Whole and Hearty Asparagus Pizza

This delicious whole wheat pizza is a wonderful addition to your menu, and works equally well as an hors d'oeuvre or entrée.  It's also a savory, healthy alternative to store-bought pizzas that are loaded with preservatives, sodium and additives. Make it a wonderful, heart-healthy vegetarian pizza by eliminating the bacon; you will still retain depth and complexity of flavor. It gets its name from using whole wheat pizza dough, and its hearty list of ingredients: mushrooms, onions, two cheeses and roasted fresh asparagus spears.  4-6 servings, or more for hors d'oeuvre.

This recipe has been added to your recipe file.

Go to your recipe file

Close

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb fresh asparagus
• Kosher salt to taste
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 large sweet onion
• 4 tbsp butter, divided
• 1/2 lb mushrooms
• Whole wheat or white pizza dough
• Olive oil
• 5 slices bacon, cooked and cut into small pieces (optional)
• 6 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 tbsp grated or shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Process

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Spread fresh asparagus on baking sheet with sides. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Mix well, using hands. Spread out in single layer. Bake 10 minutes.

3. While asparagus is roasting, slice sweet onion thinly and saute in 1 tbsp of butter until caramelized, about 10 minutes, then set aside.

4. Slice mushrooms; saute in 1 tbsp of the butter until they give up their liquid and are browned, about 10 minutes; set aside. 
5. Prepare the pizza dough by rolling out on a floured surface, transfer to pizza baking sheet brushed lightly with a little olive oil, and brush dough lightly with more olive oil.

6. Cut cooled asparagus into 1-2 inch pieces. Layer ingredients onto dough in this order: caramelized onions, bacon pieces, mushrooms, asparagus (in a pinwheel arrangement, if desired), mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano.

7. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees, until dough is crusty and browned on edges, and cheese has melted.

Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Goes really well with a crisp Pinto Grigio or Reisling!

 

The Perfect Summertime Dessert

If you've eaten at Joe's Stone Crab in Miami, you'll know about their famous Key Lime Pie, just the best there is. They've generously shared their recipe online, and we are big fans ... making it frequently. It's a hit with young and old.

Here's the recipe. Thank you, Joe's!

Ingredients

Graham cracker crust

1 cup plus 2-1/2 T graham cracker crumbs
5 T unsalted melted butter
1/3 c sugar

Filling

3 egg yolks
Zest of one lime (1-1/2 t)
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
Juice of 3'1/2 to 4 limes (2/3 cup) freshly squeezed

Topping

1 c heavy whipping cream, chilled
3 T confectioners sugar


Process

Crust
1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Butter a 9" pie plate
3. Break up graham crackers, place in processor and process to crumbs.
4. Add melted butter and sugar and pulse until combined.
5. Press mixture into bottom and up the sides of the pie plate, forming a neat border around the edges.
6. Bake until crust is set, approx. 8 mins.
7. Set aside on a wire rack; leave oven on.

Filling
1. In an electric mixer with the wire whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks and lime zest at high speed until very fluffy, about 5 mins.
2. Gradually add the condensed milk and continue to beat until thick, 3-4 mins longer.
3. Lower the mixer speed and slowly add the lime juice, mixing until just combined.
4. Pour mixture into crust and back for 10-15 mins., or until filling has just set.
5. Cool on wire rack, then refrigerate.
6. Freeze for 15-20 mins before serving.

Topping
1. Whip the cream and confectioners sugar until nearly stiff.
2. Pipe or spread onto pie.
3. Serve in wedges, with slice of key lime if desired.

Note: This recipe was originally published by food.com, © 2017 Scripps Network.