Italian Bake

My son was coming home for supper and I thought he would like this dish. He loved it although he requested a tomato soup gravy to go with it. Add a salad and you have a wonderful meal.
This reminds me of shepherd's pie pizza style but with a puffy golden dough topping instead of mashed potatoes.

Dough:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 cup warm water

1. Pulse dry ingredients in a food processor. With motor running add water and oil just until mixture forms a ball.
2. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth..about 10 turns.
3. Place in an oiled bowl, cover and let rest for 15 minutes.

Filling:

• 1 1/2 lean ground beef
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup green peppers, chopped..I used red, green, and orange for color
• 1/2 cup of mushrooms, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups zesty spaghetti sauce or use your favorite tomato based sauce
• 2/3 cups pepperoni, chopped
• 1/4 cup olives, chopped..optional..I used olives but then omitted the salt
• 3 cups of shredded cheese..tex mex is our favorite blend
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 8 to 10 pepperoni slices for the top
• Sprinkle of Italian Seasoning
• Your choice of fresh chopped herbs..optional

1. Crumble ground beef into a frying pan, add garlic and seasonings. Stir until beef is browned.
2. Add peppers, mushrooms and sauce.
3. Stir in cornstarch, chopped pepperoni, olives, and 2 cups of the cheese and cook for a few more minutes, until bubbly.
4. Pour beef mixture into an 11" x 7" baking dish. (approx size)
5. Roll out dough to fit over the meat mixture.
6. Bake at 400º for 20 minutes.
7. Then sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top and arrange pepperoni slices over the cheese. Sprinkle a little Italian seasoning over all and bake for another 10 minutes till cheese is melted and pepperoni slices turn up at the edges.
8. If you like sprinkle fresh chopped herbs on top..it does make the dish look pretty.
9. Place dish on cooling rack and wait a few minutes before serving.
10. Yield: 8 servings

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