White Pizza with Bacon, Broccoli, and Toasted Walnuts

Ingredients

One half recipe Basic Pizza (below), dough, risen

1 recipe Alfredo Pizza Sauce (below)

1 1/2 cups whole milk mozzarella, shredded

1/2 cup Parmesan, grated

1/4 cup walnut pieces, toasted

4 slices, smoked thick cut bacon, cut into half inch pieces, and cooked

1 cup broccoli florets

Directions

Preheat a pizza stone in the oven to 475 degrees.

Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead ab few times. Then shape dough into a ball and flatten into a circle. Let rest 5 to 10 minutes, then using the heel of your hand gently expand the circle. Let rest and repeat until your dough is the desired size.

Place cornmeal on a pizza peel and transfer the dough to the peel. Carefully slide onto the heated pizza stone and bake for 5 minutes. Using the pizza peel, remove the crust from the oven. Pop any bubbles.

Spread an even layer of sauce on the crust. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.

Add broccoli, walnuts, and cooked bacon.

Top with remaining cheese and bake 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is crisp.

Remove from the oven and let rest 5 to 10 minutes.

Cut and serve.

Basic Pizza Crust
adapted from “The Joy of Cooking”

1 1/3 cups warm water

2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp Kosher salt

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 1/2 cups flour

Directions

In the bowl of a stand mixer combine yeast and water and let stand for 5 minutes.

Stir in sugar, salt, and olive oil.

Add in flour and knead with a dough hook on medium speed for 10 minutes.

Turn out of bowl and shape into a ball.

Divide the ball in two even pieces.

Prepare two bowls with olive oil.

Place dough in the bowl and turn once to coat the entire surface with olive oil.

Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm spot for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until dough doubles in size.

Creamy White Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp AP flour

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 cup half and half or milk (not skim)

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a saucepan heat olive oil and garlic over low heat continue cooking 2 to 3 minutes until garlic softens. Stir frequently and adjust heat to prevent garlic from burning. Add flour and stir continuously for 1 minute. Then stir in wine and cook for another minute. Add milk and simmer, stirring frequently. When milk just begins to bubble, remove from heat, and stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.