GINA You could easily order pizza for delivery, but why not have flat-bread instead, and cut it into little squares? You can just buy the dough from your local grocer (or your local pizzeria, if you ask nicely) and add in all the other ingredients. Ripe figs will turn your traditional pizza into an amazing party favorite. We absolutely love this dish: it’s hearty yet light, fruity, and flavorful. If you find the taste of blue cheese too strong, you can always substitute a mild goat cheese, which has a creamy tang that also goes well with the figs. We add the handfuls of fresh arugula to the flatbread while it’s still hot, to add a pop of bright peppery flavor and color.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4

　　All-purpose flour, for work surface

　　1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature

　　1/4 cup olive oil

　　Pinch of crushed red-pepper flakes

　　Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

　　6 figs, sliced into thin wedges

　　2 large handfuls baby arugula

　　4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a large, heavy sheet tray with nonstick spray.

　　

Step 2

Lightly flour your work surface. Stretch and roll your pizza dough into an oval shape about 12 inches long and 7 inches wide. Brush the dough with a bit of olive oil, and season with red-pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

　　

Step 3

Toss the figs with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper. Top the dough with half the arugula and all of the figs, and sprinkle with the blue cheese. Drizzle with just a bit more olive oil. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the dough is puffed and crisp and the cheese has melted. Remove the pan from the oven, and top with another handful of arugula. Slice across into pieces.

　　Reprinted with permission from The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook by Pat and Gina Nelly. Copyright © 2011 by Pat and Gina Nelly with Anna Volkwein. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Pat and Gina Neely are restaurateurs, best-selling authors, popular speakers, and hosts of the Food Network hit series Down Home with the Neelys. They recently opened their first New York City restaurant, Neely's Barbecue Parlor. They live with their daughters in Memphis, where they enjoy cooking at home with family and friends.Ann Volkwein is a best-selling food and lifestyle author based in New York City and Austin, Texas. Her previous books include: The Arthur Avenue Cookbook, Chinatown New York, Mixt Greens (with Andrew Swallow), and, with Guy Fieri: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; More Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; and Guy Fieri Food.