Recipe: Jumpin' Jack N' Pepper Pizzas

1995 Bays English Muffins
"Pizza Amore" Recipe Contest Winner

Jumpin' Jack N' Pepper Pizzas

Makes 12 pizzas

6 Bays English Muffins, split
Black Bean Spread (recipe follows)
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers
1 red pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded, chopped
1 yellow pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded, chopped
1 green pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded, chopped
10 green onions, chopped
12 jumbo black pitted olives, chopped
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
1 large avocado, peeled, seeded, chopped
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
Sour cream

Bake muffin halves at 450 degrees F, on a baking stone or a baking sheet until crisp, about 5 minutes; remove. Evenly spread Black Bean Spread over each muffin half. Sprinkle on Monterey Jack cheese. In small bowl, stir together peppers, onions, olives and cilantro. Spoon on top of cheese. Top each with a few pieces of avocado. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes. Bake at 450 degrees F, about 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Black Bean Spread

1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup plum tomatoes, seeded, chopped
2 dashes hot pepper sauce

In food processor, purée beans and garlic until smooth. Stir in tomatoes and hot pepper sauce. Set aside.

Tips For Winning Recipes Contests

What's the trick to winning a recipe contest? There's no doubt that if the recipe is not wonderful and delicious, it won't win, no matter how you present it. However, here are some helpful hints to keep your recipe in the running and help you get to the cook-off:

Be creative in naming your recipe. Whet the judges' appetites by making your recipe actually sound like it tastes.
Follow current food trends. For instance, recipes for foods lower in fat and sodium may fare better than those loaded with cholesterol.
Follow directions to the letter! Send exactly what the official rules specify. "Extras" (like photos, videos, essays) included with the entry will not alter or influence judges' scoring.
Be neat and make your recipe easily readable.
Be imaginative and use the key ingredient in unusual, yet appropriate ways.

Provided by Bays English Muffins

This page originally published as a FoodDay article in 1997.