The other day, our sweet friend and master gardener, Jack, gave us a generous box full of his amazingly beautiful heirloom tomatoes freshly picked from his garden.
Not only are they practically works of art how beautiful they are, but there is nothing like the taste of these gems! (I do believe I would trade an entire box of chocolate covered salted caramels for one of these super sweet garden goodies!)
When trying to decide what I could I make with them to give them the showcase they deserved (and eating one for breakfast while contemplating!), I decided to roast them up for fresh homemade Margherita pizza.
If EVER I wished for scratch and sniff or “smell-a-computers,” I so wish I could share how my entire house smelled while garlic and fresh basil and thyme infused with these golden and crimson chunks of lusciousness.
And I even decided to sacrifice one of them to ferment and save some seeds to see if I could master growing these in my own garden next year.
And then…..
After making some fresh dough, I rolled it out and placed a generous portion of these precious concentrated bursts of flavor atop.
I topped that with slices of fresh Mozzarella, finely grated, salty Parmesan cheese, and coarsely chopped fresh basil right from the plant in the garden.
And just for a bit of extra yumminess (and because I had some in the fridge), I topped it off with some chopped up thickly sliced smokey bacon ( O…. M….. G!!!)
This is the BEST pizza I ever ate in my life! My son Nick took what was leftover for lunch, and I had the one solitary piece that was left in the refrigerator for breakfast the next day – stone COLD – and it was even better than I remembered the night before!
It had to be those tomatoes! Thanks Jack!
Homemade Margherita Pizza with Roasted Tomatoes
- 6-8 large tomatoes
- 6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Cut tomatoes into quarters and spread in a baking dish. Add garlic, basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Drizzle all with olive oil. Bake in 350 degree F oven for one hour. Turn oven off and leave tomatoes in until ready to use. (I roasted in the morning and let them set all day).
Dough:
- 4 cups flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 2 tsp (1 envelope) active dry yeast
Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Mix water and yeast until dissolved in a measuring cup or small bowl. Combine both until well incorporated. Turn dough out onto counter and knead for several minutes. Place in oiled bowl covered with towel, and let rise until ready to use. (It really doesn’t matter whether it is an hour or several.)
Toppings:
- Roasted Tomatoes
- 1 lb Fresh Mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh coarsely chopped basil
- Any other toppings you like (or not)
Punch down dough and divide into 2 balls. Stretch and roll out onto two baking stones to form thin crust.
Top with Roasted tomatoes, cheeses, basil, and anything else you like.
Bake at 425 degrees for approximately 20 minutes until crust is done and cheese is browned and bubbly.
Let set for 10 minutes before serving.
ENJOY!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My goodness this looks so delicious! Your photos are so beautiful they could be in one of those glossy gourmet magazines. Thank you for sharing such delightful dining…beautiful tomatoes by the way…./sigh.
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Oh thank you. It really really was yummy!! I do love food photography. 😉
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home made delicious pizza, yummy!! thanks for sharing your recipe, ….. now, wait a minute… where’s Jack and his tomatoes?! 🙂
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🍅🍅🍅🍅
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WHEN ARE YOU SUPPOSE TO ADD THE…TEQUILA
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Haha Dick! That would be a margarita pizza. Might need to try that! 😝
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Better than Italy! I think I could smell those tomatoes from here…
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And it could be YOUR signature dish Marguerite 🙂
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This looks so delicious. And absolutely, nothing better than a fresh home grown tomato! (K.)
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Wow, my kids would love it too. Tomatoes are so delicious this time of the year, I’m eating a tomato sandwich everyday for lunch everyday with cheese and oregano. For sure your tomatoes were delicious.
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You rock!! Yum, I’m now hungry.
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I was thinking the same thing as “artandmoondreams”…you really have a gift for food photos.
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Thank you Kathy 🙂
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The blogging cookbook writer strikes again! Ker-pow! Ok this is even tempting me. Not easy to do! :))))
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Wooooohoooo! 🙂
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Love the recipe and a computer sniff n smell would be awesome
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Yummm! I can almost smell the marriage of the different flavors while baking. It looks and sounds wonderful!
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Wow Jodi, how can I possibly eat my bowl of breakfast cereal now. Your photography has capture the beauty of your entire creative cooking process. Thank you for the recipe.
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Ack…you have made my stomach growl and it’s not lunch time yet (might have to move my lunch time up)! I made pizza often, but yours looks tons better than anything I make!
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I can smell it from here (and I’m on the other side of the world) that’s how good your photos are! 🙂
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Wowsers! 🙂
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Beautiful photography and yummy delicious pizza 😋😋😋 Pizza looks so tempting I am craving !!!
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Ooohy gooy goodness! Your pizza looks divine, Jodi! I made fresh tomato sauce last night with tomatoes I bought at our local farmers market. It tasted so good! 🍅😄🍅
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Pour another glass of wine… I’m coming over… NOW!!
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I’m still waiting……. 3 glasses later…. 🙂
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I’m stalling on purpose…. you’re welcome 😉
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hahahaha!
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All I can say is wow….W O W !!!! 🙂
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This looks absolutely delicious. Home grown tomatoes are the best aren’t they?
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BEYOND SUPER YUM!!! I could have ate the whole pizza lol….. But then it’s “Weight Loss Wednesday”…. Better just use the “scented computer” button 😉
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Hope you had a good “weigh in” sorry for the temptation! 🙂
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I make homemade pizza all the time, but I’ve never tried it with roasted tomatoes before. Now, of course, I will! Thanks for the recipe!
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Oh Ann – you have to try! It will ROCK YOUR WORLD! 🙂
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That’s one of my favorite recipes you’ve posted, Jodi, but then I’m partial to all kinds of pizza..:)
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Oh George – you have to try this. I’m not kidding – this is one of my faves too. Maybe it was the amazing tomatoes…. but it was so delish – even cold the next day. I wish I had more….. They are all gone 😦
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Yes, I can see eating this cold the next day. Great idea..:)
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Mmmmmm, love this post and the pictures!!! I wish there would be something like digital flavour or smell transfer! I´m a huge fan of tomatoes, in all kinds of varieties. And, of course, best with garlic and basil (and onions). Thanks for sharing these delicious pictures!!! 🍅🍃🌞
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Oh we are tomato soul sisters – and garlic and basil and onions! 🙂
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Dang! …………. wish I could have a slice right now!
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Woooowww….delicious…
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Thank you, Jodi! Bookmarked this. Sounds and looks delicious!
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Thanks Leslie – it really is AMAZING! Kinda like YOUR ART! 🙂
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