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Butternut squash is also known in Australia as Butternut pumpkin, is a type of winter squash that is absolutely delicious.  It has a distinct sweet and nutty taste that is similar to that of pumpkin.  This type of yellow skin squash also boasts an orange fleshy pulp. When ripe, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer.

The most popular variety, the Waltham Butternut, originated in Stow, Massachusetts, on what is now the Butternut Farm Golf Club. This makes a very unique ingredient for our next pizza creation which I’m sure you’ll absolutely love!

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 pound butternut squash

* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

* 1/2 cup water

* 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and kept warm

* 10 sheets phyllo stacked between sheets of wax paper and covered with a kitchen towel

* 9 tablespoons parmesan cheese — freshly grated

* 6 slices bacon cut into 1/2-inch pieces, cooked until crisp, and drained

* 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves — minced

* 6 scallion greens — chopped

* 1 small red onion sliced thin and separated into pieces

Directions:

Quarter squash lengthwise and discard seeds. Peel squash carefully and cut into 3/4-inch pieces. In a large heavy skillet cook squash in oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Add water and salt to taste and simmer, covered, until squash is just tender, about 10 minutes. Simmer squash, uncovered, until almost all water is evaporated, about 5 minutes. In a food processor purée squash with salt and pepper to taste. Squash purée may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Lightly brush a large baking sheet with some butter and put 1 sheet phyllo on butter. Lightly brush phyllo with some remaining butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Put another sheet of phyllo over cheese, pressing it firmly so that it adheres to bottom layer. Butter, sprinkle with cheese, and layer remaining phyllo in the same manner, ending with a sheet of phyllo. Lightly brush top sheet with remaining butter. Fold in all sides 1/4 inch, pressing to top sheet, and fold up a 1/4-inch border, crimping corners.

Spread squash purée evenly on phyllo crust and top with bacon, rosemary, scallion greens, and onion.

Bake pizza in middle of oven until crust is golden, about 15 minutes.

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Before we make today’s pizza let’s first talk a bit about Fontina Cheese…

Fontina is a cow’s milk Italian cheese of sorts. Fontina cheese has a rich historical background and has been made in the Aosta Valley, in the Alps since the 12th century.

The milk fat content of this type of cheese is around 45%. As with many original varieties, the name “Fontina” has been imposed upon by such derivatives as “Fontinella”, “Fontal”, and “Fontella”.

Italian Fontina can be identified by a Consorzio (Consortium) stamp of the Matterhorn including the script “FONTINA”. Although the version from Aosta is the original and the most famous, Fontina production occurs in other parts of Italy, as well as Denmark, Sweden and France.

The original Fontina cheese from Italy is fairly pungent and has quite an intense flavor, although cheeses labeled Fontina that are produced in other countries tend to be much milder without the profound flavor associated with the distinct original Fontina intensity.

Let’s try our hand at a unique pizza with a flavor that you’re sure to remember.

Pizza With Fontina Cheese, Artichoke Hearts And Red Onions

Ingredients:

* 1 pound Frozen white bread dough; thawed according to package directions
* 2 tablespoons Olive oil; divided
* 2 tablespoons Wheat bran or cornmeal
* 1 clove garlic; chopped finely
* 1/2 medium Red onion; thinly sliced
* 1 package (9 oz. size) frozen artichokes; thawed
* Salt
* Freshly ground black pepper
* 1 cup shredded Fontina cheese

Directions:
Drain and slice artichoke hearts. Preheat oven to 450F. On lightly oiled baking
sheet, press chilled dough into 9 x 12 inch rectangle, crimp edges to form a rim.
Brush with half the oil. Evenly sprinkle with bran or cornmeal; press lightly into
dough. Sprinkle with garlic. Arrange onion in 1 layer over dough; top with
artichoke hearts. Drizzle with remaining oil.

Lightly season with salt and pepper. Evenly sprinkle with cheese. Do not let
dough rise. The pizza may be held briefly in the refrigerator before baking. Bake
15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Cut into manageable slices and enjoy!

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Here in Tennessee it was 75 degrees, then a
few days later…35 degrees and today it’s warm again…

The weather is complicated… my goodness!

