Last year, after a trip to Myrtle Beach with a friend, we detoured by Wilmington, North Carolina, on the way back and I had the most wonderful dish at a restaurant right on the water. I can’t remember what they called it, but it was basically strips of french bread pizza with olive oil, shrimp, peppers, and cheese. It was soooo delicious. I’ve been making french bread pizza for a long time, but I’d never made it with quite that combination before and I just loved it. Since then, it’s really become one of my favorite comfort foods.
Now because I am such a bread-baking fanatic, I have to go on for a moment about the wonders of fresh-baked homemade french bread and how nothing can compare. I just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say that and then you’d all be saying, “SUZANNE, what is wrong with you?” and you’d be disappointed. And of course it’s true and it’s so easy to make homemade bread and it’s soooo good.
But, I want to say that if you can’t, just can’t, bring yourself to make homemade french bread, you can buy some french bread and still make this recipe. And I won’t think anything bad about you, I promise.
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How to make Shrimp French Bread Pizza:
I’m not going to give specific quantities here because it all depends on how many different ingredients you’re adding and how many loaves of french bread you’re using (not to mention the size of the loaves). On this occasion, I made three loaves of french bread. I have big kids who are big eaters! And they love french bread pizza. I started out by frying peppered bacon. When that was ready, I set it aside to drain while I sauteed some chopped onions, then drained that as well and sauteed some medium-sized shrimp. I cooked the shrimp a pretty good while to let it soak up the bacon and onion juices and develop a nice golden glaze.
Next, slice the french bread loaves in half horizontally. Drizzle olive oil and spread with a spoon or fork to get an even coverage. I like to sprinkle on some garlic powder at this point. Yum! Garlic gets me all excited….
Add shredded swiss cheese first, then layer on the onion, bacon, and shrimp. I wasn’t using any peppers this time, so I thought it needed some decorating. I threw on some dried chives for fun. Now bake in a 375-degree oven for about 15 minutes, slice into handy pieces, and you have a fabulously easy meal that looks and tastes like it came from a gourmet restaurant!
I like this in so many combinations. Mushroom, onion, and swiss. Bacon, onion, and swiss. Sausage. Ground beef. Peppers. (Notice I really love swiss cheese….but any cheese that is your favorite works, too.) For a different take, use a tomato-based sauce and make a more traditional french bread pizza with pepperoni slices and mozzarella. It’s all good! I could eat it every day, with Chocolate Lava Cakes for dessert! (Speaking of comfort food!! CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES.)
Variation: try Shrimp Toast!
See this recipe at Farm Bell Recipes and save it to your recipe box.
Kim A. says:
I want to come over for lunch. I’ll even help you pack, clear clutter, whatever. (Note: I excel at clearing out clutter. I love to do it and am merciless.)
Suzanne, have you thought about publishing a cookbook? I know others have suggested this. If not in print, what about an e-cookbook, in PDF, for a “nominal” fee? (I’m trying to think of ways you can make money here. LOL.)
BTW, my comfort foods involve sugar and chocolate. And wine.
-Kim, who’s freezing her a$$ off here :cold:
On February 27, 2008 at 5:42 am
Blessed says:
Yummy!
My comfort foods – hamburger patties in mushroom gravy over rice, coffee, chocolate, hot tea.
I love your recipes and your blog!
On February 27, 2008 at 8:09 am
MARY says:
:butterfly: Chicken Paprikas!!!! A Czechoslovak meal which is basically chicken and dumplings with paprika and sour cream. It is SOOOOOOOO delish!!! Besides my father, I’m the only one left who knows how to make it. My relatives would request this dish when they visited. I can taste it right now! LOL!! You’re making me hungry again!!!!! :purr:
On February 27, 2008 at 8:12 am
Robin G. says:
Mmmm. That looks delicious.
If it’s winter, my comfort food is stroganoff.
If it’s summer, my comfort food is mozzarella and garden tomatoes.
If it’s family related, my comfort food is fried chicken.
If it’s stress related, my comfort food is a pitcher of Guinness.
On February 27, 2008 at 8:43 am
Jill S. says:
My comfort food is chili con carne melted with cream cheese, and a whole bag of Fritos . . . Great. Now I’m hungry. Must shovel snow first so there’s no guilt involved.
