spinach & pesto pizza

here at nerd headquarters we love pizza. but not just any old pizza. great pizza. we're always on the lookout for the freshest, most delicious pizza we can find. there are a couple spots locally that we frequent, all of them favorites for different reasons. one has the best mozzarella- fresh, gooey, and plentiful. another has the yummiest crust, and another that's open 24 hours (which is great because the nerd works crazy hours) that has super fresh toppings. but our all time best spot for pizza is right here at home. i have yet to make the dough from scratch, and i really hate those pre-made pizza crusts that come in a bag, so i buy my dough from trader joe's. they carry three different types: plain, garlic and herb, and wheat. the garlic and herb is our fave.

1 bag trader joe's garlic & herb pizza dough
pesto of choice (i also get this from tj's)
handfull of fresh baby spinach, rinsed and dried
8 oz fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
1/2 tomato, thinly sliced
4-5 medium sized white mushrooms
1 small can black olives, sliced
about a dozen pepperoni slices

sandwich the tomato slices between paper towels to absorb the excess moisture. otherwise you'll end up with watery pizza.
prepare pizza dough according to package directions. spread pesto over dough, all the way to the edges. use as much or as little as you like, but keep in mind that while pesto is delicious, it can be overbearing if you use too much.
layer the pie with spinach, then the sliced mozzarella, saving one slice to grate over the top. add the tomato slices, mushrooms, black olives, and pepperoni. shred the remaining slice of mozzarella over the top of the pizza.

bake according to dough directions, 475 for about 10 minutes.
remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes. slice and serve.

this recipe never fails to please my nerd. sometimes we switch up the toppings, or use a tomato sauce instead of pesto, but it's always a hit, and we rarely have leftovers.