Mushroom Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pastry Pizza

This is a great appetizer idea for buffets, paired with a great salad, or as a rich and savory side dish to any meal.   Of course you can replace the goat cheese for a combination of Gruyere and Grated Parmesan. Use your imagination and get creative by adding some ingredients ideas of your own.  Chopped anchovies, capers, or olives work very well with the caramelized onion and mushroom flavors.

I buy use puff pastry that is "pre-rolled".  You could also replace the puff pastry with a thinly rolled pizza dough, or a canned refrigerator pastry like Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.

Ingredients...

• 1 Defrosted sheet of Puff Pastry dough
• 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 Large Sweet Onions sliced very thin
• 2 pounds sliced or chopped Mushrooms
• 2 Cloves of Garlic, minced
• 3 ounces soft Goat Cheese
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Here's how you do it...

For the puff pastry:

1. Place the rolled out Puff Pastry dough on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Create an edge on the pastry by rolling it over slightly and pressing with a fork.
2. Pierce the dough with a fork every couple of inches to prevent bubbles from forming.
3. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from oven.

For the topping:

1. Heat a frying pan to medium.
2. Add Olive Oil.
3. Add thinly sliced Onion and stir every minute or so, cook until translucent.
4. Reduce the heat and continue to cook for about 25 minutes until golden.
5. Add the minced Garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
6. Add the sliced Mushrooms and cook until they no longer look raw.
7. Season with Salt & Pepper to taste.
8. Spread the onion/garlic/mushroom mixture on the pastry but leave about 1/2 inch border.
9. Sprinkle on the crumbled Goat Cheese.
10. Bake for an additional 10 min or until the crust is golden and  the cheese has melted.
11. Cut with a pizza cutter.
12. Serve and enjoy.