We've had a pizza stone for over 2 years and never used it. I decided it was time to use it or get rid of it. After seeing rave reviews for it on line, I got excited about giving it a chance. We also had a tried and true recipe from a friend, at least tried and true by her, SO I gave it a whirl.
I was VERY nervous about using the stone and cooking a pizza from scratch, since as everyone knows from scratch cooking is "so hard" and destined to fail. (Keep reading for more on that oh so common assumption).
Well, it wasn't hard at all and turned out DELICIOUS! We've had many pizza's since and will have to be excessively tired and have an INORDINATE craving for pizza to EVER order one again! (In other words, I'd have to be pregnant ;).
My husband has often mentioned when buying pizza that the profit margin is ridiculous! It is SO CHEAP to make pizza. We got a big pack of pepperoni and keep it in the freezer, always have leftover sauce (enough for 3 or 4 more pizzas), and as long as we're not out of flour, only have to refresh our mozzarella cheese supply after we've cooked 2 or 3 pizzas. It's become a quick, easy recipe around here because we almost always have all the ingredients around. As long as you think ahead of time so that that the dough has time to rise, you're good to go!
Here's the perfect recipe:
Crust:
1 cup warm water (to prep yeast)
1 packet or TB of active dry yeast
3TB white sugar
3TB olive oil
2.5 c. bread flour
2 tsp. minced garlic
.5tsp. dried oregano
.5 tsp. dried basil leaves
1. Combine water, olive oil, sugar, salt in large bowl. Add flour, then sprinkle garlic on flour...lastly add yeast. Stir together until all clumped together.
2. Dump onto powdered surface and knead until "elasticy". As you knead the dough sprinkle on oregano and basil until it suits your color and taste. Put in large greased bowl and let rise until at least double in size.
3. Preheat oven to 475. Roll out dough on large oiled pizza pan/stone. Place the dough on pan and add your choice of toppings.
4. Bake 12 minutes, or until golden brown. (12 has been the magic number for us!)
Sauce (Stay tuned for how this sauce has forever changed my cooking and shopping!)
2 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz plum, stewed, or diced tomatoes (one can or 2 cups of diced fresh tomatoes)
2TB olive oil
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1tsp. dried oregano
1tsp. dried basil
salt and pepper
Heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, sauce, oregano, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until thickened, about 20 minutes.
Following you from the Cloth Diaper Bloggers...that pizza looks great! I might have to try it!
ReplyDeleteJennie
I also add dried basil and oregano to my pizza crust - delicious!
ReplyDeleteAlso, a note about pizza sauce. I make my own, and when you've got all that tomato sauce / tomatoes / spices, you can sneak in practically every vegetable and on one will notice. I've done grated carrots, zucchini, even some eggplant bits (strained when I made babaganoush), onions, garlic, mushrooms, and even cauliflower cut finely! Seriously, it just hides in the sauce and under the cheese. Just don't use too much of any one vegetable - I use a combination and I cook it well. My husband and son actually love vegetables, but for me it means I don't have to worry about cutting a big salad - the vegetables are already on the pizza :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of mixing in other veggies!! Gonna try that..thanks!! I actually did just get inspired with another easy sewing project...I'll post it soon! Thanks for stopping by!!!!!
ReplyDelete