Sun And Moon Pizza Pie

Description

Source: ALICE in WONDERLAND THE OFFICIAL COOKBOOK - ELENA CRAIG & S. T. BENDE

In Wonderland, there exist a goodly number of contrary things: Mad Tea Parties, the Cheshire Cat, and, as we’ll soon see, the frightfully rigid rules of a mild-mannered garden game. In the case of this pizza, however, contrariwise is a thing of beauty. After all, it’s not every day that one peers up at the sky and sees both the sun and the moon at the very same time! Inspired by this most extraordinary of experiences, the Sun and Moon Pizza Pie represents the full cycle of a dreamer’s day. Whether drifting across a moonlit world of whimsy or tiptoeing through the tulips on a golden afternoon, this vegetable-packed pizza can be enjoyed at any time.

Ingredients

• 1 white onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Chinese eggplant, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1 cup basil leaves, roughly chopped
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• Two 16-ounce pizza doughs
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips (save the top to cut out stars)
• 1 orange bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• ½ cup pepperoni slices (optional)
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. In a bowl, toss the onions, 1 ½ tablespoons of the olive oil, and the salt.
3. In a separate bowl, toss the eggplant in the remaining olive oil and the balsamic vinegar.
4. Still keeping them separate, place the eggplant and onions on either end of the baking sheet, and roast for 20 to 25 minutes until the eggplant is well browned and the onions are soft.
5. Put the Parmesan and garlic in a blender or food processor, and pulse until the mixture is well combined and the Parmesan cheese is sandy.
6. Add the basil, and pulse multiple times until it is finely chopped.
7. Add the cream, and pulse two or three times or until a thick paste has formed.
8. Raise the oven temperature to 450°F.
9. On a lightly floured surface, roll or stretch each piece of dough to a 16-inch round, and place the dough circle on a pizza pan or large baking sheet.
10. Split the pesto cream between both pizzas, and spread it into an even layer.
11. Cover the pizzas in shredded mozzarella, and arrange the toppings to create the sun and moon.
12. If desired, use the cookie cutter to cut a few stars from the reserved top of the yellow bell pepper.
13. You can create either a sun pizza and a moon pizza or two half-and-half pizzas.
14. Bake the pizzas for 12 to 16 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

Yield: 8 servings