Well… today I’ve got a great pizza recipe for you that
combines simplicity with flavor that’s tremendously
boastful… it’s one of my favorites and I’m sure it will
become one of your favorites also… an it’s NOT
complicated at all…

This recipe uses “basil”, one of the most important culinary herbs used in salads, casseroles, sauces and even some liqueurs …

We’ll combine this ingredient with three distinct cheeses that will have your pizza pie bursting with flavor…

Let me introduce you to the….
Three-Cheese Pizza With Mushrooms and Basil

We’ll be using parmesan cheese, skim ricotta cheese and skim mozzarella cheese for those of you who enjoy
the flavor of a lighter cheese blend…

Here’s the recipe

Three-Cheese Pizza With Mushrooms and Basil

Ingredients:

* Cooking spray
* 1 (8-ounce) package pre-sliced mushrooms
* 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
* 1/4 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
* 1 (10-ounce) Italian cheese-flavored pizza crust
(you can use Boboli or traditional for this one))
* 1 cup chunky vegetable pasta sauce
* 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
* 2 tablespoons thinly-sliced fresh basil

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.

Add mushrooms; sauté 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Combine ricotta and Parmesan cheeses.

Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. (you can use the crust recipe found in the HomePizzaChef Crust Tutorial for this one also)…  http://homepizzachef.com/dough.html

Spread pasta sauce over crust, leaving a 1-inch border.

Dollop the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over sauce and top with mushrooms.

Sprinkle with mozzarella…

Bake 12 minutes or until crust is crisp. Sprinkle with basil; cut into wedges.

Serve and watch your family and friends beg you to make another!

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The pizza recipe that I’m going to share with you today is truly a blend of international flavors, you might say.

We’ll be using a few choice ingredients to create a pizza taste that’s really unique and bursting with flavor.

First, let’s take a look at a few of the unique ingredients that we’ll be using to create this wonderful and delightful blend that’s bursting with flavor.

Arugula:

Arugula is an aromatic salad green that’s used in a variety of elegant dihes.  It is also known as rocket, roquette, rugula and rucola, and is popular in many Italian cuisines.

Nutrition
Like most salad greens, Arugula is very low in calories and is high in vitamins A and C. A 1/2 cup serving is two calories.  That’s good news if you’re watching the calorie count but still want to taste the flavor of a unique pizza combination!

History and Lore
In Roman times Arugula was grown for both it’s leaves and the seed. The seed was used for flavoring oils among other things.  Another interesting note is this, Rocket or Arugula seed has been used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac concoctions dating back to the first century, AD. (Cambridge World History of Food). This has been around for a very long time.

Part of a typical Roman meal was to offer a salad of greens, frequently Arugula ( spelled Arugola), romaine, chicory, mallow and lavender and seasoned with a “cheese sauce for lettuce” for all to enjoy.

About Prosciiutto:

Prosciutto is the Italian word for “ham,” although most consumers outside of Italy associate prosciutto with a specific type of cure for ham. To make prosciutto, ham is salted and then air dried for a period of up to two years. After curing, prosciutto is sliced into paper thin pieces which are usually slightly transparent and faily light. It is typically eaten uncooked, on charcuterie plates, wrapped around fruit and vegetables, or in salads. In some cases, prosciutto may be lightly cooked, as is the case when it is tossed with pasta or in our case as we will use it to provide a distinct flavor for our pizza today.

To make prosciutto, high quality cuts of meat are selected and allowed to drain in a cool place for approximately 24 hours. After resting, the meat is carefully washed and trimmed. Next, the meat is rubbed with sea salt, and spices in some regions of Italy. The salted meat can sit for up to two months, periodically re-rubbed and turned. After salt-curing, the meat is washed to remove the access salt, and hung in a cool breezy place to cure. A brief cure may last only a few months, but traditional prosciutto is cured for up to two years.

Let’s pull together these fantastic ingredients for our pizza.

Arugula And Prosciutto Tortilla Pizzas Recipe

Ingredients:
* 2/3 cup diced prosciutto
* 1 medium red onion — chopped fine
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 2 bunches arugula, coarse stems discarded, washed well, spun dry, and chopped
* 4 (8 1/2-inch) flour tortillas
* 2/3 cup parmesan cheese — freshly grated

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a medium heavy skillet cook prosciutto and onion in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until onion is softened. Remove skillet from heat and stir in arugula and salt and pepper to taste.

