Tomato and Mozzarella Pizza

Pizza dough, store bought or homemade

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2-3 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1 Tablespoon Italian herb blend

1 large, fresh tomato, sliced

1 ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced

4-8 fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F (if it allows). Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat until it starts to shimmer. Add the garlic. It should sizzle. Add the Italian seasoning mix. Stir and immediately remove the pan from the stove to cool. You want to infuse the oil with the garlic and herb flavors.

Cut a square of parchment paper. Oil your hands with some olive oil. Press the pizza dough into a circle on your parchment paper, approximately 12 inches in diameter.

Pour the oil mixture over the dough and brush it across the top of the dough, leaving about a 1/2 inch border. Lay the slices of mozzarella cheese around the pizza in an even pattern. Place the slices of tomato evenly around the pizza. Season the tomatoes with a little salt and pepper.

Roll the leaves of basil together and chiffonade into thin ribbons. Sprinkle the basil over the pizza. Now add a generous amount of Parmesan cheese.

Transfer the pizza and parchment paper to the preheated pizza stone in your oven. Set your timer for five minutes. Check the bottom of the pizza to see if it has browned. Bake the pizza only until the crust is browned and the toppings look ready. In my oven that takes five to eight minutes.