onions | the creative life in between

Prosciutto Apple Gorgonzola Pizza.

We went out to dinner with friends a few weeks ago to an amazing local Italian restaurant near us (Della Terra) that served a too-die-for 5-course dinner with wine pairings that included appetizers, salad, pizza, pasta, and dessert.

One of the things we all went nuts over was a pizza that had apples, prosciutto and Gorgonzola cheese.

Well – who am I kidding?! We loved EVERY single course we had, but this pizza was something I thought I might be able to recreate at home.

And O. M. G!! This turned out so delicious!

It really went together pretty quickly and easily, and it so satisfied my pizza craving!

We often order in pizza on Friday nights at our house. Just one of our routine guilty pleasures.

But this pizza is worth going to the trouble of making.

Be flexible with it, and make it with ingredients you love. Add some spinach. Switch out the apples for pears. Throw on a few roasted pine nuts. Add some rosemary and garlic to the pizza dough.

Have fun and be creative!

Here is the recipe for how I made it. Hope you’ll give it a try.

Prosciutto Apple Gorgonzola Pizza

Servings: 1 large pizza
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Ingredients:

Pizza Crust:

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp yeast
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup lukewarm water

Pizza Topping:

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp honey
8 oz ball fresh Mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1 large apple, thinly sliced (I used Gala)
1 large sweet onion, caramelized with 2 Tbsp butter
6 oz. Prosciutto, thinly sliced and fried
1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Other:

1-2 Tbsp corn meal

Directions:

Prepare crust by mixing 1 cup flour with yeast, salt, sugar, and water. Gradually add 2nd cup of flour until a ball is formed. Knead dough for 2 minutes. Let rest 10-15 minutes in a bowl covered with dish towel.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F, and prepare toppings while dough is resting.

Whisk mustard and honey to form sauce, slice Mozzarella and apple, caramelize onions, fry prosciutto, and crumble Gorgonzola.

Sprinkle corn meal on a large round baking stone, press dough on top until thin, using fingers and/or rolling pin.

Spread mustard/honey sauce on dough. Top with Mozzarella, apple, caramelized onions, prosciutto, and Gorgonzola cheese.

Bake approximately 12 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly and brown.

Remove from oven, and let rest 2-3 minutes before slicing and serving.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac ‘n Cheese….

You want to get this in your belly! No joke!

Who can resist a yummy, cheesy, creamy, comforting homemade macaroni and cheese?

But add bacon….. and some sweet, buttery caramelized onions…. and oh dear lord!

Mix up you favorite cheeses. I used extra sharp cheddar, Parmigiano Reggiano, and fresh Mozarella. Tangy…. Salty and Nutty…. and Dreamy Creamy…. all in one dish!

I made this dish (adapted from Ree Drummond’s Fancy Macaroni) kind of on a whim at the last minute to serve with our Prime Rib Christmas Eve family dinner. I was going to roast some potatoes, but then decided to kick it up a notch! And boy am I glad I did. What a delicious hit this was!

Make this for your next special occasion. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser!

You can thank me later when everyone is ooooing and ahhhing and singing your praises.

Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac 'n Cheese

Servings: a crowd
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Ingredients:

1 lb. Rotini or Macaroni or your favorite pasta shape
8 Tbsp Butter (1 stick)
2 Large Sweet Onions, cut in half & sliced thin
10-12 slices Bacon
1 Tbsp Bacon Grease (reserved)
1/4 cup Flour
2 cups Milk
1/2 cup Half and Half
2 Egg Yolks, beaten
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1 cup Grated Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
6 oz Fresh Mozarella Cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook macaroni for 2 mins. less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Fry bacon until slightly crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Reserve 1 Tbsp. grease.

Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in a skillet. Saute onions for 10-12 mins. or until golden brown. Set aside.

Melt remaining 4 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. bacon grease in a large pot. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat for 1 min. Pour in milk and half & half, then cook for 3-5 mins.or until thick. Reduce heat to low. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Beat egg yolks and drizzle 1/4 cup hot mixture into the yolks, stirring constantly. Stir to combine. Pour egg mixture into sauce and cook for another min.

Add all cheeses and stir until melted. Add onions and bacon and stir. Taste for seasonings. Add more salt if needed. Add cooked macaroni, and stir to coat.

Pour into a baking dish and bake for 20 mins.

This decadent dish tastes great with with red meat and/or a green salad!