Bacon Ranch Pizza with Fresh Buttermilk Dressing

 Pizza dough (recipe follows) butetrmilk ranch dressing 

 1/2 lb thinly sliced chicken breast

 1/2 lb finely chopped Applewood slab bacon

1/2 of a large sweet onion

thinly sliced 1/2 of a large tomato,

chopped  parsley

The dough can be made from scratch or storebought and so can the dressing. I marinated the chicken pieces in buttermilk, garlic powder, salt and pepper overnight while the dressing had all of it’s flavors melding together.

 I have been using this pizza dough for years, to the point and reliable, it came from a Sunset Italian cookbook. ~In a large bowl sprinkle 1 package active dry yeast ( or 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry in the jar) over 1 cup of warm water (about 110 degrees F) and let stand 5 minutes to soften. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon each oregano and basil, 1 teaspoon honey, 2 teaspoons olive oil, and 2 cups of flour. Mix to blend. in stand mixer or food processor beat until dough is elastic, about 5 minutes.Stir in 3/4 cup more flour to make a soft dough. Turn out on a board or counter with about 1/2 cup flour and knead till smooth and springy.Place in greased bowl , turn to grease top, cover and let rise in a warm place till doubled, about 1 hour.~ The dressing to be used in place of pizza sauce should be made early in the morning or the night before. I did add a pinch of sugar and a drop more vinegar to mine. Veronica had posted this a while ago and i have been waiting to try it!

 

  Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe

*note that all spices/herbs listed below are dried. If substituting fresh, use the rule 1 part dry = 3 parts fresh. 1 C mayo 2/3 C buttermilk 1/4 t white vinegar 1 t parsley 1/8 t dill 1/4 t garlic powder 1/4 t onion powder 1 1/2 t dried chives 1/8 t black pepper 1/4 t seasoned salt 1/8 t dry mustard Beat the mayo and buttermilk until smooth, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate at least overnight to allow the flavors to develop. So, you have your dough and your dressing.

 

Now for the chicken, onion, bacon and tomato. I precooked some applewood smoked slab bacon with about 1/2 lb of thinly sliced chicken breast bites. Sprinkeld with a bit of garlic powder salt and pepper. Shape your pizza dough, spread about 1/2 cup drssing to dough and add toppings. Drizzle with about 1/4 cup of the ranch dressing. Bake on bottom rack of oven at 450 for about 25 min. All ovens and altitudes are different so use your common sense to when it is done. Thanks again Veronica for giving me a wonderful dressing to work with, as long as the hubby doesn’t keep dipping his saltines in small bowls of it!!