Upside-Down Pizza

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Makes 6 to 8 servings

I usually don’t make this right off the bat for a crew on a ranch because it’s so good and I get tired of them asking, “When are you going to make that pizza deal again?” The recipe came by way of my Aunt Dortha. She is as good a cook as anybody I know, so if she sends a recipe, I think, “How fast can I make this?” It blends classic Italian sauce flavors with ground beef and cheese to create an easy, crowd-pleasing meal. If you don’t have all the ingredients in your pantry, no matter what your means of transportation, whether it’s horseback or horsepower, get to the store and get it done.

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 (1.5-ounce) package spaghetti sauce mix
• 1 to 1½ cups sour cream
• ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Sourdough Pizza Crust (see recipe), rolled out; or 1 (8-ounce) can crescent rolls, unrolled
• 2 to 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 to 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-x-13-inch casserole dish.

2. In a 12-inch cast iron skillet, begin cooking the beef over medium heat. When it begins to brown, add the onion and continue cooking until the meat has completely browned. Spoon out the excess grease.

3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the tomato sauce, garlic, and spaghetti sauce mix. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes to combine the flavors, stirring occasionally.

4. Scrape the mixture into the casserole dish. Spoon the sour cream onto the meat and spread out evenly. Sprinkle on the shredded cheeses.

5. Place the pizza dough or crescent rolls on top of the casserole. Brush with the melted butter and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.

6. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Serve hot.

Tip: You can also use a store-bought pizza crust.

Sourdough Pizza Crust

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Makes one 14-inch pizza crust

When we were in a bind on a ranch and needed a crust for Upside-Down Pizza, Shannon and I came up with this recipe, which uses the sourdough starter that we always have on hand. We actually prefer it to any other crust. Try it with your next pizza or calzone or use with the Upside-Down Pizza (see recipe).

• 3 cups Sourdough Starter (see recipe)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 to 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• Favorite toppings, such as cheese, pepperoni, or sausage

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly butter a large baking sheet.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sourdough starter, olive oil, sugar, garlic salt, and baking powder.

3. Slowly stir in enough flour to form a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Lightly work the dough with the flour until all the stickiness is gone.

4. Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick. Top with your favorite toppings and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.

Tip: Feel free to add your favorite Italian seasonings or Parmesan cheese to the dough to enhance the flavors of the crust.