I find it pretty amazing how some tastes and smells can stick in your brain for a lifetime. The scents and tastes that take you back to another place or time. I always find it a little creepy how I’m reminded of one of my grandmother’s neighbors in Inglis, Florida when I walk into a Vietnamese restaurant. It takes me back to summers spent at my Grandmother’s house on the river and befriending the only other child on the block – who happened to be Vietnamese although I don’t think I ever recognized that at the time.

In the same respect, I still havent forgotten the unique taste of a smoked mozzarella and asparagus Panini at Lucky 32 in Greensboro after a late night of work about 4 years ago. Since then I’ve paired smoked mozzarella with several things but never have gotten completely taken back until this weekend. The pizza was almost identical to my memory of that sandwich and it finally brought my love back for smoked mozzarella (since I’ve had a love/hate relationship during this quest!). I highly recommend this for a summer meal!

Grilled Asparagus and Smoked Mozzarella Pizza

Ingredients:

• half a store bought pizza dough
• half a bundle of asparagus
• 1 ball of smoked mozzarella
• extra caremelized onions (about 1/4 cup)
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Assembly: Roll out the dough fairly thin, brush with olive oil and throw on the grill about medium high. Once the bottom has crisped up, removed the pizza to a pan and add the asparagus to the grill (toss the asparagus into a bit of olive oil before). Grill until bright green and aldente. Remove asparagus and add dough back to the grill – crisp side up. Add mozzarella, asparagus (cut if you prefer) and onions. Close the grill until dough is cooked on top and cheese is melted. You may need to add the pizza to the oven to complete the cooking. Sprinkle with sea salt.