Pizza with Queso Fresco

I love making pizza, and usually make some sort of pizza a few times a month. Last month we had Indian inspired pizza, and the month before we had pizza with brie, prosciutto and fig jam. I know typically when we think of pizza we think of something delivered or something half-assed and home-made with pepperonis on dried-out pre-baked store bought crust. There are so many ways to make a great home-made pizza that has different flavors! This month, I decided to use some stuff up in my freezer for mexican inspired pizza.

Ingredients:

For the Toppings:

1/2 container Queso Fresco (available at Costco)

4 Aidell's Chicken Habanero Sausages (available at Costco)

1 Red Pepper, sliced into strips

1 Sliced Yellow Onion, sliced into half moons

Red Pepper Flakes

One Head Romaine Lettuce, cut into tiny strips

1 tablespoon Herdez Salsa Verde

Drizzle of Jalapeno Tabasco

Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

For the Pizza Dough:

(You can buy pizza dough at the store if you don't feel like making it... I like Fresh and Easy brand best:)

1 1/4 cup warm water

2 packages or 4.5 teaspoons dry yeast

1 tablespoon honey

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

(This recipes makes enough for 2 large pizzas or 6 personal size pizzas. Use enough for how may you are feeding and store the rest in the freezer.)

Using stand mixer with dough hook combine water, yeast, honey and olive oil. Let stand until yeast dissolves and mixture rises a tiny bit. (3 minutes or so) One cup at a time add the flour and mix on low speed. Gradually add up to another cup of flour, making sure the dough isn't sticking too much to the bowl. Once the dough is elastic and cohesive, transfer it to a floured board and knead the dough. Place in well oiled bowl, drizzle oil over dough and cover with a towel. Let rise for about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Once the dough has risen, transfer half the dough to floured surface again and cover with damp towel for 8-10 minutes. Put the other half of the dough in the freezer to make another pizza another time:) Roll the dough out onto pizza stone or floured baking sheet. Roll up edges on the dough and drizzle with olive oil. Don't worry about it being a perfect circle!

While the pizza is still rising, cut the red pepper and onion and sauté over low heat in a pan with olive oil and red pepper flakes and salt and pepper, until they are cooked through and flavorful. 10-15 minutes. Also, cut up the romaine and toss in a bowl with the salsa verde and Tabasco. Salt the greens.

Crumble the queso fresco over the dough, layer on the habanero sausages and red pepper and onion. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.

Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes. When the pizza is finished cooking, cut and top with romaine.

This pizza serves 4, probably with leftovers.