Cooking is a funny thing for me. Most of the time I forget how much I enjoy it until I'm in the middle of a creating something delectable. I often groan at the thought of making pizza, because it just takes so long. But when I actually do it and I'm finished and serve it I'm so happy that I put the effort in. Even happier when I take the first bite. There's just something about making something complex from such basic things that thrills me to the core. Cooking makes me feel more alive. I need to remember that.
I think I may be a budding foodie. The more I branch out and explore new flavors, the more I enjoy food. Not in the "I need to stuff my face with this and eat as much as I can because it's food" sense, but in a way that makes me want to slow down. I think that's a good thing, something that we've lost in our fast paced world. Meals should be about slowing down, taking time to really appreciate not only the flavors of the food, but of those you sit down with.
Meals should be a time to relax and rejuvenate, they shouldn't just be about fueling yourself so you can get back to your go, go, go life. Food is something we all have in common. No matter where you are or where you go, food is part of the culture. It's a connection to all of mankind.
And with that I present you with a recipe for this delicious pizza I created the other night.
Spinach, Balsamic Caramelized Onion, Bacon, and Bleu Cheese Pizza
I used a pizza dough similar to this one (makes 2 pizza crusts, recipe below yields 1 pizza).4 Strips of Bacon, cooked and chopped
1 Small White Onion
1 tbsp. Butter
1/4 Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil, for brushing
3/4 c. Bleu Cheese
1 1/2 c. Mozzarella (more or less to personal preference)
1 Big Hand-full of Spinach, roughly chopped
Grated Parmesan (to taste)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
1. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Slice your onion, add to pan, and cook until they start to become translucent. Reduce to low heat and add balsamic vinegar, cook for about 30 minutes stirring every 5 minutes until onions are caramelized (if they start browning around the edges reduce heat).
2. While cooking your onion, preheat oven to 450°. Place pizza stone in oven in this time if using one. Shape dough into desired shape and place on parchment paper (if not using a pizza stone, place parchment paper on a cookie sheet first). When oven is preheated, cook prepared dough for 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven.
3. Brush the crust liberally with olive oil then spread caramelized onions on. Sprinkle both cheeses (adding more of either if desired), bacon, and spinach on top of onions. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste then bake until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown (about 8 minutes).
4. Remove from oven, dust with grated parmesan, slice and serve!
"All true friendliness begins with fire and food and drink and the recognition of rain or frost...Each human soul has in a sense to enact for itself the gigantic humility of the Incarnation. Every man must descend into the flesh to meet mankind." // G.K. Chesterton
