I really like pizza and I probably make some version of it once every week.  Whether for lunch or dinner there are so many ways to enjoy one of America’s most popular foods. It’s also a great way to use up bits and pieces of leftover veggies, meats and cheeses.

I tend to use the same base recipe and add whatever my family is in the mood for or what I have on hand.  If it were up to me my pizza would always revolve around a few key things: a thin crust, light on sauce, fresh veggies and a lot of cheese!

In celebration of National Dairy Month I wanted to share with you my base cheese pizza recipe.  I’m not reinventing the wheel here, this is pretty basic. Use this as a blank canvas to add your own flair or make one like I did today: topped with thinly sliced prosciutto and sliced fresh mushrooms!

Cheesy Homemade Pizza

Add your own flair with toppings like prosciutto and mushrooms!

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Ingredients

• 1 lb of fresh pizza dough-make your own like I often do OR use 1 can of Pillsbury pizza dough
• 1 C of marinara or pizza sauce
• 1 C of freshly shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 C of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 C of freshly grated Fontina cheese
• 2 Tb of olive oil
• 2 gloves garlic, minced
• pinch of salt
• fresh pepper
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• Italian seasonings

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Brush the surface of a large rectangular baking sheet with a thin film of olive oil, roughly 1/2 TB.
3. Gently stretch the dough to cover entire surface.
4. Combine remaining olive oil, pinch of salt/pepper and garlic in a small bowl.
5. Brush this mixture over the surface of the dough.
6. Poke a few vent holes in dough with a fork.
7. Bake for 8 minutes, then remove to add toppings.
8. Ladle sauce over surface of dough.
9. Add cheeses and top with desired toppings.
10. Dust with a bit of Italian seasonings and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
11. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until center is cooked and cheese is lightly brown and bubbly.
12. Remove and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
13. Slice and enjoy!

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Since I prepared pizza, I thought that this info sheet on how cheese fits into a healthy diet and also some fun cheese-y facts might be interesting for you (we know the best part of any pizza is obviously the cheese, right?!). Also, this handout includes some details on how dairy foods can be incorporated into delicious recipes to be sure you’re getting that 3-Every-Day.

Here are a few facts about dairy farming in Indiana…

• Dairy brings a great economic benefit to Indiana, and dairy products are Indiana’s fourth most valuable agriculture commodity.
• Indiana’s 174,000 dairy cows produce 3.8 billion pounds of milk a year.
• The Hoosier state is home to more than 1,200 dairy farms that each have an average of 129 cows.
• Indiana ranks second in the nation in low-fat and regular ice cream production.
• Dairy farming and processing contributes $810 million to the Hoosier economy every year and creates 8,220 Indiana jobs.

And, a few DAIRY facts you may not know…

•   Milk contains nine essential nutrients, making it one of the most nutrient-dense beverages you can enjoy! Milk is the single greatest source of three of the four nutrients the Dietary Guidelines identified as lacking in the American diet – calcium, vitamin D and potassium.
• Experts recommend three servings of low fat or fat-free dairy foods every day, yet most of us need to add one daily serving of nutrient-rich dairy to help meet recommendations.
•  Studies show nutrient-rich dairy foods, when consumed as part of a healthy diet, may help to reduce the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis, hypertension, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

One milk group serving is equal to:

• An 8-ounce glass of milk;
• A 6- or 8-ounce container of yogurt; and
• 1½ ounces of natural cheese or 2 ounces of processed cheese.

 This fun graphic depicts the journey of how milk gets from dairy farm to your glass (and so does this video!). For some facts and info on milk, take a peek at this fact sheet. Not sure if you and your family are getting your 3-Every-Day? Hang this handy tracking sheet on the fridge and note which dairy foods you’re eating each day to be sure you’re getting enough! Still have a few questions? They may be answered in the FAQ section on the Drink-Milk.com website.

*information from American Dairy Council*