Homemade Pizza

Mmmm - we decided to make pizza Tuesday night.

While I was in Seattle, my mom was in charge of a Young Women's activity where they made pizza using this dough (Natalie's recipe). I figured, if 12-year-old girls can make this, I should be able to!

It was a little challenging since we don't have a lot of counter space to roll out the dough, but with the old Bosch Rod's grandmother handed down, it saved 6 minutes of kneading by hand!

Here is Rod diligently sprinkling the remaining cheese over the top (while I was on the phone with Jeremy) Here's me: "Hey, I know - Let's make pizza! Oh, and by the way, I'll be on the phone so you go ahead and finish that up". Luckily Rod didn't mind - he knows I never pass up a phone call from family - and the hardest part (the dough) was already finished. Whatever I can say to make myself feel better!

We used Canadian Bacon, sliced black olives and freshly diced tomotoes.

Before

After

Delish

The only thing I would have changed was cooking it on a pizza stone or other slotted pizza pan (we just used cookie sheets). Although it was done, it wasn't crispy, and I like a crispy crust. Other than that, it was a fun treat!


Basic Pizza Dough
This makes two 12 inch thin crust pizzas or four 8 inch thin crust pizzas
1 T active dry yeast
1 c warm (105-115 degrees) water
2 T olive oil
1 T honey
1/4 t salt
3-4 cups flour or half white and half whole wheat

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

1. Mix the yeast and water in a small bowl, cover, and let stand until foamy, 5-10 min.
2. Mix the oil, honey, salt, and yeast mixture in a lg bowl. Add 1 c of flour at a time, up
to 3 cups, mixing well after each addition. You may have to stir in the 3rd cup of flour by hand, depending on your machine. Or mix in all 3 cups of flour by hand with a wooden spoon. If the dough seems too wet, mix in more flour, 1/4 c at a time until the dough is soft. After this is done, I put on the kneading attachment to my KitchenAid and let it knead the dough for 6 min.
3. Lightly grease pizza pan or a cookie sheet with oil. If you are making two or more thin crust pizzas, divide the dough. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough on a floured surface. Gently stretch the dough to fill the pan.
4. Let the dough rise (it will not rise very much) while you make the sauce. (This can be like for 5-10 min.)
5. Place the prepared pizza dough in the pan and spread the sauce over the crust.
6. Sprinkle on 2 1/2 c of the shredded mozzarella cheese and place the meat or vegetables of your choice on the cheese. Top with the remaining 1/2 c of cheese.
7. Bake 15-20 min on the lowest oven rack.


Easy Pizza Sauce
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1/2 t dried basil or oregano
1/4 t garlic salt
1/8 t ground black pepper
Pinch of sugar
Mix the tomato sauce, basil, garlic salt, and pepper in a small bowl.