Taco Pizza & Fresh Salsa

We just found out this week that we'll be moving to El Paso, Texas this summer!  We are very excited about my husband's new job and for the opportunity to move back to good ol' Texas!  El Paso is right on the border of Mexico, so for this week's Pizza post, we're heading south of the border.  Okay, so this isn't exactly authentic Mexican food.  We'll call it Mexican inspired.  This one is definitely a hit with the kid crowd.  They love it!  I love the yummy salsa that tops it off.  I like to use a runny, store bought salsa to spread on the dough as the "pizza sauce".  You'll definitely want to make this salsa to top it off with though.  And make sure you have some tortilla chips to eat with the extra salsa.  Enjoy the fiesta!

INGREDIENTS
For Pizza:
1 uncooked pizza crust*
1 cup store bought salsa
1 lb. ground beef
½ package taco seasoning
salt and pepper
2 cups mexican blend shredded cheese
2 cups nacho flavored Doritos - crushed
Sliced Olives
homemade salsa (see below)

For Salsa:
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup bell peppers, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
handful fresh cilantro - chopped
salt, to taste
1/2 tsp lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS
I always use my favorite homemade pizza crust* but you can use a store bought crust if you want.  (These directions are for the homemade crust.  Follow the baking directions that come with your crust, if you choose to use something else.)  Preheat oven to 500.  Place pizza stone (best choice) or pan in oven to preheat with the oven.  Brown the ground beef with taco seasoning, salt and pepper. Take off heat and set aside.  Roll out pizza dough on parchment paper.  Spread store bought salsa evenly over crust.  Top with the hamburger mixture. Add cheese and olives.  Carefully pull the hot stone or pan out of the oven, slide the parchment paper with the pizza onto the pan. Return to the oven and bake for 8 minutes.  Mix the salsa ingredients together while the pizza bakes. Set aside.  Remove pizza from oven and add crushed Doritos to the top of the pizza. Return to oven and bake for 2 more minutes.  Remove from oven and brush crust with olive oil, let set a few minutes before cutting. Top with freshly made salsa.

*This pizza crust recipe makes enough dough for 2 pizzas.

Source:  Recipes, Food & Cooking