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Unusual Pizza Recipes for Your Next Pizza Night

Greekzza!

Now that the weather is getting cooler, we’re reintroducing Friday night pizza parties at my house. I’m all for ordering in sometimes, but it’s fun to make pizzas from scratch.

What I love most is you can come up with some very unusual toppings you may not find at a pizza shop. For example, Lora DiG’s (Staten Island, NY) Apple Cheddar Spinach Pizza with Ham Ribbons. “My cousins took my husband and myself out to this tavern and this pie was one of our apps,” explains Lora. Lora liked it so much, she recreated it at home.

There’s no typical sauce on Lora’s pie, but trust me, you won’t miss it a bit. She layers sauteed onions, spinach, thinly sliced apples and ham slices onto the dough. Then tops everything with an ample helping of cheddar cheese. I know, this flavor mixture sounds strange… I was a little skeptical at first. But, oh my, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s delicious!

Pumpkin is everywhere right now so why not incorporate it into pizza? Christine M. (Medford, MA) came up with a Fall Harvest Pizza I fell for. “I love veggie pizza,” says Christine. “This utilizes some of the best fall vegetables AND the best fall beer – pumpkin beer – to make the crust!”

The pumpkin beer in the crust is quite delicious. Since the dough doesn’t need to rise, this pizza comes together in no time. The crust is thinner but has a nice chewiness. Christine’s quick homemade tomato sauce is packed with flavor. A combination of leeks, zucchini and cheeses are a tasty topping. This is one fall-tastic pizza.

“Some really awesome recipes are total accidents, like this Spicy Spinach Pizza,” shares Janice Joy Miller (Escondido, CA). This is one happy accident!

Janice Joy starts with a pre-bought thin pizza crust. Then she goes to town with the toppings… spinach, basil, oregano, jalapeno, pepper, onion and anchovies. If you’re afraid of anchovies, I encourage you to still try this. They add some saltiness to the pizza and balance out the veggies and cheese. This pizza has bold flavors and is one I think adults will love.

Anyone up for a trip to Greece? You’ll think you’re sitting in a cafe overlooking the Aegean Sea after one bite of Alyson Ridge’s (Gloucester, VA) Greekzza. Her take on a Greek pizza is very tasty.

Alyson creates a spinach spread as the base to her pie by blending fresh spinach, mozzarella, Greek salad dressing, and cream cheese. The cream cheese in the spread adds a nice zing. Kalamata olives, Feta cheese, and quickly marinated chicken are added to the top. This Greekzza is simple, delicious and bursting with Greek flavors.

For those who are watching carbs or gluten-free, Marion Dyess’ (Deerfield Beach, FL) Crazy Good Cauliflower Pizza is a great option. “Pizza is one of my favorites,” shares Marion. “This pizza is fantastico!” The spices and cheese add so much flavor, you wouldn’t know you’re eating cauliflower.

The crust gets really crisp. The trick to getting the nice crust is to make sure you squeeze out the water very well. May take you a few times, but the result is worth the few extra squeezes. This recipe is a definite keeper.

Instead of grabbing the number for the pizza parlor, try one of these unusual pizza recipes. Or, see what wacky combination you can come up with and make sure to share the recipe… the options are endless. Happy Pinching!