Arrange flour tortillas on 2 baking sheets and top with arugula mixture and Parmesan.

Bake pizzas on upper and lower racks of oven, switching positions of baking sheets halfway through baking, until edges are golden, about 10 minutes.

By this time your family should be lined up in the kitchen ready to offer their services as professional tasters. Enjoy this fantastic pizza.

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Spring is here and from time to time you may want to create a quick pizza that’s easy to make and also delicious. Here’s the answer. Using one of my favorite breads, French bread, we’re going to show you how to create a quick and easy pizza that all will love.

Give it a shot!

French Bread Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

* 1/2 pound sausage, browned & drained
* 1/2 pound sliced pepperoni
* 1 loaf French bread
* 30 ounces jar spaghetti or pizza sauce
* Sliced black olives
* Sliced fresh mushrooms
* 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
* Optional Toppings: Candied bacon, green peppers, onion, ground beef

Directions:

Cut bread in half lengthwise. Place on cookie sheets. Cover bread
with the sauce all the way to the edges. Top with sausage and
pepperoni; then with whatever toppings are desired, ending with
the shredded cheese. Bake the bread pizzas 20 minutes at 350
degrees. Cut into pieces. To freeze, wrap unbaked pizza tightly
in foil. Then freeze. Unwrap and thaw the pizzas before baking.

Once baked cut into manageable slices and serve. Everyone will love this creation at your next outdoor get together.

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Today I’ve got a special video recipe that includes a special message… also it’s from a pretty special guy.

Stephen Pierce shares his “pizza burger” recipe and an important message regarding sucess. Stehpen is a highly recognized Internet marketing ‘guru”, life coach and super successful business person.

Stephen Pierce is one of the world’s leading internet marketing experts and speaks all over the world sharing his insights into how he and others make millions every year by leveraging the internet.

Check out his rendition of the famous “pizza burger”!

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My Favorite Pizza Making Tips!

Less Sugar allows longer baking time

Speeding up the dough Process – More Yeast equals less preparation time…

————-

450-465 degrees- normal crust

Thicker crust – 400-450 degrees…

————-

Pizza bone – Edges of crust are over cooked….
————-

Different methods of forming brings about different characteristics of the pizza crust.

————-

Hand Tossing / Hand Stretching – Good volume and randam distribution of the gases in the dough will create a more cake type dough.

Sheeting – Will degas the dough (air makes the dough rise) This will create a thiner more cracker type crust…

Pressing – Heated roller pins will help redistribute the gases in the dough.
——-

Crispier doughs are made by adding more water to the dough. Experiment with various amounts without lloosing h\the ability to handle the dough.

The extra moisture in the dough will allow heat to rise into the dough and create a heat barrier and cannot be passed into the sauce therefore the crust collects in the bottom of the dough thus making thedough bake crispier.
———

The softer your dough the crispier your crust will be however the more firm your dough the thicker your crust.
———-
Line ingredients on the counter in the order of use.
———-

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Tomatoes – The Worlds Most Popular Fruit

Surprisingly, the tomato is the world’s most popular fruit. And yes, just like the brinjal and the pumpkin, botanically speaking it is a fruit, not a vegetable. More than 60 million tons of tomatoes are produced per year, 16 million tons more than the second most popular fruit, the banana. Apples are the third most popular (36 million tons), then oranges (34 million tons) and watermelons (22 million tons).

Tomatoes were first cultivated in 700 AD by Aztecs and Incas. Explorers returning from Mexico introduced the tomato into Europe, where it was first mentioned in 1556. The French called it “the apple of love,” the Germans “the apple of paradise.”

Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C and fiber, and are cholesterol free. An average size tomato (148 gram, or 5 oz) boasts only 35 calories. Furthermore, new medical research suggests that the consumption of lycopene – the stuff that makes tomatoes red – may prevent cancer. Lycopene is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids, which are natural compounds that create the colours of fruits and vegetables. For example, beta carotene is the orange pigment in carrots. As with essential amino acids, they are not produced by the human body. Lycopene us the most powerful antioxidant in the carotenoid family and, with vitamins C and E, protect us from the free radicals that degrade many parts of the body.

