Spinach, Carmelized Onion and Feta Pizza

-Prep Time:  1 hour to prepare the first pizza and have it ready to serve, 20 minutes more if you need to use the same pizza stone or pan for the 2nd pizza
-Makes 2-14 inch pizzas

Crust:
2 Tbsp active dry yeast (or 2 yeast packages)
2 tsp sugar
2 2/3 cups warm water (105-110 degrees)
3 1/3 cups white flour
3 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil

Proof yeast by stirring yeast and sugar into warm water and letting stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.  In the meantime, place the flour and salt in bread mixing bowl.  While waiting for the yeast to get foamy, work on carmelizing onions.  See this post for directions on how to do this if you need some advice.

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/01/how-to-caramelize-onions/

Once the yeast is foamy, turn your mixer on to the lowest speed and in a slow steady stream pour in the yeast mixture.  Then the olive oil.  Mix the dough for about 2 minutes and then leave it resting while you prepare your other ingredients.

Pizza Toppings:
2/3 cup Ranch dressing
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 lb  mozzarella cheese
Fresh spinach (4-6 cups depending on how thick of a layer you like
2 large or 3 medium onions
4 oz feta cheese (I buy the bricks of President's feta cheese from Costco, slice it into 9 blocks and freeze these individually, this makes feta a lot more inexpensive, less than a $1 for 4 oz.)

1.  Mix Ranch dressing with garlic and set aside.  (This will be your pizza's sauce.)
2.  If you haven't already carmelized your onions, dice them and begin carmelizing as described in the link above.
3.  Grate mozzarella cheese.  (Freshly grated cheese melts better than the pre-grated cheese that has additives to preserve its freshness.)
4.  Preheat oven to 425.  Sprinkle some cornmeal on a pizza stone or pan.
5.  Lightly flour clean counter.  Divide dough into 2 even balls.  Roll the first ball into a large circle, transfer to pizza pan.
6.  Spread 1/3 cup of Ranch dressing over the top of the pizza dough, about 1/2-3/4 inch away from the edge.  On top of the dough sprinkle with half the grated mozzarella, then a layer of spinach, half the carmelized onions, and finally crumble half the feta over that.
7.  Bake in the oven for 12 - 15 minutes or until the outer edges of the crust have begun to turn golden.
8.  Allow the pizza to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into it (this helps the toppings to stay on each piece better.)

My husband and I really love this pizza.  I have to admit that my kids don't love this pizza as much as they love pepperoni pizza.  So if you were making this dish for a family and you have picky eaters, make this pizza for the adults and top your second pizza with just the Ranch dressing and mozzarella cheese, and serve the kids a cheese pizza.

Greek Spinach-Pasta Salad with Feta and Beans

Makes 6 servings

6 oz. fresh spinach (I buy the 10 oz. bags from Walmart or Smith's for $1.99 and just use a little more than 1/2)
1 - 15 oz. can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese (I buy the large bricks of President's feta cheese from Costco, come home and cut the block into 9 smaller pieces (each piece is about 4 oz.) and freeze each of the 9 pieces until I need them.  This way 4 oz. of crumbled feta cheese costs less than $1)
4 roma tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
12 oz. dried whole wheat pasta (farfalle, penne, etc.)

1.  In a large serving bowl combine, spinach, beans, cheese, tomatoes, garlic, lemon peel and juice, oil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.  Cover; let stand at room temperature while cooking pasta or up to 2 hours; stir occasionally.

2.  Cook pasta according to package instructions.  Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water.  Toss cooked pasta and pasta water with spinach salad mixture and serve.

 This recipe was in the Better Homes and Gardens magazine in February 2011 and my whole family loves it.  It goes together fast.  I can have this recipe ready in 30 minutes and I can't say that about very many of the dishes I prepare for dinner.  My whole family loves it!