Jalapeno Popper Pizza

I LOVED this pizza.  I made it about two or three weeks ago.  I made my regular thin crust pizza, and the kids just had pepperoni or cheese as toppings, while my husband and I enjoyed this one. It was a little bit spicy, but I enjoyed it.  It has a ton of flavor from the dressing you use as the sauce.  I'm excited to make this one again!  I had a hard time deciding which photos to use.  I have nothing more to say about this other than it was delicious, so enjoy the photos.  :)  If you like jalapenos, try this out!  PS:  I used pickled jalapenos.

Jalapeno Popper Pizza

adapted from Closet Cooking

3 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature

5 tablespoon jalapeno ranch dressing, recipe follows

1 pizza dough

2 jalapeno peppers, sliced (OR similar amount pickled jalapeno slices)

4 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces and cooked, optional

1 cup mozzarella, shredded

1 cup cheddar, shredded

1.  Preheat oven to 500 F, or close to it (mine will not go to 500, so I do 450 F.)  Mix the cream cheese into the jalapeno ranch dressing.

2.  Roll the dough* out into a circle roughly 12 inches across and spread the creamy jalapeno ranch dressing over it.  Sprinkle the jalapeno peppers, bacon, and cheeses onto the pizza.  Bake in a preheated 500F oven until golden brown on top, about 5-10 minutes.

*For a golden brown and crispy crust, I use a pizza stone.  Place the cold pizza stone into the oven before preheating.  Roll out dough onto parchment to facilitate easy placement of dough onto stone.  Roll out pizza on parchment, and then add toppings.  Carefully transfer the whole thing to the pizza stone, and then quickly place in the oven and shut the door.  Can place each pizza on its own sheet of parchment.

Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

adapted from Closet Cooking

1/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 jalapeno, stemmed and seeded

1 clove garlic

1 green onion

1/2 lime, juice

1 handful cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

1.  Place everything into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.  (Note: You will have extra dressing leftover; use the rest as a dip for the pizza or save it for salad or veggies!)

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