Wednesday, June 15, 2011

BBQ Pizza

Yesterday was a very full day, and I didn't get back home until about 5:30 so I wanted to do something quick and easy for dinner.  I was out in my garden and harvested a few things, so I decided to base dinner on that.
I had a fresh package of garlic Naan bread, and all the fixin's for pizzas.  Since yesterday was quite warm, we decided to bbq them instead of turn the oven on.  So I got busy inside preparing the pizzas and Mr. G fired up the grill.
The top two are done with traditional pizza sauce.  I buy it in a jar from fresh & easy, and it is good stuff!  Then I added fresh tomato, fresh basil, cremini mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, and then I snipped chives on top.  Also handful of parmesan and a light drizzle of olive oil, then cracked sea salt and pepper.  The bottom two...oh my mouth is watering again just thinking about it.....I topped the Naan with presto sauce, then fresh goat cheese, and some gorgeous fresh figs from my neighbor Jane's grove.  I sprinkled the tops with some fresh parm and and we bbq'd them on perforated pizza pans that were dusted with cornmeal.  
Greg grilled these for about 8 minutes, and then slid them onto this heavy duty cookie sheet so we could cut them.  Once off the grill, I topped them with mounds of fresh peppery arugula from my garden. 
My son Drew and his girlfriend Diana said that they were going to Taco Tuesday somewhere, but they magically appeared out back when the pizzas came off the grill, to enjoy this tasty treat with us instead.  We sat out back on the wicker seats and oohed  and ahhhed over this yummy snack.  They were both good.  But the vote, hands down, went to the fig and goat cheese pizza.  They were ooey and gooey, with a hint of sweet from the figs, and the creamy tartness of the goat cheese, and the peppery greens on top, made for one of, if not the, best tasting pizza I have ever had.  We all gave it two thumbs WAY up.  I plan on making another one this week with a full sized pizza dough, while I still have those lovely ripe figs.  And hopefully I can still go next door and help Jane pick more of them, and who knows what else we will come up with for them.  I am also thinking a nice toasted crostini with a bit of goat cheese, and fresh fig, a bit of proscuitto, maybe a drizzle of that nice balsamic vinegar from Napa Valley that Drew's sweet girlfriend Diana gave me.  Mmmmm!
I wanted to tell you about a new knife I got that I love!  For as much cooking as I do, you would think I would have a lot more good knives, but I don't.  I have one good Santoku Wusthoff that I use ALL the time.  It fits my hand perfectly, and I use it for almost everything.  I also have a very good long serrated knife I use for slicing breads.  My Mom got me the Chef's Choice knife sharpener I had been wanting for my birthday, and I keep my every day set of Wulfgang Puck knifes sharp as razors.  But I really need a smaller knife for things like tomatoes and smaller veggies.  I bought this one at Walmart the other day and I LOVE it!!  It was very reasonable and they had a good selection of other knifes to choose from.  I am probably going to buy a couple more.  I think I paid about 16 dollars for this one. 
With summer here, and bbq's firing up all over the country, what kind of bbq meals do you have planned for the summer?  For Father's Day?  For Fourth of July?   We have our father's day menu selected.  We will be bbqing at Gennifer and Jake's house.  Tri tips, homemade salsa,  grilled veg from the garden, green salad, and for dessert, Pioneer  Woman blackberry cobbler.   Mmmmmm!  For the 4th, we are doing grilled shrimp tacos again!  Can't wait!  How about you? 

17 comments:

Pam said...

The new knife looks nice!

Both of the pizzas look fantastic - I love that most of the ingredients come from your garden... lucky girl!

~Niki~ said...

I'm comin' to your home for the 4th~YUM! I love shrimp tacos~those pizzas are awesome.

Bethany said...

Pizzas on the grill. I feel this is genius! I'm also very hungry now.....

Sunny Simple Life said...

I love Fresh & Easy's pizza sauce too. Their little packages of pizza dough are very good too. I pop them in the freezer too so we always have them on hand. Always wanted to grill our pizzas. Must try this.

From the Kitchen said...

Those pizzas look scrumptious! So far, our garden has only produced herbs. Tomatoes will be another month at least.

I love using naan for pizzas. Target has a really good garlic naan that we like.

Best,
Bonnie

Dawn said...

I want to drop by around dinner time too. LOL I love the sound of both pizzas. Yummy!

Unknown said...

What a fabulous idea to use that bread and do it outside. I hadn't thought of that one yet. I just keep reading to see if they were on foil or what. Cookie sheet, perfect. All questions answered and a big thanks for helping me figure out a quick meal this week.

Father's Day, well, I'm just working on that right now. He is in DEN, so I'm ordering up gift certificates to his favorite Bonnie Brae Ice Cream shop right down the street. I mean what else to you get someone who has just about everything.

But, I do have a bunch of veggie and some top sirloins to grill up for the weekend.

You always bring me such a delight to visit first thing.

Holly said...

Those pizzas look amazing! We often bring pizza goodies with us camping and throw them on the grill. So easy. Thanks for the tip about the knife. I could always use a good one.

Sandy said...

Those pizzas look AMAZING!

Pammy Sue said...

Those pizzas look SO GOOD! I wish it weren't so hot around here that it's impossible to grill from June through September, usually. It's been over 100 the last two days...just too miserable outside to enjoy our porch during those months, even in the evenings.

So I'm sitting right here and watching what YOU make and drooling on my desk.

Lauri said...

love the idea of pizza on the grill. I am also a fan of grilled tri-tip (teryaki marinated). I think I need to plan a trip to the grocery store and pick one up!

Whosyergurl said...

wow. so impressive! now...where do you live? ;-)
xo, Cheryl

MarmaladeRose said...

I can almost smell the pizzas!

I never tried a pinking rotary cutter before but I think might have to very soon. x

Janna said...

oh my gosh!! goat cheese and figs?! YUMMM. And the other one with fresh arugula. I'm coming to your house for Fathers Day ;)

NanaNor's said...

Oh Kris I'm so glad I already had dinner cause your pizzas look amazing. I love goat cheese on anything and have never eaten figs(except in Newtons)so would be so interested in trying this. Cooking pizza on a bbq sounds so smart, especially with hot weather. As for Father's Day, one sil leaves for Europe and I don't think we've got plans. We celebrate 33 yrs on Friday so I think that will take care of a fancy meal.
Have a great evening.
Noreen

Genn said...

Well. It's 8am and I am not even done drinking my coffee and now I want goat cheese pizza!!!!!


"Honey, did you say a goat in there? Is Roman making goat cheese pizza???"

Name the movie.

I'm also hungry for fathers day now too!!!

Kris said...

The movie...OUR FAVORITE.....THE GREAT OUTDOORS....filmed at our favorite place on earth...BASS LAKE!! Where we will be in a few short weeks!!!!