Oh Mama Mac n Cheese Pizza

When you ask my family what their favorite meal is, well - Miss Sunshine's favorite meal (other than Chicken, Cheese & Brocolli casserole) is macaroni and cheese, hands down.  Helloooo!  She's five years old, what do you expect?  Actually, that was my favorite dish into most of my adult life :-)  My 14 year old son will tell you pizza, chicken wings or steak.  My husband loves pizza.  So - I was faced with what to make for dinner last night.  I could have stuck to my meal plan, but I was headed out for a little last minute "girl's night out" and wanted to make something easy for the family. 

Collectively, based on what the family loves - I decided to try a Macaroni and Cheese Pizza.  I have ordered this once from a local pizza joint a couple of years ago, and thought "I could do this!". 

It was DEEE-LIC-IOUS!!  You could do a store bought crust, but I didn't make it to the store and I made one from scratch.  I had never made one before, and I was surprised at how easy it was!  I also used jarred pizza sauce from Green Mill.  I loooovve their 'za sauce. 

Chef Note: when I make Kraft macaroni and cheese, I always substitute the milk for sour cream.  It produces a much creamier mac n cheese. 

Oh Mama Mac n Cheese Pizza
Created by Kitchen Groovy

1 Basic Pizza Crust Dough (recipe to follow)
1 1/2 C your favorite pizza sauce
Pepporoni - enough for one layer
1 box Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, prepared
1 C mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 C cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tsp. dried oregano
Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Spead out pizza dough to about 12-14".  Take a brush and gently rub olive oil over the entire surface. 

Spread pizza sauce to edge of pizza, then layer with pepperoni's.  (I got excited and added the mac n cheese before taking my picture!)

Layer on prepared macaroni and cheese on top of pepperoni's.

Spread mozzarella cheese, then spread cheddar cheese on top of mozzarella.  Sprinkle with dried oregano.

Bake at 450 degrees for 13-15 minutes.

Slice, get it on a plate and enjoy!  It was goooooodddd. 

Click here for a printable version of this recipe - Kitchen Groovy

Basic Pizza Dough
Recipe from "How to Cook Everything", pg. 258
Makes: 1 large or 2 or more small pizzas
Time: At least 1 hour, largely unatttended

1 tsp. instant or rapid-rise yeast
3 C (about 14oz.) all purpose or bread flour, plus more as needed
2 tsp. coarse kosher or sea salt, plus extra for spinkling
1 - 1 1/4 C water
2 T plus 1 tsp. olive oil

1. Combine the yeast, flour and 2 tsp. salt in the container of a food processor.  Turn the machine on and add 1 cup water and the 2 tablespoons of oil through the feed tube.
2. Process for about 30 seconds, adding more water, a little at a time, until the mixture forms a ball and is slightly sticky to te touch.  If it is dry, add another tablespoon or two of water and process for another 10 seconds.  (In the unlikely event that the mixture is too sticky, add flour, a tablespoon at a time.)
3. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead by hand a few seconds to form a smooth, round dough ball.  Grease a bowl with the remaining olive oil, and place the dough in it.  Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let rise in warm, draft-free area until the dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours. 

To freeze: wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe - Kitchen Groovy

Enjoy and live with gusto!
Carina