Reheating Leftover Pizza with a Crispy Crust (a tip)

I just wanted to share a tip with you all for reheating pizza that really works, and I absolutely love.  I'm such a fan of pizza, but not so much a fan of the soggy crusted reheated leftovers that the microwave provides.
Instead of sticking that leftover pizza into the microwave for a nuke - take this foolproof method.  Place the pizza slice, crust side down, into a skillet.  Heat over low heat until warmed through, which usually takes about 3-5 minutes or so.

  
Ta-da!  Perfect, crispy crust.  You see how it doesn't bend at all when lifted with a wooden spoon on one end?  Nuking them makes for a soggy pizza, while the skillet method produces a better-than-pizzeria result.  I must say that the pizza leftovers are very hard to stay away from with this method.  I honestly like the reheated version a tad bit better than fresh now.  How crazy is that?
By the way - this works on all leftover pizza, no matter where you get it from - pizzeria, frozen food section, homemade, etc.  Try it - you won't be able to microwave  your leftover pizza ever again!




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Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

A few days ago, I shared my foolproof recipe for Eye of Round Roast.  I like to choose a big roast when making it for the simple fact that I have leftovers. Those leftovers are the key to my Philly Cheesesteak Pizza.  Who doesn't love the cook once, eat twice principal?

There really isn't an exact recipe to this - more like a little of this and a little of that kind of method.  

Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

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Ingredients:

• leftover eye of round roast, or any other beef roast
• cheese
• sauteed onions & garlic - you can add bell peppers and mushrooms too if you want
• jarred alfredo sauce
• pre-baked pizza crust

Instructions:
Saute whatever veggies you want & set aside.
Using a food processor or blender, shred up the leftover roast into small bits.

Spoon a little alfredo sauce onto a prepared pizza crust.  Top with the roast, sauteed veggies, & cheese.  This go round, I used onions and garlic for the veggies - and on one pizza I used pepperjack & on another I used parmesan, mozzarella & torn strips of provolone.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

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Heart Shaped Pepperoni Pizza

I love cute foods.  And, with Valentines Day right around the corner - heart shaped food goes right on top of the cuteness list.  

This pizza features heart shaped pepperoni and is super easy to pull off.  All you need to do is cut your pepperoni into heart shapes.

Don't throw away the pepperoni scraps - garnish a side salad with them to serve alongside the pizza.

Just replace your round pepperoni with your custom hearts, and you have a pizza ready to wow.  For mine, I used a pre-baked storebought pizza crust, pizza sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Nothing fancy - but very special.

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Homemade Bagel Bites (Freezer Cooking)

My big freezer cooking day will be coming up in the next week, and one item that is always on the list to make are Homemade Bagel Bites.  These are WAY WAY better than the ones you buy in the grocery store!  

They are super easy to prepare, & freeze beautifully.  I like to make several batches to go into my freezer for easy go-to lunches when I don't have much time.  



Who am I kidding?  I never have much time.
Of course, you can always make these to serve immediately too. 

They will be crispy & addictive!

Homemade Bagel Bites

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Ingredients:

• 1 bag of miniature bagels
• 8-12 oz of mozzarella cheese
• 8 oz of pepperoni, chopped (or ham if you prefer!)
• 1 cup of pizza sauce

Instructions:


Lay all the bagel halves out.  Combine the shredded cheese, chopped pepperoni, & pizza sauce.  Spoon a couple tablespoons onto each bagel half.  

If you are cooking them now, put them into the oven at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  

If you are freezing them like I do, place them on a baking sheet & freeze until firm.  Then pop them into freezer bags.  I like to wrap them with aluminum foil before putting them in the freezer bags - just to be double sure no nasty freezer burn hits them.  From frozen, cook at 375 for 20 minutes. 

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Spiraled Pizza Meatloaf

My husband does not like meatloaf very much at all.  My youngest daughter, however, loves it.  So being the good daddy that he is, he never complains when I make it.  

