Mega Meatball Pizza and Zippy Italian Popcorn

Ingredients

• Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• for drizzling
• plus 2 tablespoons
• 1 pizza dough
• store-bought or from your favorite pizza shop
• A palmful of all-purpose flour or cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary (a couple of sprigs)
• Coarse salt
• 1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin
• 1 medium onion
• finely chopped
• 4 to 6 garlic cloves
• finely chopped
• Coarsely ground black pepper
• to taste
• 1 3-ounce can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• A handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley
• chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 pound fresh mozzarella or brick mozzarella
• sliced or grated
• 1 package reduced-fat natural-flavor microwave popcorn
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder or granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (a handful)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425F.
2. Drizzle a round pizza pan or a rectangular baking sheet with EVOO.
3. Dust the dough with flour or cornmeal, then spread out the dough to form your crust.
4. Poke the pizza dough in several places with the tines of a fork.
5. Drizzle the dough with EVOO, then season it with the rosemary and a little salt.
6. Bake for 10 minutes.
7. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
8. Add the 2 tablespoons of EVOO (twice around the pan), then the meat.
9. Brown and crumble the meat for a couple of minutes, then add the onions and garlic.
10. Season the meat with salt and pepper, then work in the tomato paste using the back of a wooden spoon.
11. Stir in the cheese, parsley, and oregano.
12. Remove the pizza crust from the oven and top with the meat mixture.
13. Arrange the cheese over the pizza, working from the center to the outside edge.
14. Return the pizza to the oven and bake until the cheese is golden, another 10 to 12 minutes.
15. Microwave the popcorn according to the package instructions.
16. Place the popped corn in a bowl.
17. Combine the butter and spices in a small cup or bowl and microwave for 10 to 15 seconds on High or until the butter melts.
18. Stir and pour over the popcorn, then sprinkle it with grated cheese.
19. Cut the pizza into wedges and serve with the popcorn.