A Heart Smart Valentine

The best gift you can give yourself and your loved ones this Valentine’s Day is the gift of a healthy heart. February is American Heart Month, and now is the perfect time to start eating healthy. So send your heart a special valentine with this prize winning pizza recipe. It is delicious, easy and oh what an exquisite dining experience. This pizza has the perfect marriage of sweet and savory. Mascarpone cheese is one of the most seductive flavors on earth. Combine that with the aromatic punch of rosemary, the perfect blend of sweet potatoes and pecans – and it’s all on a pizza. I think I am in heaven. What an awesome combination of delectable flavor and nutrition. Simply put, this pizza rocks!!!

Sweet Potato Pizza Pie Bellissima

Yield: 8 servings
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Bake: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

3 cups peeled and diced NC sweet potatoes
1 (12 inch) pizza crust
12 ounces mascarpone cheese
or cream cheese, softened

Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt, optional
1/2 teaspoon finely snipped fresh rosemary
1/3 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
1 cup chopped pecans

Garnish: additional rosemary

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450°F. (Heating the oven to 450°F, then reducing the temperature when pizza is placed in oven will help to crisp the crust.)

In a nonstick skillet, cook sweet potatoes until fork tender. Let cool.

Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread cream cheese over crust. Scatter sweet potatoes evenly over cheese.

To make topping, combine flour, brown sugar, salt, and rosemary in a medium bowl, whisking together. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until crumbs form. Add pecans, mixing well. Sprinkle topping evenly over sweet potatoes.

Reduce oven to 425°F. Bake pizza for 10 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Cool slightly before serving. Garnish with additional rosemary, if desired.