White Chicken, Roasted Garlic & Bacon Pizza

With temperatures below zero lately, I'll take any excuse to turn on the oven and bring some extra heat into the house.  Our kitchen gets so warm and toasty, not to mention it smells delicious, when something is baking in the oven.  When I was little, I would curl up next to the heat vents on the floor of our house in the winter to warm up. My dad would try to save money by not turning the heat up too high but I know there was more than one occasion where I would secretly turn up the thermostat when he wasn't looking....but he would always catch it.  Now that we're home owners, I can relate to my dad and I know why he kept such a close eye on that thermostat - heat is expensive!  So we've been keeping our house at a "balmy" 64 degrees....and we try to bundle up as much as possible...

I hope you have all been staying warm.  I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner...but I couldn't be more ready for the break and the celebration with family and friends.  This truly is the most wonderful time of the year. :)

If you're looking for an excuse to turn on your oven...or just looking for a tasty meal...try this!

White Chicken, Roasted Garlic & Bacon Pizza

Ingredients:

Pizza dough

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

3-4 slices bacon

1 Tablespoon butter

8 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons flour

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ cup almond milk

¼ cup half and half

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

¼ cup green onion/scallions

¼ cup tomatoes, chopped

¾ cup Mozzarella cheese

½ teaspoon of fresh or dried oregano and thyme

Directions: 

For the dough:

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast

3/4 cup warm water

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a medium bowl, combine warm water, yeast, honey and oil and mix with a spoon. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until foamy, and then add in flour and salt. Mix until just combined, and then knead the dough for 5-6 minutes. If it seems too sticky, add a bit more flour 1 tablespoon at a time.

Brush a separate bowl with olive oil; add dough, turning once, then cover with bowl with saran wrap.  Set in a warm place to rise for 1 1/2-2 hours.  After dough has risen, punch down and form into a ball.  Let the dough sit until ready to use.  

1.  Begin by rolling out your pizza dough, and setting aside.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2.  In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add the minced garlic, and roast the garlic until it becomes slightly brown.  Slowly add the flour, and stir until it is thick.  Next, slowly add the milk and half and half, whisking until well blended.  Let it all cook together for about 3 minutes, or until it is thick.  Remove from the heat, and add the Parmesan cheese.   Meanwhile, cook the bacon slices in the microwave for 3-4 minutes, not fully cooked because they will cook more in the oven. 

3.  Brush the top of the pizza dough with olive oil and sprinkle with the herbs.  Top with the white sauce.  Add the chicken, bacon, onion, tomatoes, and Mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.  Cut into slices and serve.

Recipe adapted from: My Favorite Finds