Grilled Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Mother's Day weekend 2011 will stick in our minds for years to come!  Heading out for another dance competition on Friday, Liv and I made our way to UCSD with my Dad in tow.  The weekend schedule had us at the campus not only Friday, but Saturday and Sunday (Mother's Day) as well. With a full schedule of dances, we met up with her team and got down to the business of dance.

Liv's Solo, "Shy"

First up - Junior solos, unfortunately Liv had woken up with a cold Friday morning and her energy was sorely lacking.  Having one of the longer solos (she dances to the song "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress) at just over 3 minutes I knew it was going to take everything she had to keep her energy level optimum.  But she did!  

Bringing my dad to tears as she finished her performance and exited the stage we waited for the next part of the competition, the Title portion, where one of the girls participating in the solo section would be named "Junior Miss Spotlight".  After introducing themselves, doing a quick dance combo and answering a question, the girls (and one boy!) strutted their "stuff".  With six of our girls up there I was so proud of their confidence and poise, and each dance combo showed amazing talent and skill.

Small group jazz

With questions ranging from "What is your favorite planet?" to "Who is your favorite Super Hero?", Liv couldn't have been asked a better question than the one she received, "What is your favorite dessert and and why?"  A choco/sugar-aholic since birth this one was right up her alley!  She smiled and promptly answered, "That's an easy one.  I would choose Chocolate Fondu and have it piped throughout the house so I could just turn on a faucet and dip strawberries anywhere I went".  With a smile she moved on to her combination and then we waited.

Small Group Tap - see group below!

Tough competition abounding, we crossed our fingers as the judges began to read the Top 10, and when they reached 3rd and her name hadn't been called my dad leaned over and said "This is either really good or bad".  Holding our breath we then cheered heartily as they announced the 2nd place overall solo as "Shy" and Liv jumped up to receive her medal and plaque.  

Moving on to the Title portion, the contestants lined up on stage and looking at the talented girls in the line Liv was simply pleased to be a part of this amazing crowd.  The judges stated that they would then play the music from the solo contestant who was to be named "Junior Miss Spotlight" and a moment later the look of utter shock on Liv's face as they played her song, "Shy", was priceless!  She stood, mouth in a round "O" for a few seconds before her friend pushed her forward to receive the sash and award.  My dad and I fought to see through our tears, and my heart couldn't have been happier for my girl.

Junior Miss Spotlight and my Dad!

Over the next two days Liv and her friends had a fantastic weekend together and the team danced and scored exceptionally well.  For all of the moms and dads in the audience our hearts burst with pride and happiness watching our confident girls, making this one of the most memorable Mother's Day's ever.

Arriving home Sunday evening with a hungry family in tow, I racked my brain for something quick to make.  Remembering the bottle of K.C. Materpiece Hot Buffalo Marinade I had received from Foodbuzz as a part of the Tastemaker Program, I pulled out pizza dough and chicken.  A quick dip into the marinade had the chicken flavored and I tossed it onto the grill to cook.  Slicing a few onions and red peppers I grilled them until tender and then rolled out my pizza dough.

Place the dough directly on the hot grill grates

Loving my grill as I do, I usually grill my pizzas - "no muss, no fuss".  A quick rest on the hot grill grate gives one side of the dough a head start.  I take the dough off the grill, placing it onto a rimless cookie sheet sprinkled with semilina flour where I dress it with sauces and toppings.  This evening though, had me without any prepared sauce but with a bottle of the Hot Buffalo Marinade.  Hmmm... spreading a thin layer of the marinade over the dough I topped the pizza with shredded cheese and the recently grilled marinated chicken and veggies.  Returning the pizza to the grill, covering and lowering the heat we had a piping hot pizza in about 7 minutes!

Return "dressed" pizza to grill, lower heat and cover

Smiling eyes greeted me as I served up the pie.  With flavors reminiscent of buffalo wings, a slight spice cut by the melted cheese and a good amount of veggies, this pizza reminded me of a recent email from Foodbuzz asking featured publishers to enter baseball-themed recipes to Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner's efforts in the Save the Children program.  Save the Children’s Early Childhood Education, Literacy, and Physical Activity and Nutrition programs reached more than 50,000 children in the United States last year alone. Combined with their Emergency Response work, they reached more than 60,000 children.  Simply by entering this recipe Frigidaire will donate a dollar to the cause, and if you visit the Make Time for Change site and take a turn at virtual batting you can help too!


Our Buffalo Chicken Pizza seems to be the ideal tailgate food!  With a portable Smoky Joe at the field you could easily prepare this cheesy pizza for a pre-game snack.  Don't want to grill there??  The slightly spicy pizza is just as good snacked on when cold... and might I add it goes nicely with a cold beer.

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Liv Life

KC Masterpiece Hot Buffalo Marinade
Shredded cheese (we use pre-shredded cheese fro Trader Joe's)
1 boneless, skinless, breast of chicken
1 pizza dough (I use this one)
veggies of your choice (we used grilled onion and red pepper)
avocado
cilantro


Marinate chicken in KC Masterpiece marinade for 30 minutes.  Preheat grill to medium high heat.  Grill chicken until done.

Roll out pizza dough.  Place the dough on the medium hot grill grates and grill for about 1 1/2 minutes.  Remove from grill by "scooping" with a rimless baking sheet (or a pizza peel!).  Flip to grilled side up and spread out a thin layer of the KC Masterpiece marinade.  Top with your favorite cheese and grilled veggies.  Cut the chicken into small pieces and scatter on top of the pizza.  Slide pizza carefully onto one side of the hot grill.  Turn the heat on that side to low, cover and grill for 4-7 minutes or until cheese is melted, checking every so often to make sure the bottom is not burning.

Alternatively, the pizza may be baked in an oven, follow your favorite recipe for temps and times.


Allow to cool for a minute or two and cut into slices.  Top with your favorite condiments, I like diced avocado and chopped cilantro.


Enjoy!

Note:  If desired, sprinkle semolina flour onto the peel or rimless cookie sheet before you "dress" the pizza for easier sliding onto the grill.

Safe, Sane & Single, this tap number has you laughing till you cry!