Doughless Pizza

An old family favorite that comes out perfect everytime! If you love pizza, you’ll want to try this!

Ingredients:

For the Crust:
8 oz package of full fat cream cheese
2 eggs
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Toppings:
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Suggested Toppings – pepperoni, ham, sausage, peppers, onion, jalapeno, olives, tomatoes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
3. With a hand mixer, mix cream cheese, eggs, pepper, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese until well mixed.
4. Spread into baking dish.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
6. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
7. Serve

FBI Pizza

This is a funny little story that I verified as being true on snopes.com, which only goes to show that the truth is often way funnier than fiction...

FBI agents conducted a "search and seizure" at the Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in San Diego, which was under investigation for medical insurance fraud. After hours of poring over many rooms of financial records, some sixty FBI agents worked up quite an appetite. The case agent in charge of the investigation called a local pizza parlor with delivery service to order a quick dinner for his colleagues.

The following telephone conversation took place:

Agent: Hello. I would like to order nineteen large pizzas and sixty-seven cans of soda.

Pizza man: And where would you like them delivered?

Agent: To the Southwood Psychiatric Hospital.

Pizza man: To the psychiatric hospital?

Agent: That's right. I'm an FBI agent.

Pizza man: You're an FBI agent?

Agent: That's correct. Just about everybody here is.

Pizza man: And you're at the psychiatric hospital?

Agent: That's correct. And make sure you don't go through the front doors. We have them locked. You'll have to go around to the back to the service entrance to deliver the pizzas.

Pizza man: And you say you're all FBI agents?

Agent: That's right. How soon can you have them here?

Pizza man: And you're over at Southwood?

Agent: That's right. How soon can you have them here?

Pizza man: And everyone at Southwood is an FBI agent?

Agent: That's right. We've been here all day and we're starving.

Pizza man: How are you going to pay for this?

Agent: I have my check book right here.

Pizza man: And you are all FBI agents?

Agent: That's right, everyone here is an FBI agent. Can you remember to bring the pizzas and sodas to the service entrance in the rear? We have the front doors locked.

Pizza man: I don't think so.

Click.

Pizzagaina

This is a very tradional Italian recipe that my friend's mother made every Easter, when we were growing up. As an adult, I have found it to make a wonderful meal any time of the year.

Makes 10 to 14 servings

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

2 cups of warm water
1 packet active dry yeast (1/4 ounce)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt
5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Filling:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 pound fresh, hot Italian sausage (in casing)
1/2 pound capocollo (a cured Italian cold cut with spices), thinly sliced
1/3 pound Genoa salami, thinly sliced
1/3 pound pepperoni, thinly sliced
1 pound fresh basket cheese ***
1/2 pound mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1 dozen eggs (8 will be beaten, 4 will be hard boiled)
1/3 cup minced fresh flat leaf parsley
15 to20 cranks freshly ground black pepper
1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water for egg wash

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, dissolve in 2 cups of warm water, yeast, sugar and salt. Using a spoon, gently blend. Add 5 cups of all-purpose flour and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to start. Blend with a spoon just until the dough starts to form, then using your hands, transfer dough to a floured surface.

2.  Knead well, adding flour if it's too sticky, until the dough becomes springy and smooth. It should take a good 5 to10 minutes of vigorous kneading. It will be soft and silky when done.

3.  Place the dough ball in a large, clean bowl coated with olive oil and rub some olive oil on top of the dough. Cover with a clean, dry dishtowel and let rise in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in size (at least 2 hours).

4.  Meanwhile, fill a large heavy-bottom saucepan halfway with water. Bring to a light, rolling boil, and place 4 room-temperature eggs in the water. Maintaining a light, rolling boil, cook them for 18 to 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs, place in a colander, and run under cool water. Tap the eggs against the counter top to crack the shells. Remove the shells, and rinse the boiled eggs under cool water. Slice thinly and set aside.

5.  Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove the sausage from its casing and add to the pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until browned and crispy. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.

6.  Place oven rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Brush the inside surface of a 10-inch-by-3-inch spring form pan with olive oil.

7.  Once the dough is risen, punch it down to release air bubbles. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, divide in half, and roll one half into a 12-inch round. Transfer the dough to the spring form pan. Using your hands, fit the dough snugly in the pan, gently stretching it to hang 1 inch over the edge.

8.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the 8 eggs, parsley and black pepper.

9.  Fill the inside of the dough with alternating layers of sliced meats, cheeses and sliced hard-boiled eggs. After 5 to6 layers, pour half of the egg mixture over the filling, allowing it to seep down. Continue layering the meats and cheeses, then pour the remainder of the egg mixture evenly over the top. You should have enough for 10 to12 layers.

10. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the second half of the dough to a 12-inch round. Place the dough over the filling, and using a sharp knife, trim excess dough until it just meets the rim of the pan. Using your fingertips, pinch the edges of the dough together, and gently roll the bottom layer over the top layer, creating a seal. Then pinch the dough between your thumb and index finger creating a slightly fluted edge all around. Brush the top of pie with the egg wash.

11. Bake pie for 60 to 75 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool 20 to 25 minutes. Release the spring and transfer the pie to a serving plate. Cut into wedges and enjoy at room temperature.

* Please Note: Fresh basket cheese is a semi-soft cheese that is used primarily for binding ingredients together. It can be found at Italian markets and cheese shops. If you can't find it, then substitute one (15-ounce) container of ricotta cheese (drained) and whisk it with 2 large eggs.

Great Balls of Pizza!

These make a wonderful snack or hors d'oeuvres and are so very easy to make!

Ingredients:

3 cans dinner biscuits (10 per can)
60 pepperoni slices
1 Bag shredded cheese
1 Egg
Parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning
Garlic powder
1 jar pizza sauce

Directions:

1.  Cut the block of cheese into 30 cubes.
2.  Flatten a biscuit out and layer pepperoni, cheese, and pepperoni.
3.  Gather up the edges of the biscuit to form balls.
4.  Line up the balls in a greased (9x13 in. or larger) pan, pinched edge down.
5.  Brush with beaten egg.
6.  Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese, Italian seasoning and Garlic Powder.
7.  Bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes.

Serve with Pizza Sauce for dipping.

Pizza Puffs

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups water
1/3 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
3/4 cup finely chopped pepperoni (3 oz.)
3/4 cup finely shredded Romano or Parmesan cheese (3 oz.)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 jar pizza sauce

Directions:

Grease 2 large baking sheets and set aside. In a large saucepan combine water and shortening. Bring to a boil. Add flour all at once, stirring vigorously. Cook and stir until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Cool for 10 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in pepperoni, cheese, parsley, garlic powder, and pepper.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake at 450°F for 15 to 17 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Thanks For The Tip

If you’ve ever worked for a boss who reacts before getting the facts and thinking things through, you will enjoy this. A company, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers. On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning against a wall and idly picking his teeth. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business. He asked the guy, “How much money do you make a week?” A little surprised, the young man looked at him and said, “I make $400 a week. Why?” The CEO said, “Wait right here.” He walked back to his office, came back in two minutes, and handed the guy $1,600 in cash and said, “Here’s four weeks’ pay. Now GET OUT and don’t come back.” Feeling pretty good about himself the CEO looked around the room and asked, “Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-ball did here?” From across the room a voice said, “Sure, he was the Pizza delivery guy from Domino’s and was just waiting to collect the money!”