Grilling made easy

Although we’re quickly approaching the end of October and warm, sunny days are on their way out for the year, it’s still not too late to squeeze in one last end-of-summer grill-out. Even if it means dashing in and out of the building between rain storms or bolting the grill to the ground to keep it from blowing away, the easy preparation and great taste you’ll get from this recipe will be worth squeezing in one last grill out before winter.

Grill Pizzas

Ingredients

1 Large pizza crust

1 Can of diced tomatoes (try to get one with spices already mixed in)

1 Large bag shredded mozzarella cheese

1 bottle extra virgin olive oil

Assorted pizza toppings (pepperoni, green peppers, onions, etc.)

Directions

If you are using a gas grill, set it on “low”; if you are using charcoal, use only enough briquettes to get the cooking surface warm (I usually only light up 10-15 briquettes). Once that’s going, spread a thin layer of olive oil on one side of the pizza crust, and place the crust oil side down on the grill. While this is browning for a few minutes, spread a thin layer of olive oil on the face-up side of the crust. Leave the crust on long enough for it to brown (usually two to three minutes), then flip it over and spread the diced tomato, cheese, and additional toppings on top. If your grill has a lid, close it. Allow the pizza to cook undisturbed until the cheese melts (depending on grill temperature, this will take between five to ten minutes). Then remove the finished pizza from the grill, cut, and enjoy!

Tips

I find that draining the diced tomatoes ahead of time (this can be as simple as pushing the lid into the can of tomatoes over the sink after opening) not only makes cooking less messy, but your pizza less soggy as well.

If you are going to use fresh vegetables on your pizza, they won’t cook a lot in the time it takes for the grill to melt the cheese. If you don’t want crunchy vegetables on your pizza, try putting the chopped pieces in the microwave for a minute or two to help them along the way before placing them on the pizza.