Pizza. Pizza.

Mr. Hawthorne wanted pizza the other night and said he'd make it if I'd do the crust part, so here's another pizza for you folks. This is for any newbies out there who've just stumbled onto my blog and want to know how to do a simple bread dough.

1 package of yeast in 1/2 warm water

1 TB of sugar over top of the yeast and mix

Wait until the yeast proofs (gets all bubbly and foamy) so you know it's active.

Add in 1 egg.

1 TB olive oil

salt and pepper

I added in the flour 1/4 cup at a time, stirring, until I got this gloppy mess, which I turned out onto my floured board. Probably 1 3/4 cups flour.

Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, adding a little flour if needed (if the dough starts sticking).

Here's my tip for rising dough: Take a wet towel, nuke it for 60-90 seconds, and surround your bowl with it. I leave it in the microwave. The heat and steam help the dough rise quicker.

Let rise until doubled in bulk. This took about an hour.

Then I turned it over to Mr. Hawthorne. Notice he only used 1/2 the dough. Wrap up the leftover dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for later use.

Now, Mr. Hawthorne didn't take the time I would have to spread out the dough. He's impatient that way. But when I'm spreading the dough, I start in the middle and press it out evenly in all directions, then I stop and let the dough rest for a few minutes, then I come back to it. Press and rest. Press and rest. When you get the dough spread out pour a little olive oil on top. This will give you a nice crisp crust.

Blot off some of the excess.

Mr. Hawthorne is getting his toppings ready - broccoli, parsley, basil, and let's not forget 4 - count 'em - FOUR- remote controls. I don't recall ever seeing remote controls in my mise en place, do you?

Pizza dough went into a 450 degree oven to brown.

Watch it closely. If it starts to rise like it's doing here, just take a fork to it and prick it.

Mr. Hawthorne had made a simple tomato sauce topping for the pizza. All you need is a can of tomato sauce, maybe chopped tomatoes, and some seasoning - oregano, sage, thyme. If you like you could've sauteed some chopped onions and peppers first then added the tomato.

Mr. Hawthorne topped the pizza with cheese and broccoli florets.

And he's taking the first two asparagus spears from my garden to put on the pizza.

Tomato slices went on.

Lastly, artichoke bottoms. And more cheese.

Back into the 450 degree oven until the cheese is melted.

And here's our crispy-crust, veggie pizza.

A day or two later I took out the other half, kneaded it, placed it in an oiled oven-proof bowl to rise, brushed with an egg wash (1 egg and 1 TB water), sprinkled with coarse salt, and baked it in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.