Pizza with Fried Chicken, Bacon, and Mac & Cheese

Say what?

Yup. You heard right. That's a pizza with fried chicken, bacon, and macaroni n cheese. Beer mac n cheese, that is. I know.

Did I go overboard? At least a little, right? I figured. But it's okay. This is worth the unbelievable carb fest. And I mean, according to my MCAT review book, carbs are really important. They fuel your body. And yeah, it's more complicated, but just go with it.

Speaking of which, I registered for the MCAT yesterday and aghhhhhhh. FREAKING OUT. Just a little. You know how it is. So um, September 10th. That's the magical (read: terrifying) day. There may be some correlation between the start of my MCAT studying and my developing a liking for coffee. These things go together, you know.

But it's okay. Because we have this pizza. This pizza isn't too hard to make, and is crazy and comforting enough to help you feel better after a long day of MCAT studying. It's also good to emotionally eat when you're angry about the treatment of mental illness in America. But um, that's another post. Aaaanywaaaaay.

Frat Boy Pizza
Ingredients
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cup dark beer**
1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder
12 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 box macaroni, cooked and cooled
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 pound chicken tenders, diced (I got the ones from Publix)
1 pizza dough
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Make the mac n cheese first: Start out by making a roux. Melt the butter over medium-low heat, then add the flour, stirring. Once thickened and slightly browned, add the beer, milk, and spices. Stir.
2. Continue stirring over medium heat until the mixture boils. Allow to boil for 3 minutes, then add cheese.
3. Stir until cheese has completely melted.
4. Carefully fold in pasta. Let cool.
5. Shape pizza dough into and awkward oval or a better shape. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.
6. Remove dough from oven. Sprinkle with about half of the bacon and chicken. Add about half of the mac n cheese. Top with the remaining bacon and chicken, then add another layer of mac n cheese. This will make a VERY thick pizza. If it's too much for you, you don't have to add all of the macaroni, but it's better if you do.
7. Top with the parm and put back into the oven for another 18 minutes, until the top in slightly browned. Enjoy!
   
   
   

Potato Bacon Leek Pizza

Um, this is pretty much a carb fest. Oops. But it has bacon, which is protein, so maybe it cancels out a little? I like to tell myself it does.

Is anyone else like super-attached to the music they loved in middle and high school? Like, maybe you recognize that it's not all that good, and overly angsty (I'm looking at you, Evanescence), but you listen to it still sometimes because um, you still love it a lot? That's not just me. I know it.

Orrr, maybe you're hella attached to the angsty, angry, emo pop you loved (who am I kidding, I still love this stuff) when you were like 14? I mean, as I write this, I'm alternating listening to Taking Back Sunday and Fall Out Boy. Angst? Yes, please. Bring it on.

Does this middle school music nostalgia bridge ages and generations? Like, am I just obsessed with this music still because I was 14 only 5 years ago? Or am I going to love Evanescence and All Time Low just as much when I'm 32? Tbh, I sorta hope I still love them.

Potato Bacon Leek Pizza
Ingredients
Pizza dough (I'm a fan of the ones Publix sells in the bakery)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp garlic, minced
2 red potatoes, thinly sliced (you might need slightly more or less depending on potato size)
1 leek, thinly sliced
6 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

1. Stretch the dough into shape. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle on the garlic.
2. Layer the leeks, then potatoes. Keep the potatoes in a single layer to make sure they actually cook.
3. Sprinkle on the bacon and cheese.
4. Bake at 350 for 18 to 20 minutes, or until crust is golden and potatoes are starting to crisp and brown. Enjoy!
   
   
   

Sweet BBQ Chicken Pizza

Pizza is one of those things that I'm always sort of shocked by how easy it is. Every time I go to make it, I'm expecting some long, arduous process, and then it never actually is. In fact, making a pizza of your own takes about the same amount of time as ordering one and waiting for it to be delivered. It's just not hard.

Anyway. This pizza is an homage to sweet and smoky. I love BBQ pizza, and I decided to add some pineapple, just to make it a little more funky and yummy. To my surprise, this worked beautifully. 

Make this. Eat it while you watch Grey's Anatomy. Then come talk to me because that show is ruining my life.

Sweet BBQ Chicken Pizza
Ingredients
1 pizza dough
1 chicken breast, cubed and cooked
2/3 cup BBQ sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup pineapple, thinly sliced
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1. Spread out the pizza dough into your desired shape.
2. Spread sauce around the dough. Top with toppings, except for cilantro.
3. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
4. Top with cilantro. Slice and serve.

White Pizza with Arugula Salad

White pizza is sort of one of my favorite things, but I hadn't made it from scratch until now. It's garlicky and savory and wow so good. The arugula pushes it over the edge. It's peppery and I topped it with lemon and olive oil for a tangy twist.

Already looking awesome

Yes.

I made my pizza with the dough they sell at Publix. If you want to make it homemade, you can, of course, but I didn't have the time or a rolling pin. I also didn't have a pizza pan, so instead we're having a weird oblong oval pizza. You end up with oddly shaped slices, but oh well.

Hello beautiful

You need to make this. It'll fill your kitchen (and potentially the entire residence hall) with an amazing smell. Praise. You can eat it naked, as above, or add the arugula salad like I did. So so good either way.

Salad Pizza
Ingredients
1 pizza dough
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp garlic, minced
1/2 cup ricotta
1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan, shredded
1/2 cup arugula
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper

1. Stretch the dough to fit the pan. It should be about 1/4 inch thick.
2. Drizzle about 2 tbsp of the oil on the dough. Add 2 tbsp of the garlic.
3. Spread the ricotta onto the dough.
4. Sprinkle the mozzarella on top, then add half the Parmesan.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes.
6. Once out of the oven, add the remaining garlic and Parmesan.
7. Cool slightly, then add the arugula to the warm pizza.
8. Drizzle lemon juice and oil onto arugula, and add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!