Famous Maryland Chocolate Crab Pizza Recipes

WORLD FAMOUS MAMA MARIA'S BOOTLEGGER PIZZA

Steps:

• Dough:
• Sprinkle the yeast and sugar in the lukewarm water, let sit until yeast bubbles up (approximately 5 minutes). Add 3 1/2 cups of the flour and salt. Mix the dough and knead until smooth. Add more flour, if needed. Make into a ball. Put into a bowl, cover and let dough rise and double in volume, about 45 minutes.
• Pizza Sauce:
• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Put aside until pizza dough is ready.
• Cheese Topping:
• Toss cheeses together.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Once dough is risen, cut into 2 pieces and roll out to desired sizes. Top with sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings. Bake for 20 minutes, until crust is a golden brown.

"THE SOFTIE" SOFT-SHELL CRAB PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat a large saute pan over medium heat; add 1/4 cup olive oil. Place the leeks in the pan and cook slowly, stirring to prevent browning, until soft and wilted, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring the remaining 1 1/4 cups olive oil to a simmer in a small saucepot; add the garlic. Reduce heat to low and cook until garlic is soft but still white, an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to its highest temperature with a pizza stone inside; at least 450 degrees F.
• Once the dough is at room temperature, it should be soft and pliable and shouldn't shrink back when you press it. Flatten a ball into a disc. (It is okay if the flattened disc isn't perfectly round at this point.) Place disc on a well-floured work surface and stretch the dough by hand into an 8- to 9-inch round that is 1/4-inch-thick, not pressing out the air bubbles. Place on a pizza peel or dry cutting board layered with a sprinkle of semolina flour.
• To assemble the pizza, spread the garlic oil evenly over the dough with a 1-ounce ladle. Add 3/4 cup leeks over the garlic oil and spread evenly. Place a soft-shell crab in the center of the pizza. Transfer the pizza to the oven using a smooth, quick motion to slide the pizza from the peel or cutting board to the stone. Bake until crust is browned evenly, crab is crispy and juices are bubbling, 9 to 16 minutes. Remove from the stone with a pizza peel. Cut into slices and garnish with a sprinkle of seafood seasoning, fresh shaved Parmesan and parsley and serve with lemon wedges. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 1 more pizza. Enjoy.

FAMOUS ROAST GARLIC CRAB FOR FOUR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Heat the butter, olive oil and garlic in a very large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat until hot. You may need two pans for this. Add the crab, season to taste with salt and pepper and toss well.
• Transfer to the oven and roast until the garlic turns light brown and the crab is heated through (about 12 minutes). Toss once halfway through. Pour the contents of the pan into a large warm serving bowl, add the lemon juice and the parsley and toss well.

"WE NEED TO TALK" CHOCOLATE PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• After baking the dough, milk chocolate and white chocolate chunks should be sprinkled over the surface. Top with mini marshmallows, banana slices and peanut butter drizzle can also be added.
• Place pizza into oven for 3 to 5 minutes to melt the chocolate and marshmallows.
• Preheat oven at 450 degrees F.
• Measure out 1 3/4 cups warm water (it should be pleasantly warm on your wrist). Sprinkle the yeast on top of the water and allow it to activate, about 10 minutes.
• Put the salt and 2 cups of the flour into a food processor. Pulse 5 times to blend. Pour in the yeast and water and pulse 5 times. Add the olive oil. Add the remaining flour 1 cup at a time, pulsing and scraping the sides of the bowl until well blended. As soon as the mixture is combined, dump it out onto a well-floured board and knead for 15 turns, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Place the dough in a greased bowl and turn to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes, until doubled in size, then punch it down. Divide it in half; each half will make 1 (12-inch) pizza.
• Place on a cornmeal-dusted pizza stone, pizza pan, or cookie sheet. Roll up edge slightly to create a ridge around the pizza. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until crust is light brown.
• Cook's Note: If using only half dough, freeze the other half. Place the dough in a resealable freezer bag. To thaw, remove the bag from the freezer and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Roll the dough out while cold then allow it to come to room temperature before adding toppings.
• Yield: 2 (12-inch) pizzas
• Prep Time: 40 minutes
• Cook Time: 16 to 18 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 55 minutes
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2008 .