Pizza with Carmelized Shallots, Figs, Bacon & Blue Cheese

So this post is a little quick and dirty. Chako and I were a little too hungry last night to stop and take good photos of even really plate this pizza before devouring it. Literally we ate it straight off the pan, ripping it apart and stuffing our faces. I almost didn't even post it for lack of presentation, but it was so freaking good I just had to share. I borrowed a recipe from Shutterbean for the pizza dough, you can check it out here. The toppings were what I had in the kitchen including some beeeeaaa-yooooooo-tiful figs I picked up at a little produce place on the Upper East Side.

Happy Figs!

Shallot

Shutterbean's No-Knead Dough

Carmelize some those shallots with a bay leaf or two and thyme

Slather the dough

Slather some more!

Bake & Enjoy! Eat right from the pan...

Blue cheese is my bestest friend.

Pizza with Carmelized Shallots, Figs, Bacon & Blue Cheese

You'll Need....

Pizza Dough (store bought or make your own! I used this recipe from Shutterbean)

2 large shallots, thinly sliced

2 tbsp of olive oil

2 bay leaves

1 tsp thyme

4 slices of thick cut bacon, cut into small pieces

Handful of fresh figs sliced, use as many as you'd like I used 6

About 1/4 cup of crumbled blue cheese

Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the shallots, bay leaves and thyme. Cook for about 15 minutes or until soft and slightly browned and smelling amazing. Remove the bay leaves and transfer the shallots to a small bowl. Add the bacon to the saucepan and cook until nice and crispy, transfer to a small bowl. Spread out the pizza dough onto an oiled baking sheet. Spread the shallots onto the dough, top with the bacon, figs and cheese. Bake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned (LIGHTLY! trust me...). Eat it all!

Fall=Jacket Weather + Pumpkin (and other stuff...)

I love Autumn in New York. It's my favorite time of year. Even though it only lasts a few weeks, its the perfect weather, perfect food, perfect sense of excitement! Today was the first day that I walked out of my apartment and had to run back in because it was in fact JACKET WEATHER! Jacket weather for me a special season unto itself. 

I have composed a list of recipes and cooking adventures that I hope to (no, WILL!) accomplish in the next few weeks, while the weather is perfect. You might notice a theme to this list, lots of bacon, and pumpkin. I heart bacon. Chako hearts bacon. We could live on bacon in this household. I am also going through an affair with figs and fig jam...getting hungry just writing about it!!

FALL HAPPY FOODS!!

Breads

1. Marlene's Pumpkin Bread. This is the one recipe I remember my mother making every year. I am determined to make it on my own and have it be as good as hers.

2. Pistachio-Honey Rolls Stuffed with Blue Cheese. Is there an explanation needed?

3. Cheese straws! For my holiday parties!

4. Ciabatta Bread. For cheese...and fig jam!

Soups

1. Pumpkin Black Bean Soup

2. Butternut Squash & Cider Soup

These sound like comfort in a bowl!

Other Yums

1. Steamed Spinach with Balsamic Butter. A new twist on a constant side in our apartment.

2. Oli's Sweet Potatoes. Oli is my cousin in Puerto Rico and she is the most amazing cook in the WORLD.  Her sweet potatoes are incredible and I look forward to them every year for PR Thanksgiving. This year I'm going to help her cook everything and try and photograph her work for the blog.

3. Oli's Pork. Same as above.

4. Potatoes Gratin. I've never made. I have like seven recipes for gratin, so I am finally going to make one, or maybe all!

5. Gnocchi. Homemade gnocchi. Oh yes.

6. Pumpkin, Sage, Chestnut and Bacon Risotta. Could just be called Fall Risotto.

7. PICKLES! I'm going to pickle! Bread and butter pickles. 

8. Jams! This is my big personal challenge. I want to master the art of jams and candies so that I can make little Jam gifts baskets for everyone for Christmas. The practice starts now!

9. Salted Caramels. Goes with the above gifts.

10. Custards. Any kind. I just want to say I made custard.

So thats my list! I can't promise I won't add other items to the list, or lose one or two, but I do promise lots of fall cooking is approaching! Share your favorite fall foods!