Chelsea Morgan

Valentine's Day is not usually a holiday I delight in celebrating. Can't we love one another all the time? Do we need a specific day? Not to mention that pink and red are not exactly my favorite colors. And non-anatomically-correct hearts, as a shape, are of little interest to me. 

However. 

HOWEVER.

There is something I do love besides my real-life boyfriend. And it is pizza. Delicious, gooey pizza. Know what's better than pizza? HOMEMADE PIZZA. 

When I was in Italy a few years ago, I couldn't help but fall in love again. With scrumptious, thin, and oozy pizza. Those guys really know how to make a pie. And ever since, I've been obsessed with real pizza made with the freshest ingredients that resembles as much as it can the true Italian pizza way. Most grocery stores now carry handmade dough that you can purchase, cover with toppings, and pop into the oven at your own discretion. It's easy, cheap, and tastes way better than that cardboard pizza you thought you wanted from Domino's a few minutes ago. 

For this Valentine's Day, Mike and I decided to build our own personal pizzas. And yes, they are shaped like non-anatomically-correct hearts. 

Supplies you'll need: 

Pizza dough

Sauce base (we use Mid's and love it)

1 clove garlic

Red onion

Grape tomatoes

Smidgen of red wine

1 Tbl. olive oil

Brown sugar

Fresh mozzarella

Fresh parmesan

Prosciutto crudo

Pinch of flour

Pizza pan/cookie sheet

Cheese grater

Small saucepan/spatula

First, heat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Then start kneading the dough out into little balls, coating them and your surface area in flour. Press the dough our into your desired shape until it's about 1/2" thick. Place on cookie sheets. 

Caramelized Onions

Prep all your toppings. Slice onions, garlic, tomatoes, and cheese. 

Next, you'll want to doctor your sauce. I start with 1/2 jar of Mid's pizza sauce, add a little red wine, a clove of garlic, and my secret weapon: brown sugar. I prefer a sweeter pizza sauce, so the brown sugar really adds a lot without losing depth. 

Spread the sauce on your dough, add your toppings, and pop in the oven for about 8-12 minutes, depending on the desired crispiness. That's it! 

 Before cooking

The final product!

This is such a fun project to do, and it's definitely easy to pull off. Maybe you can even try it next Valentine's Day.