This post has 3 recipes.

The Pizzaiola Sauce which takes front and center stage in the other Pizza recipes. #1 the Fancy Pizza Recipe (aka Sicilian Shrimp & Tomatoes…see even the name sounds “fancy”) #2 (not to be outdone) the tried and true Easy Pizza Burger Recipe from my Mama.

The sauce and the “fancy” recipe are from one of my new cookbooks: Pizza, Calzone & Focaccia by Maxine Clark

I made another one of the recipes earlier, but I adjusted it a bit. Find that recipe here.

This “fancy” pizza recipe was so good (I may be wrong, but I think I say that about every recipe I try….maybe I am just “good” and choosing recipes? hmmm?)

However, I would change a few things next time I make this:

1) I will use fresh tomatoes instead of canned

2) I will make the homemade pizza dough, instead of using Pillsbury

2) I will cook the pizza on the grill

But with that said….We all still really enjoyed this meal. I especially loved, loved, LOVED the sauce and used it again in the last “easy” recipe.

Pizzaiola Sauce

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil

3 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 14 oz. cans chopped tomatoes

Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a large pan heat the oil almost to a smoking point.

Standing back to avoid the splattering, add the garlic, oregano, and tomatoes (including the juice).

Cook over a fierce heat for 5 to 8 minutes or until the sauce is thick and glossy.

Ohhhh, the SMELL of this while it was cooking. I can’t even describe!

Season with salt and pepper.

Place the sauce in a blender and puree.

I don’t think I will ever buy jarred pizza sauce again. I mean why would I? I have all the ingredients on hand in my kitchen or garden at all times! Plus it only takes a few minutes to whip up. Well wait, it does dirty 1 pan and a blender…so if I want to be nice to my husband and give him less dirty dishes then maybe jarred pizza sauce is ok. Oh, who am I kidding, he LOVES to do the dishes (especially ones with caked on sauce),

Seriously did I mention the smell of this? I just wanted to drink up the whole thing Yup……. I licked that spoon. YUM

Sicilian Shrimp & Tomato Pizza

Ingredients

1 Refrigerated THIN (it’s better for you) crust pizza dough

Pizzaiola Sauce, above

3 garlic cloves, pressed

Dash of Italian Seasoning

Dried red pepper flakes

12 to 15 uncooked shrimp, tails removed

1 cup cherry tomatoes

Handful of fresh parsley, chopped

Extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle

Lemon wedges

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 425º F.

Spread prepared dough onto baking sheet or pizza pan. I use my Pampered Chef Stoneware Bar Pan.

Spread pizzaiola sauce over the crust, leaving a 1/2 inch rim around the edge.

Scatter with garlic, italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (to taste, I don’t use too much but it adds a nice bite to the pizza), shrimp and cherry tomatoes.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until crust is golden brown and the shrimp are cooked.

Scatter the parsley on top and drizzle with olive oil.

Then give one lemon wedge to each person eating and they can squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top.

Easy Pizza Burgers

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

1 small yellow onion, chopped

Italian Seasoning & Garlic Salt

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can pizza sauce (I used my leftover Pizzaiola Sauce)

4 English Muffins

8 Slices Mozzarella Cheese (or Swiss if you prefer)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400º F

Brown the beef on a large skillet and drain excess grease. Add onions and cook with beef for a few minutes. Add italian seasoning and garlic salt to taste.

Stir in 1 can of cream of mushroom soup.

Then stir in some pizza sauce. I used my leftover Pizzaioli sauce.

You don’t want it to be too runny because then it will get all over when you bake it and eat it (you think a 4 year old is messy? you should see my husband eat these when I put too much sauce in them). So use your judgement on how much of the pizza sauce you need.

Break 4 of the English Muffins in half and place on a baking sheet. I use my Pampered Chef Stoneware Bar Pan. Use a small spoon and put 2 or 3 scoops of the meat onto each muffin.

Note: There is enough meat for 10 of these Pizza Burgers but I only ever do 8 because we don’t need that many for dinner and then for leftovers the next day. Marcus isn’t a huge fan of having the same leftovers 2 days in a row. So I put the leftover meat in a Tupperware container and Marcus will bring it to work for lunch and just use it as topping for some potato chips or something. Since there are leftover English Muffins we will use those for breakfast. Scrambled eggs, cheese, bell peppers, onions etc. on top!

Top each “burger” with Mozzarella Cheese.

Bake in the oven for 12 to 18 minutes. I usually do it on the long side because I like the cheese to start turning a golden. The English Muffin and the edges of the burger get crispy YUM!

ENJOY!