French Bread Pizza

I feel like I've exhausted most of the Covid 19 food related topics on my blog and I don't have anything new to say about it sooooo I decided to break my foot so I'd have a new topic to discuss on my blog. 🤣(I'm sure you were all getting a little tired of my quarantine woahs anyway.)  I think I've gone from bad to worse when it comes to food blog commentary.  Details about my broken metatarsal is about as appealing as watching someone get wax pulled from their ear.  (Giving you all the visuals today. 🤪)

Not to worry - out of respect for readers who are just looking for a decent recipe, I'm going to spare you all the gory details of  the recent mishap to my lower appendage.  But, you will probably hear me grumble about the fact that I'm back on crutches for the foreseeable future, the fact that this has put a huge kink in my plans for the summer AND the fact that I can't drive.  (Ok, I'm done complaining now.)  

It didn't take me long to figure out that a simplified dinner menu works best for a girl with only one good foot.  I feel super blessed to have my uber-supportive family to pitch in whenever I need extra assistance and meal time is definitely one of those times.  I'm trying to plan meals that they will enjoy and also using this time to add to secretly their culinary repertoire.  I'm going to have them making beef bourguignon by the time this whimpy bone heals. 🥩😅

French Bread Pizza seemed like the perfect way to launch my family members into a summer of involuntary cooking training.  It's something that I really haven't made or eaten since I was a kid.  I'm not really sure why or when French Bread Pizza fell off my radar but I probably hadn't even thought at least 20 years.  It was featured in a recent issue of Cook's Illustrated though and I could not wait to whip up a batch of this cheesy pizza throw back meal.  

French Bread Pizza
Pizza
24x4" soft French Bread
1 Tablespoon oil
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Sauce
1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
1 Tablespoon oil
3/4 teaspoon basil
3/4 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cut bread in quarters crosswise.  Half each piece horizontally to create 8 equal pieces.  Place on a foil lined baking sheet. 

Combine butter, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes.  

Brush onto cut side of bread.  

Bake 5 minutes at 350.

Combine sauce ingredients in small saucepan and simmer 15 mintues.

Spread sauce over pizza.

Top with cheeses and toppings.  

Bake 15 minutes. 

I served my French Bread Pizza with a simple green salad and it was DELICIOUS!  

French bread pizza is officially back on my dinner rotation.  It was super easy to put together and it was super tasty.  I didn't have any topping to put on our pizza last night but this pizza WILL be making a repeat performance and next time, it just might be stacked high with freshly sliced garden tomatoes, black olives and button mushrooms.  THEE perfect pizza combination.

Ciao!

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