My Prince and son will be out today working hard plowing, snowblowing and shoveling. They do it all out of the kindness of their hearts … no monitary compensation, just the satisfaction of knowing they have done a good deed.
So today as they brave the cold, I'll be in the Kitchen … making my homemade pizza for them.
Grab your aprons and join me today making this fabulous treat!
Dough
- 3.5 cups all purpose flour (bread flour will give you a crispier crust) plus extra
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 package of active yeast
- 1.5 cups warm water (105-115 degrees)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus extra
- In a large mixture (I use a KitchenAide *love it!*) pour warm water, add yeast and let stand for 5 minutes to dissolve, you may have to stir it a touch after 5 minutes to finish to dissolving process.
- Add olive oil, sugar, salt and flour and mix for about a minute with standard mixing paddle.
- Remove paddle and replace with kneading hook, knead for 10 minutes. If you dough is sloppy add a little more flour
- Coat glass bowl with olive oil add roll dough in bowl, creating a ball completely covered with oil
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for about 1.5 hours, the dough should double in size.
- While the dough is rising make your sauce!
- one can of tomato sauce 8 oz can
- one can of tomato paste 6 oz can
- one small onion chopped or about 1/2 cup
- clove garlic
- bay left
- dried oregano, about a teaspoon*
- dried basil, about a teaspoon*
- salt, about a half teaspoon*
- two heaping tablespoons of Molasses (I love a sweet sauce!)
- olive oil
- butter about tablespoon*
- *I say 'about' because I never measure these! I've always done this by taste!
- In a large skillet over medium heat melt and blend with oil (couple tablespoons)
- Sauté onion and garlic until soft and smelling amazing!
- Reduce heat to medium low
- Add tomato sauce and paste, stir until well blended
- Bring to a simmer, I like to let this simmer for half hour … really infuses the flavor!
- Remove bay leaf … and your sauce is ready for that fabulous crust!
Finishing your crust and the topping ….
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees …
- Punch down the your dough and divide into two balls, and placed on a floured surface.
- Let balls rest for 10 minutes or so
- Working one ball at a time stretch and work dough into desired shape, if the dough is fighting you a bit let it rest for a few minutes.
- I like to bake my pizza on cookie sheets…. so I brush my cookie sheet with just a little bit of olive oil use this sparingly!
- Sprinkle a little corn meal … in a pinch I've used additional flour
- Place on cookie sheet and brush top of the dough with oil
- Let rest while you make prepare your second ball
- Spread sauce over dough … less is more here, too much sauce makes for a very soggy pizza!
- Finish off with desired cheese topping … I like Mozzarella & fresh shredded Parmesan they are a fabulous combo
- Add your additional toppings … and finish with a light additional layer of cheese
- Bake 10-15 minutes … this number will fluctuate depending on how thick your crust is, when sauce is bubbling and your crust is golden its done …
Enjoy ….
