Easy Pizza in a Pinch

Instructions

• To make the sauce, combine tomato sauce, garlic, 3 teaspoons herbs, paprika, salt and pepper in a sauce pan over medium-high heat.
• When sauce bubbles, reduce to a low simmer and stir. Cover and allow to simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes.
• Crumble Italian sausage in a pan and cook over medium heat until no longer pink, about 15 minutes. Drain over paper towels. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mix olive oil, garlic and 1 teaspoon herb blend in a small bowl.
• Open hot dog buns and arrange on sheet pans covered in foil.
• Separate buns in halves along the folds if you want to make 16 appetizers; leave whole if you want to make 8 pizzas.
• Brush the buns with the olive oil mixture.
• Toast buns in the oven for about 5 minutes, just until edges begin to brown.
• Remove pan from oven and spread each of the buns with the warm tomato sauce.
• Top with browned Italian sausage, pepperoni slices, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
• Return pan to the oven and bake at 400 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes or until cheeses are bubbling.
• Serve garnished with fresh oregano leaves and crushed red pepper, if desired.