The scientific term for the common tomato is lycopersicon lycopersicum, which mean “wolf peach.” It is a cousin of the eggplant, red pepper, ground cherry, potato, and the highly toxic belladonna, also known as the nightshade or solanaccae. There are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes.

Tomatoes are used in many food product, including, of course, tomato sauce (ketchup), pasta and pizza. According to a Steel Packing Council survey of 1997, 68% of chefs use canned tomatoes for convenience, quality and flavouring. It hasn’t changed much since.

While California is far and away the world’s largest producer of processed tomatoes, accounting for nearly half of the world’s total production, the “love apple” is also an international hit, being grown in such diverse nations as Italy, Argentina, Algeria, Taiwan, Australia and Chile.

California grows nine out of every 10 tomatoes processed in the U.S., with a crop value exceeding $547 million.

As hard as other states work to catch up, California’s prolific canners process more tomatoes in a few days than Ohio, the second largest producing state, processes during the entire season.

With California’s processed tomato tonnage skyrocketing from 3.3 million tons in 1970 to 10.75 million tons in 1994, California tomato acreage has more than doubled from 141,300 acres in 1970 to 311,000 in 1994.

Moist, dry, salty or sandy, the tomato can be grown in a surprising range of climates and in almost any soil. In California, tomatoes seem to grow EVERYWHERE–from the far northern portions of the state in Butte County clear to the Mexican border.

A virtual tomato seed smorgasbord, the Tomato Genetics Stock Center at the University of California, Davis has more than 2,750 genetic varieties of tomatoes.

California’s tomato season is in it’s peak from July through September when harvesters run 24 hours a day. The season, however, actually runs a full six months, beginning in June and running all the way through November.

The largest tomato on record is a 7-pound monster grown in Oklahoma.

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Mexican Deep-Dish Pan Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:
* 2 boxes (8.5 oz size) corn muffin mix
* 2 eggs
* 4 tablespoons melted butter
* 1 1/2 cup milk
* 1 cup frozen corn kernels
* Extra-virgin olive oil or, vegetable oil, for drizzling

Topping
* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin or vegetable oil
* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 small onion, finely chopped
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 2 teaspoons cayenne sauce
* Salt
* 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or jack cheese
* 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
* 1 can (2 1/4 ounce sized) sliced jalapenos, drained
* 2 scallions, chopped
* 2 small vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
* 2 tablespoons drained sliced green salad olives
* 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves, optional garnish
* 1 cup taco sauce
Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Mix together the muffin mix with the eggs, melted butter, milk and frozen corn kernels. Lightly grease a large oven-safe nonstick skillet with oil and pour in the muffin mix. Place pan in oven and bake 12 to 15 minutes in center of the oven until light golden in color. In another skillet over medium-high heat, brown the meat; add onions and spices and cook meat 5 minutes more.

Remove cornbread from oven and top with meat, cheese, and veggies. Add pan back to oven and cook 5 minutes more to melt cheese. Garnish with cilantro, optional. Cut into 8 wedges and serve the deep dish pan pizza from the skillet. Pass taco sauce at the table to sprinkle on top.

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So exactly what is Peperonata?
[pehp-uh-roh-NAH-tah]
An Italian mixture of sweet peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic cooked in olive oil. It’s served hot as a condiment with meats or cold as an antipasto.

Ingredients:

* Cornmeal for dusting
* 12 ounces Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough or other prepared dough
* 1 link Italian turkey sausage, casing removed

Peperonata
* 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
* 1 cup slivered onion
* 1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
* 3/4 cup diced tomato
* 2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* Freshly ground pepper to taste
* 1 cup grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
* 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Place a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack preheat oven to 500°F or highest setting.

Coat a 12 1/2-inch pizza pan with cooking spray and dust with cornmeal. Cook sausage in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat, turning from time to time, until browned and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and cut into 1/4-inchthick slices.

Meanwhile, prepare peperonata: Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring often, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Add tomato and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in vinegar, salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate and let cool. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 13-inch circle.
Transfer to the prepared pan. Turn edges under to make a slight rim. Brush the rim with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil.

Enjoy!

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