pesto pizza

one of our families very favorite meals is fresh pesto with angel hair pasta. yummy, my kids gobble it up. put the pesto on pizza and everyone raves about it. so here are the recipes for the easiest pizza crust ever, pesto, and the pizza. so not hard to make and sooo delicious.

pizza dough:
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 c. warm water
2 1/2 c. flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt

dissolve yeast in warm water and stir in remaining ingredients. beat vigorously 20 strokes, or use your kitchen aid mixer. let rest only 5 minutes.

pesto sauce:
1 c. fresh basil leaves ( I would recommend planting basil in your garden, or keeping a plant in your kitchen. it is such a wonderful addition to so many foods)
2 garlic cloves
coarse or rock salt, just a sprinkle
2 tbsp pine nuts (giant bags available at costo)
1/2 c. olive oil
4 tbsp fresh grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp pecorino cheese or more parmesan
place basil, garlic, salt, and pine nuts in a blender or food processor until finely chopped. add olive oil with motor running, the add cheese. blend one more time until ingredients are mixed well.

pizza:
shredded chicken
sliced mushrooms
olives
mozzerella cheese
parmesan and romano cheese
pine nuts

roll out dough on parchment paper or pizza pan. spoon on pesto sauce, generously.
cover up the pesto with chicken, mushrooms, and olives, come on now, don't be shy or skimp now...
add shredded mozzerella, then about 1/3 as much parmesan and romano, once again don't skimp.
sprinkle with a handful of pine nuts.
bake on a pizza stone with parchment paper at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
-if you don't have a pizza stone just use a pizza pan or cookie sheet, but a pizza stone really makes the crust turn out yummy. i would recommend having a pizza stone in any kitchen. i cook frozen pizza on it as well, on those super busy or babysitter nights.
i transfer pizza & parchment to the hot stone in the oven by cookie sheet, and back out of the oven the same way.
enjoy!