Easy Onion-Herb Focaccia bread

Sunday dinner is an absolute, must have ritual at my house.  I practically cook a massive buffet and everyone comes over, hashes out their week, watches whatever sports are on and we all eat and hang out from the late afternoon until the evening.  It's my favorite day of the week, because it allows us all to get together veg out and get ready for yet another long week ahead of all of us.

Anyhow I had some canned pizza dough in the freezer that I had been meaning to use for quite some time.  So I decided to make with it this onion and parmesan focaccia bread (which is to die for! I made 2 of these and there was none left!).  I hope you all enjoy this as much as my family did!  Happy Eating! from my kitchen to yours!  

Delightfully adapted from : www.thefoodnetwork.com

Ingredients

1lb of refrigerated pizza dough

Flour

1 onion thinly sliced

Olive oil

Chopped rosemary

Sea salt

Red pepper flakes

Fresh parmesan cheese 

On a floured surface, roll out 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough into a 10-by-15-inch rectangle; press into an oiled rimmed baking sheet. Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary and/or oregano, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and a big pinch of sea salt. Brush half of the herb oil over the dough, then set aside until puffy, about 1 hour. Make dimples in the dough with your fingers and top with thin onion slices and shaved parmesan. Bake at 400 until golden, about 20 minutes. Brush with the remaining herb oil.

Taco bread braids

Have you ever had one of those nights where you haven't been to the grocery store in about a week and your kids have eaten you out of house and home and you feel like there's nothing in your house but maybe a pack of ground meat? Well that was my issue the other night! and I didn't want to really put out a spread! So I found this online and made a few changes that make it a lot easier for quick dinners or even lunches!  Enjoy! Happy eating!!

 Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Taco-Braid

Ilb. of any lean ground meat ( I used turkey)

2 cups of Mexican cheese and 1/4 cup of queso blanco

Pillsbury pizza crust ( you can find this in the cooler isle of your market)

1 sweet onion chopped

1 bell pepper chopped

2 cloves of minced garlic

8 ounces softened cream cheese

2 cups of your favorite salsa

In a skillet put a good drizzle of olive oil, the onions, bell pepper, 2 cloves of garlic, and cook on medium heat until caramelized (which means they are softened and have a browned color)  then add the meat keeping the temperature on medium.  When meat is browned it is ready.  

Combine creme cheese and salsa together in a bowl and mix.  Then spread onto the pizza crust, which should be laying opened flat.  Then add the meat mix on top of the cream cheese spread.  On top of the meat, layer the cheeses as well.  

Pizza crust- You want to cut small pieces on the sides so that way you are able to braid the top part of the dough.  Braid dough by overlapping the loose cut pieces over each other.  Put in oven and bake as directed on back of the dough package.  Eat and enjoy.  Happy eating!!