Recipe: Garlic Pizza with Fresh Basil and Oregano

GARLIC PIZZA WITH FRESH BASIL AND OREGANO

FOR THE GARLIC SPREAD:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
5 to 7 garlic cloves (2 1/2 to 3 1/2 teaspoons), peeled and minced
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
2 tablespoons finely snipped fresh basil leaves (no stems) or 2 teaspoons dried basil
11/2 teaspoons finely snipped fresh oregano leaves (no stems) or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon minced parsley (no stems)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
FOR THE PIZZA:
1 (10-ounce) package refrigerated pizza dough
3 to 4 tablespoons Garlic Spread, at room temperature (see note)
Shredded mozzarella or reduced-fat mozzarella cheese or 6-Blend Italian-style cheese as desired

PREPARE GARLIC SPREAD:
In a small bowl, cream butter or margarine thoroughly at medium speed of an electric mixer. Add garlic and olive oil, beating until well blended. Stir in herbs and grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.

TO MAKE THE PIZZA:
Unroll pizza dough; flatten dough into a 10-inch circle or 13 x 9-inch rectangle. Arrange pizza dough on a pizza peel (large wood paddle, if baking on pizza stone) sprinkled with cornmeal or on a lightly oiled 12-inch diameter pizza pan or 15 x 10-inch baking sheet.

If using a pizza stone, preheat stone in a very hot oven (475 degrees F). If baking in a pan, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Spread top of crust evenly with Garlic Spread,* leaving a 1-inch border of crust without spread. Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese or 6-Blend Italian-style cheese on buttered pizza dough.

If using pizza stone, slide pizza off peel onto the preheated stone. (If using pizza stone, reduce temperature to hot (400 degrees F).

Bake in a preheated hot oven (400 degrees F), uncovered, for 10 minutes or until crust is lightly browned and cheese is completely melted. Remove from oven and cut pizza into wedges (or squares if using a rectangle baking sheet) with a pizza cutter or kitchen shears. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

*May reduce amount of spread used to 2 tablespoons, if desired.

VARIATION:

FOR GARLIC BREAD:
op thick slices of Italian or French bread with Garlic Spread on one side of bread slices. May also top with shredded mozzarella cheese or 6-Blend Italian- style cheese, if desired. Arrange bread slices, buttered-side-up, on a metal rack in a broiler pan or on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil, about 4 to 6 inches from heat source, until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Source: WRIC-TV8 Richmond/Petersburg