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Did you go crazy over those little English muffin pizzas as a kid?
Who am I kidding, of course you did! I loved em, still do. It was one of my favorite snacks/meals growing up; my Mom almost always had pizza sauce in the fridge and a bazillion choices of cheese, so I could throw a pizza together in mere minutes. Most of the time I’d just throw on a little mozzarella cheese and call it a day, but occasionally I’d get a bit fancy and top them off with goat cheese and veggies we had in the fridge.
I also may or may not have squeezed the pizza sauce directly from the bottle into my mouth for a pre-pizza snack once…or twice…
These days, I don’t just stick to the pizza sauce and cheese, I use whatever ingredients I’ve got in the fridge, and you know what? Sometimes they come out pretty flippin’ fancy.
I don’t know that I’ve ever served English muffin pizza to the hubs, not sure why, because I’m sure he’d be all over it, maybe it’s because it makes me feel like a little bit less of a cook when I do. Maybe it’s because it makes me feel like a kid, when I’m clearly a grownup. Or maybe it’s because I’m just saving all the good English muffin pizza stuff for myself. I dunno.
The other night when I was home alone for some reason or another, and was craving pizza like a mad woman, I grabbed an English muffin, some leftover butternut squash puree, pancetta, goat cheese and kale, and made a fancified personal pizza.
It was divine.
As I sat on the couch, devouring my humble (but fancy) pizza while trying keep Ravi from snatching it right out of my hand, I thought you all would probably love the flavors just as much and maybe I should share, but… I can’t seriously put English muffin pizza on the blog. Can I???
Can I???
No, I can’t.
So I did the next best thing and turned it into a Naan pizza, because Naan pizza is so much more acceptable as an actual meal for an adult than English muffin pizza – or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.
Looks fancier too, doesn’t it?
- 2 naan flatbreads
- 1 cup butternut squash puree
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4-5 ounces goat cheese (I like it on the heavier side, you may not)
- 4 ounces diced pancetta, cooked
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
- 2 cups chopped kale
- Olive oil
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix butternut squash puree, cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon salt together in a small bowl. Spread half on each naan. Spinkle with goat cheese, pancetta and ½ cup parmesan cheese.
- Place on a baking sheet and place in the oven until crispy and parmesan cheese is melted, about 10-15 minutes.
- While the pizza is baking, toss chopped kale with a little drizzle of olive oil, season with tiny bit of salt and pepper.
- Once the pizza comes out of the oven, top with kale and if desired, parmesan cheese shreds.
Ashley says
haha I used to eat english muffin pizzas when I was a kid too – my mom always had the ingredients for them in the pantry. This adult version sounds and looks delicious! I love the butternut squash/kale combo!
Nicole says
What is it about those little things?? I just love them so much! Ha! Thanks girl!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
English Muffin Pizzas… totaly takes me back to my childhood! My mom would make them for us all the time. I’m loving the creativity of these pizza toppings. Looks like a winning combo! And I think it’s totally acceptable to put up fancified versions of those on the blog 🙂 We all love them!
Nicole says
Thanks Chris!!!
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
I’m love that you referenced English Muffin Pizzas!! Such a fond childhood memory for pretty much everyone I think. And umm this adult version looks INSANE – send me some pleaaase!
Nicole says
I know!!! Why did we ever stop eating them?!! So good!! Thanks Christine!!!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
I want this for dinner tonight! Love that kale on top, can be a super fresh garden pizza!
Nicole says
Definitely!!! I thought about omitting the pancetta, so it would be completely vegetarian, but had it in the pantry so I just went with it. 🙂
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
I loved the English muffin pizzas as well but I don’t think I ever ate the tomato sauce straight. That’s interesting… 🙂
I am also a huge fan of naan pizzas. They’re so easy, it’s ridiculous. This version with the butternut squash and kale looks very tasty!
Nicole says
Hahaha so embarrassing, but true nonetheless, and what’s even worse is I ate straight from the fridge — cold! Gross!