1. Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up—it helps achieve that perfect crispy crust that Mama Lou always aimed for.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook the hot Italian sausage, breaking it into bite-sized pieces as it browns. This should take about 6-8 minutes. Once cooked, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
3. In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil and sauté the minced garlic and sliced red onions for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
4. Stretch or roll your pizza dough out on a floured surface to about 12 inches in diameter. Transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet or a pizza peel if you’re using a stone.
5. Brush the dough lightly with olive oil. This little trick adds a golden crispness to the crust edges—Mama Lou swore by it.
6. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough, then scatter the cooked sausage and sautéed onions and garlic on top.
7. Top with the remaining mozzarella and crumbled feta cheese. The feta doesn’t melt fully, creating lovely pockets of creamy tanginess.
8. If you like extra heat, sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the top now.
9. Slide the pizza into the oven (onto the stone if you have one) and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
10. Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle with the honey. The warmth helps the honey seep into the cheese and sausage, creating that signature sweet-spicy interplay.
11. Finish with freshly ground black pepper and scatter fresh basil leaves on top for a fragrant, fresh touch.
12. Let the pizza rest for a couple of minutes before slicing. This pause allows the flavors to meld and the cheese to set just enough for perfect slices.

One of my fondest memories is sharing this pizza with Ouma after a long day. We’d sit on the porch, sharing stories and bites, the honey glistening under the evening light, just like Mama Lou’s kitchen warmth lingering in our hearts.