Next Level Pizza….Oh my!

Rick and I were debating back and forth over what to make for supper last weekend. I was determined to use up some leftovers in the refrigerator. He wanted to make something new. I try really hard to use leftovers, but we typically only eat once a day. It’s harder to want leftovers then. But I was determined.

I finally told him I would just make something. We had leftover sloppy joe (Maid-Rite, loose-meat sandwich- whatever you want to call it) leftovers. We had already had leftovers of these once…So the likelihood of eating the last bit was a little slim. I decided I was making a cheeseburger pizza with the leftovers. I decided to take it a level up!

I made my pizza dough. I know I’m going to get questions about my pizza dough recipe. I really don’t “have a recipe”. I take 2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast, add 1 cup of water for each pizza I’m making, along with one tablespoon of sugar. I let it set for five minutes. Then I add 2 tablespoons of oil for every cup of water I put in. Then I add bread flour until I get the dough consistency I want. It’s really a ratio recipe. I’m sorry if that doesn’t work for you…Just use a recipe you are comfortable with. You will need a more elastic dough.

After I patted the dough out into an extra big circle, I put string cheese around the edges.

I should probably add that I have a stone heating in an oven at 425 degrees. The pizza is patted out onto parchment paper, and I put that on a bread paddle. When I’m ready to put the pizza in, I slide the parchment paper onto the heated stone.

Then I rolled the dough and cheese over to make the edges.

Now it was time for sauce. I put just a little bit of BBQ sauce down-not as much as you would with normal pizza sauce. Then on went the leftover sloppy Joe mix. Next went a half pound of bacon, diced and then fried. Next I put on half of an onion, chopped.

Cheese was next. I have two partial bags of cheese that were mostly orange. I used them. I am not at all picky about cheese. Whatever I have, I use.

Well, Rick hates pickles. I love them. I wanted them on my cheeseburger pizza. Rick did not. He asked for double thick pepperoni instead.

Here it is after we both took a slice.

I butter the entire top of my pizzas when they come out of the oven. I especially put it on the crust.

Oh my. This was SO-SO GOOD. It’s by far the best pizza I’ve ever made. I’m known for my pizza making, so that’s high praise.

We both had a piece and were stuffed. Rick normally doesn’t eat the crust. He cuts it off and gives it to Rosie. He calls it a pizza bone. He said no more pizza bones for Rosie. Seriously, the crust tastes just like a cheese-filled breadstick. SO GOOD!

The consensus was that, from now on, I’ll keep string cheese in the refrigerator so I can stuff the pizza crust. YUM!!

Another fun thing I discovered. The pizza warmed up wonderfully the next day in the air fryer. Previously, I’ve warmed it in the microwave. That’s okay but there are hot spots, and the crust gets rubbery. None of that with the air fryer.

I’m so glad I gave this a try. It was wonderful.