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1
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Adjust oven racks to the middle of the oven.
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2
Place a cast iron pizza stone or pan in the oven to heat for 1 hour.
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3
Blanch asparagus 1 minute in a large pot of boiling salted water, then remove and shock in a bowl of ice water.
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4
Drain well.
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5
Place asparagus in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
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6
Toss to combine well.
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7
Flour your work surface and roll the pizza dough into a 12-inch diameter.
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8
Carefully remove the cast iron pizza stone from the oven and put the dough on top.
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9
Ladle the sauce to cover the bottom of the pizza and top with mozzarella, red onion, bacon, and asparagus coins.
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10
Arrange the 8 whole pieces of asparagus fanned out from the center the pizza, like spokes on a bicycle.
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11
Bake until golden and crisp and the cheese has melted, about 20 to 25 minutes.
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12
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
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13
Add garlic slices, and red pepper flakes, and saute until the edges of the garlic begin to turn golden, about 3 minutes.
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14
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper and let simmer 15 minutes.
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15
Turn off the heat and stir in the torn basil.
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16
Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
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17
Cook's Note: Sometimes a pinch of sugar will help balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
