Mushroom Flatbread with Pesto, Goat Cheese, and Balsamic

Perfect Pairing:  Girls' Night

A couple weeks ago Chris was out of town for the night on a mini “bro-cation”.  For the record, he did not call it this, that is 100% me.  He headed to Champaign/Urbana to watch the Fighting Illini play.  

That meant I had a night by myself at home.  I was going to miss him, but I was also going to make the most of it by making it super girly.  I was going to make the girliest thing I could think of for dinner, enjoy a mini bottle of champagne, and watch a chick flick that featured Bradley Cooper as a chef.  I was pumped.

I formulated my plan for a girly dinner as I perused the grocery store.  What is girlier than flatbread with goat cheese?  I mean, it is actually just pizza, but we call it flatbread so it sounds classy.  If I was making pizza for my husband it would most definitely have some kind of meat on it.  If I am making it for me it is going to be overflowing with mushrooms.  Chris is not a huge fan, so this was the perfect time to go fungi-wild. 

Instead of traditional pizza sauce I used a basil pesto.  So much flavor!  I always keep pesto in the freezer, it is a great ingredient to have on hand.

The sautéed mushrooms are finished off with a caramelization of balsamic, and then the whole flatbread is dotted with tangy goat cheese. 

So good.  So girly.  Dudes, if you want to make and enjoy this flatbread…. No judgement here!

One year ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Brussels Sprout and Pear Salad with Bacon and Candied Pistachios 

Two years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Chocolate Sauce

Three years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Butternut Squash Risotto

Four years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Oven Roasted Salmon in Lemon Broth with Pea Puree

Tweet

Butternut Squash, Caramelized Onion, and Pesto Pizza

Perfect Pairing:  Leftover ingredients

Meet my new favorite pizza. 

So many good things on one crust!!  Admittedly, there is some prep work that goes into this because you are roasting squash and caramelizing onions.  I recommend doing big batches of each, and use them in other dishes.  Allow me to provide some ideas.

Roasted Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash Risotto

Autumn Salad

Kale, Butternut Squash, and Bacon Breakfast Burritos with Spicy Chipotle Sauce

Butternut Squash and Chickpea Tahini Salad

Caramelized Onions

Caramelized Onion Dip

All Purpose Breakfast Casserole (squash would be delish in this too)

Customizable Bread Bowl Breakfast

I actually made this pizza because I had already planned on making Butternut Squash risotto, so I just roasted extra squash. 

You top premade crust with pesto.  Store-bought is just fine!  I had lots of homemade pesto for this recipe because my mom and I had just made 10+ batches for the freezer.  Her basil plant was legit out of control.  I buy 10 leaves of basil at the grocery store for $2 and she has a forest of the stuff.  I have zero sunshine and the opposite of a green thumb, so no chance of me growing any myself.

A generous layer of caramelized onions.

An adorable photobomber.

A layer of roasted squash.

Top with some cheese...

And bake!

So stinking good, my friends. 

One year ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Thanksgiving Menu

Two years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Grandma Rosie's Applesauce

Three years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Apple Cake with Warm Caramel Sauce

Four years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

Tweet

Roasted Vegetable Dip and Chicken Pizza

Perfect Pairing:  Golden Home Pizza Crust

One of my all-time favorite recipes on my blog is this Roasted Vegetable Dip.  I have made it countless times. 

 

A healthy mix of red peppers, red onion, eggplant, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings are roasted then processed with tomato paste and red pepper flakes.  It is ridiculously delicious and guilt-free. I have used it as a dip for crackers, vegetables, or as a spread on crostini or on a grilled cheese sandwich.  It is so versatile.

My new favorite use is using it as a pizza sauce.  Start with a pre-baked pizza crust, top it with a generous spread of the Roasted Vegetable Dip, cooked chicken, red onion or shallot, cheese, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.  It is great as a main course or cut into smaller pieces for an appetizer.

I just discovered these Golden Home Pizza Crusts.  They are super thin and crispy.  If you have a pizza stone, use it with these crusts.  The nutritional stats are pretty great too, especially when you compare it to Chicago deep dish pizza.  Egads.  I am not being sponsored in any way by this company, in fact, I have not been able to find them in my local store so I have to ask my mom to stock up for me at her grocery.

Make the dip, then make the pizza.  You will be so happy you did!  I was so happy about it I made this pizza twice in two days. 

One year ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Grilled Mediterranean Chicken and Vegetable Salad

Two years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Huli Huli Chicken

Three years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Lake House Brownies (OMG)

Four years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Light Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Tweet

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole

Perfect Pairing: New Year’s Resolution Diet

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season!  Mine was absolutely wonderful.  It was my first Christmas with my fiancé and his family, so that made it extra special.  

We loved spending time with all of our adorable nieces and nephews.  They make Christmas so fun!

We also had lots of good food!  No surprise there.  One of our family traditions is a meal of homemade chicken and noodles (my dad and I make the noodles) over mashed potatoes.  Starch on starch.  Then a dessert of cookies.  Why not?  Every meal on Christmas break seems to have dessert.

I always look forward to getting back into my healthy routine after the new year.  This year it is especially important since I have a wedding to prepare for!  Yikes!

Each year I post a healthy New Year’s resolution recipe.  

2012 - Berries n’ Cream

2013 - Chicken Vegetable Barley Soup

2014 - Sweet Sesame Green Beans

This year it is a delicious Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole.  I adore spaghetti squash.  It is such a great pasta alternative that is full of fiber and nutrients.  Here it is combined with my favorite pizza toppings, sausage (I used turkey), green pepper, onion, and mushrooms.  

Use your favorite spaghetti sauce.  I like Mario Batali’s spicy arrabbiata sauce.

I baked mine in two dishes so I could put one directly in the freezer for a healthy meal that is ready to go when I am short on time.

You can feel so good about this dish.  Health food.

Tweet

Grilled Pizza with Asparagus, Caramelized Onions, Hummus and Brie

Perfect Pairing: Sabra Classic Hummus

 

Last week was our annual family vacation at the lake.  I look forward to this week all year.  One of my brothers lives in California so it is hard for all of us to be in the same place at one time.  We had an absolutely wonderful time enjoying each others company, the summer weather, lake, good food, and lots of cute kids.  I miss everyone already!

I am a big fan of unusual pizzas and flatbreads.  I have shared a few creations here…

Caramelized Onion, Fontina, and Prosciutto Flatbread

 

Shrimp and Arugula Pesto Grilled Pizza

 

Smoked Salmon Pizza

 

Even traditional pizzas can sometimes benefit from an update, like with this Prosciutto and Pineapple Grilled Pizza.

 

 

The combination of hummus, asparagus, caramelized onions, and brie on pizza may seem a little strange, but it is one of my all-time favorites.  Using hummus as the “sauce” adds a rich creaminess, and the onions add just the right amount of sweet. 

 

This pizza is great as a main course, but it is also perfect on appetizer night.  We have a lot of appetizer nights at our house.  Usually on app night we serve a dip or salsa of some kind, a salad or veggies, and a crostini.  This pizza fits right in. Add a bottle of chilled white wine and you have yourself a party. 

 

I really like to use Sabra’s Classic Hummus here.  I am not being sponsored in any way to say that, I just really like it. 

 

One year ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Grilled Bacon Wrapped Beer Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf

Two years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

 

Tweet