Two Pizza Ideas (that aren’t pizzas!) for the Super Bowl

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday and former foster child Michael Oher (of the movie The Blind Side fame playing in it. YAY!!!) here is a great dip and a fab dessert to serve to your family or guests:

Hot Pizza Dip (from Taste of Home)

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
• tortilla chips or breadsticks

Directions

• In a bowl, combine cream cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic powder; spread on the bottom of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Combine cheeses; sprinkle half over the cream cheese layer. Top with the pizza sauce and peppers. Sprinkle with the remaining cheeses.
• Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Serve warm with tortilla chips or breadsticks. Yield: about 3-1/2 cups.

Fruit Pizza (a retro favorite)

Ingredients

Sugar cookie dough (homemade, box mix or refrigerator roll)

2 8-ounce blocks cream cheese, softened

1 stick butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla or almond extract

Whole or sliced fresh fruit: kiwi, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, nectarines, mandarin oranges

Apple jelly

Spread cookie dough on an ungreased pizza pan and bake at 375 degrees just until no longer doughy (about 10-12 minutes or more.) Cool. Mix cream cheese, butter, sugar and extract until smooth. Spread on crust and top with fruit. Spoon a few tablespoons of apple jelly in a bowl and microwave for 10-20 seconds. Stir and lightly brush on fruit. Serve chilled.

photo credit