Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Pizza Pie, Rain & Recipe For Potato Cheese Soup

Today was a perfect day to stay inside and nurse a cold. It rained off and on today, and I kept my windows wide open to enjoy it.
A couple months ago, I was watching the Food Channel, as I often do, and they were featuring a story on favorite pizza places in the United States.  One of these favorite pizzas really piqued my interest.  It was a fresh mozzarella and spicy arugula pizza with shavings of fresh Parmigiano Reggiano.  I have been wanting to duplicate this, as it sounded so good to me.  Tonight I did.  It did not disappoint!
I rolled the pizza crust very thin.   Spray your pan with olive oil spray.  Bake in  a 450  degree oven with only the sauce on it, for approx. 3 minutes.
I used our new perforated pan for this too.  Love it!  After baking for 3 minutes, I then topped it with fresh mozzarella cheese, and baked again for another 6 minutes.
Immediately upon removing from oven, pile baby arugula up high on top of pizza.  I also added some fresh basil as well.  Then top with generous amounts of freshly shaved parmigiano curls. 
Use a nice parm like this, and shave off pieces with your potato peeler.
Arugula can be hard to find.  But Fresh & Easy has it in these nice bags, all washed and ready to use.
I had never heard of doing a pizza like this.  It was raved about when I saw this on the food channel.  Mr. G and I both thought it was amazing! The spicy arugula, fresh mozzarella and the salty parmigiano, make this a wonderful combination of flavors.  I hope you try it. 
Some of you have asked for the potato cheese soup recipe.  I had intended to refer you to a previous post that I had done a year ago exactly on the same soup.  You can go back in my blog posts to see the photos to go with it if you want.  For some reason, I couldn't get blogger to cooperate with me.
Use 1 box Au Gratin Potato mix
2 Russet or Yukon Gold  potatoes
1 small container 1/2 & 1/2, or cream.  I use 1/2 & 1/2 and have even used milk with good results too.
2 cans chicken broth, and about 1 to 1 1/2 cups water.
3-4 cups sharp cheddar cheese
Cube your potatoes, and place in large pot.  Add box of  Au Gratin potatoes, mix and all.  Add your broth and water, and bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cook until potatoes are tender.  Add your 1/2 & 1/2 and stir in cheese, and continue simmering until thickened and creamy.  I also add fresh cracked salt and pepper to taste.  Meanwhile, cut up several pieces of bacon, and fry til crisp. Drain and reserve for topping soup.  Cut up a few green onions or scallions thinly and top soup with bacon bits and onions.  This is a family favorite of ours, and it makes up quickly, but tastes like it was cooked all day!!!  Enjoy!
My neighbor left town today and gave me the rest of her wonderful figs.  Check back to see how I used those!
Bon Appetit!

15 comments:

~Niki~ said...

just printed your recipe for soup :) thank you !

Genn said...

Now I am really craving the potato cheese soup.

So what makes the arugula spicy?
Looks like that pizza was really fresh and tasty. Look at you, whipping up gourmet meals, cold and all!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Ooh...the pizza looks SO good!!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

I have been looking for an easy cheese potato soup recipe - thank you!

Can't wait to see what you do with the figs!

But most importantly - FEEL BETTER!!

hugs!

Faith said...

This looks awesome too....fresh and tasty...

Debbie said...

I remember when you posted the potato cheese soup last year cuz I wanted to make it sooo badly. This year I'm going to, haha...uummmm I can smell it already. Hope your feeling better. HUGS

Katie said...

Yummy looking Pizza!

What do you do with those Figs???? I would just leave them in the bowl to be pretty, but I'm sure you actually make something out of them, what though?

Faith said...

I got the cheese and the arugula....I'll be making this soon.....it just looks so darn fresh....:) Thanks for stopping by my place.

Charlee said...

Thanks for th soup recipe its cold and yucky today so that sounds like a great dinner!

Maryrose said...

Pizza looks delicious and soup sounds delicious. It certainly is the day for it with this crazy weather.

Welcome back and hope you feel better.
M

Jennifer said...

Dinner at your house must be a much anticipated and wonderful event!!!

NanaNor's said...

Hi Kris, I love the recipe for the pizza-sounds so good plus I love using fresh items of pizza. While we were in so.Ca. we found that Whole Foods had items we don't get here. Do you watch Guy Fiera on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the food network? He lives in our old town and has a great show plus his food is awesome. Hubby was troubled with sciatica when we were in Oceanside so I never made it to the quilt stores-maybe next time.
Hugs today.
Noreen

Diane said...

Those meals sound sooooo delicous! I used your recipe for the Hammy Sammy's last night, but I substituted turkey and cheddar. Everyone loved them! Can't wait to try the soup!

Ginger Patches said...

Looks yummy! I make an arugula pizza from the barefoot contessa cookbook that we love....the first time the kids thought I was crazy to put salad on the pizza! My other favorite pizza has figs on it...I wonder if you're gonna put those on a pizza?

Linda said...

Pizza looks great...question? Can you use vegetable broth in the soup instead of chicken broth? My sons are vegetarians, but they might like this one.