Pizza Love

Photo by Rob Loper. Taken with a real camera. It was hard to wait to eat.

So Rob and I were watching the Super Bowl and... well... okay, we were sort of watching the Super Bowl. It was a rainy-ish day and we were working on some projects at his place when it occurred to us that we should turn on the commercials, I mean game. Boy there were some tear-jerkers, weren't there? The commercials for sure, maybe the game too if you were really into it and the outcome didn't suit you. And Katy Perry's rainbow colored, cartoon filled half time show was just bubblegum fun. Good stuff, all.

As often happens when I'm watching sports that do not include my Oregon Ducks, I couldn't sit still for long and I was getting hungry. I decided that I just had to make pizza. I mean, what goes better with football than pizza? I poked around in Rob's kitchen. Not a lot of traditional pizza ingredients. Undeterred, I began by listing what things in the fridge needed to be used up soon.

The pizza was ready just as the game ended. And, for those who are unfamiliar, the play called at the end surprised most. Regretfully for my Seahawk friends, it didn't go as planned and there was one Patriot who was not surprised.  However, I admire and respect the decision to try something bold and unexpected. Like most pursuits, those who make football their life's work must be innovative or become obsolete. Yes, it is risky, but there is no other way to the top. Go big or go home, as they say.

And so it is with the best pizza. Do something unexpected. Innovative. Go big. The pizza was executed better than the play in this case.We loved it; thus, it is named Pizza Love.

Ingredients

• 1 acorn squash, halved and seeds/pulp removed
• 1 onion, halved and thinly sliced (Walla Walla sweet preferred)
• 1 pear, thinly sliced (I had about 16 slices)
• Prosciutto - about 5-6 slices
• Shredded mozzarella/Parmesan cheese or cheese of choice - about 1.5 C.
• Crumbled goat cheese - about 1/4 - 1/3 C.
• Walnut pieces - about 1/4 C.
• A big 'ol handful of arugula
• Crust of your choice - I usually make my own, but picked up some pre-made dough at New Seasons this time

Directions
I started out by roasting the acorn squash at 400 degrees. I sliced the halves into 1/4 - 1/2" thick slices and tossed with some avocado oil and a bit of salt and red pepper flakes and then put in a single layer on a baking sheet. This just made them roast faster. You could leave them in the halves and roast cut-side down if you don't want to cut that hard shell any more than necessary. The slices were done in about 20 min.When cool enough to handle, peel off hard outer shell and rough chop squash.

Meanwhile, caramelize the sliced onions in fat of choice. I used avocado oil with a little butter. Deglaze pan with white wine (or broth or water) if it starts to stick.

Before going into the oven.

Top crust with shredded cheese, then caramelized onions, then chopped squash. Wrap pear slices with prosciutto and place on pizza. Sprinkle with goat cheese. Bake for about 8 minutes (I baked at 425 degrees, but this can vary depending upon the kind of crust you use. If I'd made my own, I would probably bake for 10-15 minutes before adding toppings.) Add walnuts to top of pizza and bake about 5 more minutes.

Just before going back in oven to wilt arugula.

Remove pizza from oven and turn oven off. Top pizza with arugula. Place back in oven for a minute or so to wilt the arugula a bit. (Optional, but I find it easier to eat this way. You can leave completely fresh on top if you prefer.) We sprinkled red pepper flakes on top to add some spicy to the sweet.

Since the game took place on the first of February, I was also thinking about love. Much more than football and pizza, it requires risk. Things don't always go as planned. Sometimes you put everything you have into it and the ball is intercepted on the 1 yard line. Game over. But if you don't take the chance, if you don't put your best creative energy into it, you won't even make it to that point. Don't let that take your spark; let it instead teach and inspire you.

In this moment, I'm enjoying the unexpected in football, pizza, and love and putting my all on the table. I hope you choose to go big, too.