This is a dish for which I hope you've made friends with your local pizzeria. Depending on the owner and your relationship with them, one can typically purchase pre-made pizza dough. This works perfectly for interactive date nights, without all the hassle of making dough from scratch. The pizzeria down the street (about one block - I know, dangerous, right?) sells large dough balls for $2.00.
Yield: 2 medium, thin-crust pizzas
Ingredients:
1 large dough ball, divided in two
1 15 oz. can of tomato or pizza sauce
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1 bunch basil
1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved
8 oz. fresh mozzarella
Olive oil
3 strips bacon
Salt and pepper
Yellow cornmeal
Directions:
Once you get the dough, most likely it will be chilled. Set it on the countertop, preferably covered, until it reaches room temperature. This will give you a chance to focus on the other steps, before putting the pizzas together. Set oven to 400 degrees.
Spread the yellow cornmeal across the surface for the dough.
Spray two pans with non-stick spray; coat with yellow cornmeal.
Cut the grape tomatoes in half; chop desired amount of basil, for both the sauce and atop the pizza (approximately 1/2 c., for me); thinly slice the mozzarella.
Prepare the sauce. To a medium sauce pan, add the can of tomato or pizza sauce; add approximately 1/4 c. basil and 1 tbsp. minced garlic. Stir and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
While the sauce is simmering, prepare the bacon. Thinly slice the bacon.
Heat a medium-size sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the bacon.
Cook until golden brown--approximately 5 minutes--and drain.
Once the sauce and bacon are done, it's time to focus on the dough. Note: Do not knead the dough. At this point, all we want to do is stretch the dough to its desired shape. Focus on the middle and work outward. Don't worry if there are any holes, as they can be easily patched.
Place the stretched pizza dough onto their pans. Gently pop any air bubbles.
Spoon about 1/4 - 1/2 c. sauce onto each pizza.
Atop the sauce, place the mozzarella--approximately one inch between each slice (trust me, it'll melt and crawl the whole surface of the pizza, anyhow).
Add the drained bacon, grape tomatoes, and remaining basil. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.
Place the pizza pans in the center of the oven; bake for about 15 minutes. Note: Every oven is different, so it is best to check on the pizza often. Remove when the crust is a golden brown; leave longer if you like an extra crispy pizza.
Maybe enjoy with a nice red wine? We did!
Eat your heart out.
