Posted by Rome News Tribune, GA on June 21, 2008 at 09:00:13:
Another recipe contest win for Lever
06/20/08
Rome’s Mary Louise Lever, whose recipes have won several national contests, is in the winner’s circle again. Her “Sweet Potato Pizza Pie Bellissima” won first place in the sweet category of the recent North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission “Get Fresh With Sweet Potatoes” contest.
She won $500 for the treat. The $3,000 grand prize went to Carol Edmundson of Brewster, Mass., who created a sweet potato, corn and shrimp chowder.
Here is Lever’s recipe:
Sweet Potato Pizza Pie Bellissima
Yield: 8 servings; Preparation: 15 minutes; Cook: 15 minutes; Bake: 10 minutes
Ingredients
3 cups peeled and diced North Carolina sweet potatoes
1 (12-inch) purchased 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
Making the pie
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.