Autumn Pizza

This past weekend I hosted "Friendsgiving" for my 4 very best friends and their men. I love entertaining, to some it may be stressful but to me it is most rewarding. Spending the day in the kitchen to fill my guests bellies is a simple pleasure. Knowing that my guests are leaving full and satisfied is enough to leave me smiling for days to come. For the appetizer portion of our dinner I decided on a Pizza, so here it is, the perfect autumn appetizer.

First we are going to make the Walnut & Arugula Pesto

Ingredients:

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1 cup toasted walnuts

• 4 handfuls arugula, roughly chopped

• 1 handful sage leaves

• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

• salt and pepper to taste

• 2 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a food processor place garlic, walnuts, arugula, sage & cheese and pulse till a paste forms

2. Transfer to bowl and season with salt & pepper and mix in olive oil​

Then we are going to make the Cider Caramelized Onions

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter​

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 cup apple cider

• 2 sweet onions sliced

Directions:

1. Melt butter in skillet at med. heat. Add in onions and brown sugar.

2. Cook onions for 5-7 minutes till softened then slowly add in cider, mixing between adding.

3. Cook, mixing every few minutes till the onions are caramelized to your liking.

4. Set aside and let cool

Now we are going to make the pizzas

Ingredients:

• Store bought pizza dough (one ball will be enough to make 2 pizzas)

• 2 handfuls cornmeal

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1/4 tsp dried basil

• 1/4 tsp dried oregano

• 1/4 tsp dried thyme

• 1/4 tsp dried sage

• 1/4 tsp all spice

• 1 serving of the walnut arugula pesto

• 1 granny smith apple thinly sliced

• 1 serving cider caramelized onions

• 12 slices proscuitto

Directions:

1. Turn on BBQ to med. heat and lightly greese grills (you can make these in the oven as well on a pizza stone heating the oven to 450)

2. Roll out pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to desired shape

3. Lightly dust cornmeal on 2 baking sheets and lay rolled out dough ontop

4. Mix olive oil and spices together and brush onto tops of rolled out dough

5. Place dough on BBQ cornmeal side down for 5-8 minutes, brush remaining herb oil on the top then flip.

6. Spread pesto on pizza followed by apples, onions & proscuitto.

7. Finsh with drizzle of honey or balsamic reduction and sage leaves

Makes 2 pizzas