.  Add chopped onions, and stir regularly for 15 minutes until onions are translucent and soft.  

Cream Cheese and Herbs White Sauce:

modified from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat.  Add the garlic and basil and stir for 20 seconds or so.  Add the cream cheese and with a rubber spatula, cut it into chunks and alternate stirring and smushing the cream cheese until it is smooth.  Add the milk a little at a time once the cream cheese is incorporated.  You are looking for a thick consistency.  Then add the parmesan and salt and pepper.  Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is pretty thick.  

Roll out the pizza dough on a baking mat or parchment paper that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.  Spread on some sauce, sprinkle liberally with cheese.  Top with onions and red pepper.  Sprinkle cracked pepper over the top for an extra lovely finish.  Cook in the oven at 450° for 8-10 minutes until the edges begin to brown.   Happy cooking!