PIZZA COOKING PLATE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook pasta per directions on back of package for al dente. Drain pasta and put back into pot.
• While pasta is cooking, in a large skillet heat up cooking oil. Add onion, bell pepper, and sausage. Cook until sausage is browned and onions and peppers are tender. Add in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Turn off burner.
• Add cooked sausage, jars of pasta sauce, Italian seasoning and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Stir to combine.
• Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish evenly. Sprinkle rest of 2 cups mozzarella cheese over casserole. Place pepperoni evenly over cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and pepperoni is crisp.

Steps:

• Make the pesto: Heat the oven to 450 degrees with a rack in the middle position. Combine basil, 1 garlic clove and pine nuts in a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped. With the machine running, stream in the olive oil. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add Parmesan and salt, and pulse to combine.
• Prepare the pizza: Combine the 1/4 cup olive oil and grated garlic in a small pot over medium. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the garlic starts to sizzle (but doesn’t begin to brown), 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place the French bread cut side up on a baking sheet. Brush cut sides with garlic oil. Bake until edges are golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Spread the pesto over the two halves all the way to the edges and top with the cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is evenly melted, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to broil and broil (watch carefully!) until the cheese is bubbly and browned in spots, 1 to 2 minutes more. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Top with red-pepper flakes, oregano and more Parmesan, if you like.