When I lived in Boston, I shunned all chain restaurants. With endless choices for tasty local places, there was no need to ever step foot in a chain. Now with limited options, and the best chains in town being Olive Garden and Red Lobster (gahhhhh!), I could kill to eat at places like the Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang’s, California Pizza Kitchen. Places I didn’t even give a chance to when I had options.

Of the zillions of chains out there, CPK was always one of my favorites. I got to thinking about it the other day, and realized I could probably recreate my favorite CPK pizza, the tostada pizza, at home. I went to their website to check out the description, and went from there.

While perusing CPK’s pizza selection, I saw several other mouthwatering combinations that I’ll have to try. I see a lot of pizza in our near future. Especially since I am now the owner of not one, but TWO pizza stones (thanks Jaki and Mel!) which is perfect, since I always make pizza in twos.

Just like CPK’s Tostada Pizza

makes 2 pizzas

• 1 batch homemade pizza dough (or you could go with store-bought)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 1 to 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 2 scallions, sliced
• 2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
• 2 avocados, diced
• Ranch dressing

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. (If you have a pizza stone, preheat it in the oven). Stretch dough out onto 2 pizza pans (or on a paddle if you’re using pizza stones).

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add beans, cumin, chili powder and cayenne, and cook until beans begin to split.

Remove from heat and mash the beans lightly with a potato masher or fork.

Spread half the bean mixture on each pizza dough, then top each with half the cheese and half the scallions.

Bake until crust is crisp and just browning, about 15 minutes. Remove the pizzas from the oven and immediately top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and avocados.

Drizzle with ranch dressing and serve!

This pizza was freaking AWESOME! The dough may not have been as magical as CPK’s soft fluffiness (probably because I tried to be healthy and added some whole wheat), but the toppings were spot on. I always forget how easy pizza is to make and how it’s pretty much the best dinner ever. And it can be so much more than just red sauce and mozz. Definitely wishing this pizza wasn’t all gone already.