Mediterranean Pizza

While my husband and I are generally healthy eaters, we both really enjoy pizza.  We occasionally splurge and order it, but I'm a big fan of making it myself.   This allows me to make it healthier, add whatever toppings I want and it's much cheaper.   I usually make the pizza dough recipe from my Martha Stewart Everyday Cooking cookbook, however I found this whole wheat pizza recipe on her website recently and thought I'd give it a go. 

When I lived in Massachusetts, there was a pizza place near me called Three Aces.  They made the BEST Mediterranean pizza and I've been hooked ever since.  I don't know if I'd call this "healthy" or not... but I like to think it's on the healthier side as far as pizza goes.

Mediterranean Pizza
Serves 2-4

1/2 recipe of Martha's whole what pizza dough, link above.
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
8 oz. Pizza Sauce
1 tsp Leaf Oregano
1 (10 oz) Box Frozen Spinach, thawed
1/2 (14.5 oz) can Artichoke Hearts, drained and diced
1 (2.35 oz) can sliced Black Olives, drained
1/4 cup sliced Banana Peppers
1 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/3 cup Feta Cheese

Make pizza dough per Martha's directions.  When making pizza dough, I generally freeze half of the recipe for later use.  I used 1/2 of Martha's recipe.  Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Sprinkle a little cornmeal on a kitchen counter.  Roll out dough to the desired shape.  Place dough on a 15-inch pizza pan sprayed with cooking spray.  I usually let mine sit for about 10 minutes if it doesn't quite fit the pan and then try to stretch it out a little further, right on the pan.  With a fork, make prick marks all over the dough to prevent any air pockets from bubbling up.  Bake pizza shell for about 10 minutes.  Check on it every few minutes to make sure no air pockets are forming.  Take dough out of the oven. Sprinkle minced garlic over crust. Spread sauce over dough & garlic and then sprinkle with oregano

Layer on ingredients: spinach*, artichoke hearts, black olives, banana peppers, mozzarella and feta cheeses.

* Once spinach is thawed, take small handfuls over the sink and squeeze out the water.  You don't want your pizza to get mushy from excess water

Bake for another 10 or so minutes, until cheese is melted and slightly browned.  Try to let it cool for 5 minutes, if you can!  I love that first bite, with all of the veggies, salty cheese, sweet sauce and crisp whole wheat crust.  I could probably eat this whole pizza if I wanted  to - Enjoy!

This is what the pan looked like when we were done... clearly this was a 2-serving pizza night!