Walnut, Caramelized Onion, and Kale Pizza

I'm not even sure how long it's been since I've posted a recipe.  Not that we haven't been cooking and trying out new stuff, but things do get crazy around here in both our houses.  This morning I was inspired by needing to use up several things before they spoiled. Store-bought pizza dough, big bag of kale, some onions that I caramelized a few days ago, and some walnuts that my kids and I shelled earlier this week. I ended up making a pizza at 10:00 in the morning. The sweetness of the onions counter the slight bitterness of the kale, and the combination of everything together made me think I was eating sausage.  Vegetarians, leave out the bacon.  For those who are trying to cut back on their bacon intake over the holidays, it's 1-2 slices for an entire pizza (20 x 13 inch)- more for flavoring than anything else.  Also consider using a third cheese, like blue cheese crumbles, smoked gouda, or gruyere. 

Caramelized Onion and Kale Pizza with Walnuts and Bacon

1 package premade pizza dough (Trader Joe's) or use your favorite recipe
1 medium onion, sliced thinly
1-2 slices of precooked bacon, chopped
1 T olive oil
2 cups kale, chopped
1 c spinach, chopped
2/3 c shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 c shredded parmesan cheese
1/3 c coarsely chopped walnuts
pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the dough according to directions.  I used a little bit of olive oil to press it out to fill the entire 20 x 13 inch pan that I used. (You could also use a dusting of flour) Poke some holes in the crust so you don't get a bunch of air bubbles. Prebake at 400 degrees for about 7-8 minutes.

Heat the olive oil in a pan for a minute on medium heat, and add the sliced onions. Patiently wait for them to brown, stirring occasionally.  You may want to turn the heat down to medium low if they are browning too quickly. Add the bacon and saute for about 30 more seconds, then set aside.

Once the crust is done, sprinkle the spinach and kale as a base layer, followed by the cheese, and the caramelized onions and bacon. Add a few turns of freshly ground pepper and sprinkle on the chopped walnuts. Bake at 400 degrees until the cheese is golden brown, about 8-10 minutes.

If chopping onions makes you cry, you can always try a snorkel mask.