Even though he doesn't complain, it still bothers me.  I want him to want to eat it!  We have been married going on 12 years, & I have been on a quest to come up with one he would actually request for dinner.

After numerous tries over many years, I finally did it!  I created a meatloaf he craves. 

Ladies & gentlemen - I present Pizza Spiraled Meatloaf!


Combine the first 8 ingredients, & 3/4 cup of the pizza sauce in a large bowl.  On a large piece of parchment paper, or silicone liner, press out the meatloaf mixture into a large rectangle.  

Lay out the ham across it, followed by 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese - leaving a 1 inch margin on the edge.

Roll the meatloaf up from the small end, pulling away the parchment paper or silicone liner as you roll - much like you would a jelly roll cake.


Press the sides together with your fingers to seal it well, along with the seam along the top.  Place in a 9x13 baking dish, seam side down.

Brush the remaining pizza sauce on the top.  

Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 75 minutes.


Remove, & sprinkle an additional 0.5 cup to 1 cup of cheese on top, depending on how cheesy you like it.  I like lots of cheese!

Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.  Remove from the oven & let it cool about 10 minutes before slicing.

Pizza Spiraled Meatloaf

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Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground chuck
• 1 pound Italian Sausage
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 4-6 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 pound ham
• 2-3 cups of Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions:


Combine the first 8 ingredients, & 3/4 cup of the pizza sauce in a large bowl.  On a large piece of parchment paper, or silicone liner, press out the meatloaf mixture into a large rectangle.  


Lay out the ham across it, followed by 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese - leaving a 1 inch margin on the edge.

Roll the meatloaf up from the small end, pulling away the parchment paper or silicone liner as you roll - much like you would a jelly roll cake.


Press the sides together with your fingers to seal it well, along with the seam along the top.  Place in a 9x13 baking dish, seam side down.  Brush the remaining pizza sauce on the top.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 75 minutes.


Remove, & sprinkle an additional 0.5 cup to 1 cup of cheese on top, depending on how cheesy you like it.
Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.  Remove from the oven & let it cool about 10 minutes before slicing.

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Upside Down Pizza

I've said it before, & I'll say it again.  My husband really likes really loves is addicted to pizza in all forms. Pepperoni pizza, pizza pasta, pizza bread...you name it, & he'll eat it.  This upside down pizza is certainly not an exception. It is pretty easy to make, & I usually have everything on hand to make it - which is definitely a plus during the January Pantry Challenge.  Heck, that's a plus during any time of the year!  Plus, you can throw this together in no time.


In a large pan, saute 2 pounds of ground beef, & 1 large onion, a few tablespoons of minced garlic.  Season it with salt & pepper to taste.

While that is cooking, combine a 15oz can of tomato sauce, 6oz can of tomato paste, 1 tbsp of Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp garlic powder, & 1 tsp paprika.  

Add the sauce to the cooked beef mixture, & stir well.  Turn off the heat.

In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup of milk, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp garlic salt, & 1 cup of flour for the crust.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.  Sprinkle 1 pound of mozzarella cheese evenly across the bottom.

Spread the meat/sauce mixture on top of the cheese layer.

Pour the batter for the crust on now.

Sprinkle on some Parmesan Cheese...

Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.

Slice you up a piece of this, & flip it upside down onto your plate.  Eat up!!

Upside Down Pizza

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Ingredients:

For the pizza filling:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• salt & pepper to taste

For the pizza sauce:

• 1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6oz) can tomato paste
• 1 tbsp garlic salt
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika

For the pizza crust:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp garlic salt
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• Parmesan cheese to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown hamburger, onion, and garlic.  Drain well.  Add garlic salt and Italian seasoning.  Add combined pizza sauce.  stir well.  Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.  Sprinkle mozzarella over bottom of it.  Spread meat mixture over the cheese.  In a large bowl - add eggs, milk, flour, oil, and garlic salt.  Pour over meat in pan.  Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over batter.  Bake 35 minutes.

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