Fresh Mozzarella Pizza

1 pre-baked packaged pizza crust like Boboli or Trader Joe's

½ lb. Sweet Italian Sausage

½ c. sweet onion, chopped

1 – 3 cloves of fresh garlic, chopped

½ red pepper, chopped

1 sm. can pizza sauce

Red pepper flakes

Fresh or dried oregano

Fresh basil leaves

Fresh parmesan cheese (not the kind in a can)

2 large balls of fresh mozzarella cheese (the kind in water, not shredded), sliced into ¼” thick slices

1 large tomato, thinly sliced

Sliced black olives (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Unwrap the pizza crust and place directly on the oven rack for 5 - 10 minutes to warm and make it more brown.

Brown Italian sausage until nearly cooked through (about 10 - 15 minutes). Add the onion and red pepper and cook 2 more minutes. Add chopped garlic and cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Set aside to cool, then slice sausage into thin rounds.

Remove the pizza crust from the oven and place on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. Spread the sauce over the crust leaving a 1/2" edge. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and oregano. Top with the sausage/vegetable mixture. Grate the fresh parmesan liberally over the meat. Top with thin slices of tomato, fresh basil leaves, and sliced parmesan. Dot with olives slices. Reduce oven temp to 400 degrees. Cook pizza for 6 - 12 minutes until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown. 

Serve with a crisp tossed salad with Italian dressing and a good cabernet or chianti. Or beer.