On February 27, 2008 at 9:45 am
CRockStar Wannabe says:
Wow!! That looks so good! You, and you alone, have rescued me from my fear of baking. I have made your French Bread, Italian style, 2-3 times a week! I have never made bread before because I couldn’t even make cookies without something going wrong. My girls ages 7 and 9 even made 2 loaves a piece with me just supervising. Your recipes are so simple and so good. I cannot wait to try this one. Thank you!!
My comfort food is potatoes……anything with potatoes.
On February 27, 2008 at 11:25 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
That’s so neat to hear about your daughters making bread! I have taught my daughter to make bread, too, and I think it’s just a neat thing to do with kids. And a neat thing about this particular recipe, especially with kids who can be picky sometimes, is that everybody can fix their own toppings. My daughter doesn’t like onions, so she always leaves the onions off her piece.
On February 27, 2008 at 11:31 am
lintys says:
Those look yummy! I think they’d be a hit with my husband.
My mom and I baked bread when I was a kid, and I baked bread with my daughters when they were kids. Wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.
Bread making, cooking, and eating can be be such sensuous, loving, life-affirming experiences.
Today I’ll be trying your cornbread!
On February 27, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Brandy says:
If only there wasn’t shrimp on that……*g*. My favorite comfort food is chicken paprika and I can’t believe someone else likes it too! And Brownies. Or cake. *g*
On February 27, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Susan says:
That looks and sounds delicious! I love homemade bread, it’s the best. :yes:
On February 27, 2008 at 2:31 pm
RhondaL says:
Wow — that looks great! And easy, too.
On February 27, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Estella says:
Yum!
On February 27, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Elle says:
Burying my face in a trough of gooey brownies sounds pretty comforting sometimes.
BTW, I love your cats!! :purr:
On February 27, 2008 at 4:39 pm
kaye says:
You always have such great recipes here. Write a cookbook. It would sell I’m sure of it. Romance your food… Cooking with Suzanne…
On February 27, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Kathy In UT says:
Hi! I just started reading your blog and I love it! My dh grew up in Parkersburg, not too far from you. I think WV is beautiful.
On February 27, 2008 at 7:37 pm
catslady says:
Two blogs in a row talking about food – I’m soooo hungry now! If I had to pick one food it’s pizza – I love all pizza (anchovies too) and yours looks fantastic. Again it’s something I used to make and now I’ve gotten lazy and buy take out :fryingpan:
On February 27, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Maryann says:
It looks like you love onions too 😆 I will have to try this one but I think I will substitute roasted garlic for the onions.
On February 28, 2008 at 3:19 pm
coquet's cache says:
aaah wonderful Wilmington. Can’t wait to go back. The recipe looks mouthwatering good.
On February 29, 2008 at 1:32 am
Donna says:
Looks DIVINE..YUM…being as I hate to cook, I appreciate all the effort that goes into it…I don’t see HOW you do all that you do, with the farm, children AND cooking and baking. Wow..wish I had your zeal and energy. LOL But, I guess it is not hard to do what you love to do…for some reason, I HATE rolling things out…be it cookies, biscuits or anything…but I do…it’s worth the effort.
On April 22, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Donna says:
My comfort foods are def. hot rolls, or hot bread, such as yours (French bread…) and cakey things..I seem to gravitate to cake, esp. chocolate..and chocolate ANYTHING. I have tried to like dark chocolate, but am NOT liking it..LOL I am not very fond of white chocolate either.
So, creamy soups, hot rolls, cakey things/bars…yep. YUM
On April 25, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Katherine says:
Hi!,Jusy wanted to let U know I Love ur site,hope i can come here again! I love ur recipe and as a Cajun girl I know it’ll be good.when u have time can you tell me where I can get these adorable little emoticons to add to my web pages? (I have a son N the Navy & would like to use them in my emails)Thanks Kat & God Bless!
On August 25, 2008 at 10:27 am
Ervin Boak says:
My boy love baking with me or with his grandma. I am quite happy about that and I really enjoy lookng smile during cooking food.
On January 20, 2011 at 12:48 am