Margherita Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 pizza dough or pre-made crust

• 2 tablespoons olive oil 

• 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced or thinly sliced

• Favorite marinara/pizza sauce or crushed tomatoes (enough for thin layer) 

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella 

• Fresh mozzarella (sliced approx. 1/4  thick) I used 8 large round slices

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 3 small tomatoes, seeded (e.g., Plum, Campari, Roma)

• Fresh basil

• Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste (optional)

• Fresh grated parmesan cheese (optional)

• *Corn meal to dust pizza pan

Directions

Preheat oven to temperature as directed for your pizza dough.

If using Naan or French bread, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  

Spray baking sheet (pizza pan/cookie sheet) with non-stick cooking spray. Toss/spread dough and place it on baking pan. Brush dough with olive oil and evenly sprinkle garlic. If using sauce/crushed tomatoes, spread a thin layer evenly over dough and then the dried oregano. Next, evenly spread shredded mozzarella (optional) and evenly place the slices of fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on top.  

Cook on middle rack of oven as directed for dough. If using Naan or French bread, bake for approximately 15 minutes, until crust starts turn golden brown. Remove, top with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

MARY'S SWEET BALSAMIC DRESSING

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 3 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar

• 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard (or a little squeeze of yellow or Grey Poupon mustard)

• Few twists of fresh cracked pepper Or use 1/8 tsp of reg ground pepper

Directions

Whisk all the ingredients together, until sugar and oil are blended.  It takes a few minutes for the oil and sugar to blend.  Keep whisking....it will blend.

*TIP

If using pizza dough, after spraying pizza baking sheet with non-stick spray, try lightly dusting it with corn meal.  My sister-in-law showed me this trick- I love the texture and taste the corn meal adds to the crust.