Thursday, May 17, 2012

"I like pizza, Steve."

Everyone I know likes pizza.  (Even #4 likes pizza. If you have not seen the movie Multiplicity starring Micheal Keaton, it would be a good weekend choice.)  The "pie" can have almost any type of toppings; so there should be something for everyone!

The pizza idea that I am going to share is quick and easy.  (Using a pizza crust mix works as a shortcut.) This makes a great weekend treat and would make a fitting accompaniment to the movie that I have suggested!

This idea is not totally mine.  I saw just a snippet about this on TV somewhere....I caught the final result; so I had to figure out the process.  Giving credit where credit is deserved is important to me; so the brief look from TV is all that I know about this dish.

The Deep Dish Pizza Pot Pie can be rich; however, the ingredients can be altered a bit which will be addressed later.

Deep Dish Pizza Pot Pie

Ingredients:
  • 1 lb. bulk sausage
  • 1 jar/can pizza sauce (about 14 oz.)
  • 1 pkg. pizza crust mix (I used the "Martha White" brand: thin and crispy- 6.5 oz.)
  • cheese of choice (This is really cheesy which you can modify if you want to cut it down.)
  • toppings of choice - anything could work here
Process:
  • 2 oven- proof bowls:  For those of you who know "Longaberger" lingo, I used two small "low bowls."  They were perfect; they measure 5 1/4" d x 2 1/4" h - 14 oz.  This was a perfect size; so Pyrex or anything like this should work.  If you are interested in acquiring some "low bowls," let me know, and I can probably hook you up. (They are $14 dollars each plus tax and shipping.  They bake like a dream.)
Once you have selected the baking dish, the real fun begins!
  • mix the crust according to pkg. directions  (Any brand should work, or you can make your own; but since this is a weekend movie night theme, I chose the easy way.) Set this aside to rest.
  • Brown the sausage and drain really well.  Mix this with the pizza sauce.
  • Spray the bowls on the entire inside with cooking spray.  Also spray the outside rim about an inch down all the way around the bowls.
  • Place the cheese in the bottom of the bowl.  I used 1 round slice of provolone in the bottom, then I put in 2 pieces of muenster kind of overlapping in the middle and a bit up the sides, then I threw in some shredded mozz. (maybe half a palm full)
  • Put in the toppings.  I used fresh sliced mushrooms and chopped onions for mine. 
  • Ladle the some of the sauce on top.
  • Divide the dough in half and make a round that will cover the top and come down the outside of the bowl an inch or maybe a bit more.  It needs to make an adequate deep dish edge.
  • Poke a small hole in the top so the steam can escape. 
  • Put the bowls on a cookie sheet for stability in the oven.
  • Bake at 350 degrees until the top is browned and the contents are hot enough.  I would say about 20 minutes.  Just watch it - you know what to do.
Easy - right!  Of course, now comes the tricky part.  When you remove them, invert each onto its own plate. 
  • Take a thin knife - I used a paring knife.  Gently run the paring knife between the crust and the bowl, trying not to break the crust.  Then take the tip of the knife between the crust and the bowl and gently lift the edge of the bowl.  You should then be able to grab the bowl with a hot pad and lift it entirely off the pizza.  Be very careful; the contents are extremely hot. 
Allow the pizza to set up a bit because some of the toppings that you choose may have water content in them like the mushrooms; so it helps for all of that juice to settle down.  However, Tom and I ate ours right away....haha.
This makes a perfect deep dish ( more than) personal pan pizza. 

Suggestions:
  • Vegetarian
  • Mexican style - taco meat, maybe some salsa, beans, (even some kernel corn would be great in this). Brush the top with some egg or spray it with cooking spray and sprinkle on some corn meal-serve with taco-like toppings.
  • minis made in ramekins for the little ones
  • let the kids make their own.....just don't allow them to "unveil" them
  • lighten it up with fat free or reduced fat cheese and ground turkey or chicken
  • use other meats that you like on a pizza
  • traditional pot pie ingredients like chicken and vegetables with some type of white sauce/gravy
  • The possibilities for this are many.
My husband really liked this; so that is a very good recommendation.  If sometimes, one is enough to share, the other should freeze really well.  I can't guarantee what freezing would do the trick of loosening the crust from the bowl, but it should work.

Hopefully, you will enjoy this new twist on a favorite.  Although it seems I have written a great deal, this idea is really fast and easy.

*Note:  There is at least one more movie that has the title of Multiplicity. Just make sure to see the funny one! 

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Until next time, friends





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