Katy's Kitchen - Taco Pizza

I don't know if I've mentioned it on the HHH before, but one of my goals that I've had for the last couple of years is to try a new recipe each week. While that doesn't always happen and I'm usually calling for some Thai takeout from the place down the block AT LEAST once a week, there are some Sundays when I get crazy and make like three different things while listening to XRT or a Cubs game on the kitchen radio. I mean, it gets a little embarrassing when the delivery guy dropping off our Pad See Ew recognizes us when we walk by and knows us by name. Lately I haven't been in that kind of cook-up-a-storm Julia Child mood, but last night I tried out a new taco pizza creation. For those of you that live outside of the Midwest, you'll be surprised to hear that taco pizza is an unknown and little seen phenomenon, for as much love as we give it back in Iowa. In all of Chicago, Ben and I have only found it on a menu once in our six years here. Thus, we must create our own...

First, I prepared a ready-to-bake pizza crust (like Pillsbury brand, the kind "out of a can", and yes this is VERY classy) at 400 degrees. Next, I mixed together about 2/3 cup pizza sauce, 2/3 cup taco sauce, and 1/4 cup refried beans until smooth and spread it on the baked crust. This combo sounds weird, but it's the most important part. If you don't like beans, don't worry...you can't really taste them, they just give the sauce a thicker consistency. Then I topped it with about 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, 3/4 pound of ground beef cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning, sliced black olives, and sliced jalapeno peppers. I popped this in the oven until the cheese was melted and then I topped it with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, and crushed tortilla chips (Doritos, but regular tortilla chips work too). We served it with optional extra taco sauce, crushed red peppers, and parmesan cheese.

Try it - you be the judge!

Ben's Take: I am often times prone to exaggeration and hyperbole. That said, this pizza will change your life. I immediately proclaimed it to be in my Top 5 Katy recipes, right up there with her enchiladas and coconut shrimp. For those Iowans out there, this is very OP-esque. For the non-Iowans, you probably don't know what taco pizza is. Well, here is your introduction. One taste of this bad boy and you'll cry tears of joy and start speaking in tongues. (Don't worry, that part will eventually pass. Unless you are already fluent in other languages. Or cry a lot.)

I give this recipe with 5 fist pumps out of 5.