Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza

This was tonight's meal on a whim.... we're both exhausted from attending a recent wedding followed by a U2 concert 24 hours later :) I made a basic dough in the bread machine, but feel free to use a purchased dough - here in the northeast, you can usually find them in the dairy case at your local grocery store.

1 recipe pizza dough
1 medium red onion
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 c. sundried tomatoes (packed in oil)
2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
4 oz fresh mozzarella

Flour or cornmeal
Olive oil or Pam for the crust, to taste

Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Slice the onion into thin rounds. Place in skillet, sprinkle balsamic vinegar over. Saute, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, or until onions are soft and brown but not burned.

While the onions cook, preheat the oven to 450 F. If you have a baking stone, place it in the oven before you turn it on.

Sprinkle pizza peel (if using baking stone) or similar large, flat pan with flour or cornmeal. Dust your hands to keep them from sticking to the dough.

Form the dough into a large flat round on a pizza peel, and start prepping your other ingredients: slice the mozzarella, chop the sundried tomatoes, crumble the cheese. Don't forget to keep an eye on those onions!

Once stove is preheated, place crust on pizza stone or in oven on baking tray, and bake for 5 min. Continue assembling ingredients and prepping if you haven't already finished. At this point in time your onions should be done, so take them off the heat.

Once 5 minutes have passed, remove pizza from oven - or if you're like me, just pull the tray with the baking stone out far enough to reach entire pizza top. Brush or spray with oil, then cover with slices of mozzarella, goat cheese crumbles, diced sun-dried tomato, and finally, rings of caramelized onion.

Bake another 5-7 minutes or until lightly browned - you'll know it's done when the pizza crust lifts easily off the baking stone or pan. Remove and enjoy, this is a good one.

Scarleritas

We are in the process of purchasing a new home, which means 1) we need to watch our entertainment budget and 2) we are eating through our fridge and freezer :) So what better way to conserve money than to use alcohol and limes you already have and blend up some frosty beverages...

The other night, I mixed up a few of these bad boys using the rest of a bag of limes which were yet another Trader Joe's impulse purchase. They were freaking amaaaaazing.

Makes four tall and saucy frozen drinks.

5 c. ice cubes
1 c. Tequila (nothing fancy, please, Cuervo Gold is just fine)
1/2 c. triple sec
1/2 c. lime juice (about 4 1/2 medium limes - reserve 1/2 lime)
6 tbsp simple syrup*

Coarse salt if desired

First, please make sure your blender is properly sealed at the bottom. There is no greater killjoy than starting your blender and exploding alcohol out of the bottom end. Not that I've ever experienced it. Seriously.


Then, prep your glasses.

Since we're moving, all of our fun stuff is packed up other than our everyday double old-fashioneds.... margaritas still taste great out of those :)

I use my salt grinder to crack some coarse salt into the bottom of a small Pyrex storage dish. Then, I run the leftover lime along the edge of each glass, and then I swirl the glass around the inside of the Pyrex. I like this method better than using a plate because it makes it easy to get some salt up onto the edges of the glass. And that's how I roll. But anyway.

The next steps are simple:

- Load 2 1/2 cups ice into blender jar.
- Dump in 1/2 c. Tequila, 1/4 c. Triple Sec, 1/4 c. lime juice, and 3 tbsp simple syrup.
- Blend your little heart out.
- Pour into your pre-prepped glasses
- No need to wash, rinse, just repeat!
- Get silly. These will hit you quick!


* Two parts sugar to one part water. Boil water, add sugar, mix until dissolved, and let cool. Stores for weeks in the fridge, so you can enjoy some more fruity drinks another weekend! Or, even better, buy it pre-made at Trader Joe's for about $1.79.