Pesto Chicken Pizza

My friend, Lisa, brought me a big bunch of basil that she grew in her garden.  If I had to choose a favorite herb, it would be basil.  Wait, is cilantro an herb?  It might be a tie.

Anyway, what better way to use fresh basil than to make it into pesto?  And what better way to use pesto than to spread it on a pizza?  They serve a similar pizza to this at Sauce and I love it.  Here is our homemade version.

Pizza dough (I used Trader Joe's)
Pesto (I used about 1/2 cup)
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Chicken, cooked and shredded
Parmesan cheese, grated
Pine nuts

*Roll pizza dough out on a pan or pizza stone.  Spread pesto over dough.  Sprinkle with cheese, chicken, parmesan and pine nuts.  Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes.

*I like to bake the dough for about 5 minutes before adding toppings because I want to make sure it gets totally done all the way through.

*Also, the pizza at Sauce has diced tomatoes on it and I totally would have done that if I had had any.

TJ's Margherita Pizza

The first few times I walked into Trader Joe's, I felt like a fish out of water.

I didn't know where anything was, I wasn't sure what was good and I felt like everyone else shopping there knew exactly what they were there to get.

But it's a small store and I've come to realize that pretty much everything they sell is good.

So now I walk in and fill up my cart with things that I can't wait to eat when I get home.

I am a Margherita Pizza lover.
If we go out to a restaurant and they have Margherita Pizza, that is what I will be ordering.
It was only a matter of time before I knew I needed this goodness in my own home.
That's where Trader Joe's comes in.
All the best ingredients to make a tasty favorite.

1 package whole wheat pizza dough
1 jar pizza sauce
Mozzarella cheese (the real kind that comes in a blob)
Fresh basil
Olive oil

*Let pizza dough set out on counter for 20 minutes.  Roll out into a circle and place on stone (or pan).  Brush with olive oil.  Bake in a preheated 450 oven for 5 minutes.  Take out of oven and spread on a little sauce.  Cut Mozzarella into slices (it's juicy) and drop over sauce.  Top with fresh, shredded basil. Bake for 10 more minutes.


*Speaking of Trader Joe's, please do yourself a favor and go buy their dark chocolate, sea salt caramels.  My friend, Jill, blogged about them last year and I was immediately sold.  They only come at Christmas time, so don't wait!!!