Quick Valentine’s Day Dinner Pizza Recipe

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching!

This year Valentine’s Day is on a weekday.

How about making a heartfelt, homemade dinner that is also quick to make?!?

Pizza is the answer.

Making a batch of dough isn’t hard at all, either. It just requires some waiting time while it rises. If you don’t have time for that, you can always buy pre-made dough!

Easy-peasy!

For this Valentine’s Day dinner, you have the option of two pizzas:

• I Love You Pizza
  • Heart shaped pepperoni pizza
• Will You Be My Heart-ichoke Pizza
  • White artichoke pizza

This year for Valentine’s Day, go the simple route and fill your Valentine full of love and Heart-ichokes!

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

adapted from Eating Well

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water (110-115°F)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup unbleached bread flour
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• corn meal for dusting

How-To

1. In a large bowl, stir the water, yeast, sugar, and salt together. Let sit for 5 minutes.
2. In another bowl, combine the flours and flax seeds.
3. Once the yeast is proofed, add in the flour mixture and mix until the dough starts to come together.
4. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface.
5. Separate the dough into halves, shaping into balls and placing on a greased baking sheet.
6. Brush the dough with the olive oil.
7. Cover the dough and put it in a warm, draft free place to rise for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
8. Roll out the dough on a lightly corn-mealed surface.
9. Place on a baking sheets and top with toppings. See below.
10. Bake for about 15 minutes for each pizza, or until light brown and bubbly.

I Love You Pizza

(Heart-shaped pepperoni pizza)

Ingredients

• Whole wheat pizza dough (see above)
• Your favorite pizza sauce
• 1-2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Pepperonis – cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter

How-To

1. Assemble the pizza by topping the pizza dough with pizza sauce.
2. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
3. Top with heart pepperonis.

Will You Be My Heart-ichoke Pizza

(White artichoke pizza)

Ingredients

• Whole wheat pizza dough (see above)
• Italian seasoning (enough to sprinkle over the pizza dough)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1-2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese (dropped by the teaspoon)
• Marinated artichoke quarters

How-To

1. Assemble the pizza by topping the pizza dough with the Italian seasoning and pepper.
2. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
3. Drop the ricotta cheese on top of the cheese.
4. Top with artichokes.