Pizza! Pizza!

I haven't had a pizza in quite some time

but that's going to change today.

Let's make pizza!

First, proof your yeast.

Sprinkle a package of yeast over a cup of warm water,

then sprinkle about a tablespoon of sugar over the yeast.

Stir to combine.

And wait.

When the mixture gets foamy, it's ready to go.

I added in about 2 cups of bread flour.

And about a tablespoon of olive oil.

Turn it out on a lightly floured board

and let it rest for about 20 minutes.
This rest is important.
It helps develop the flavor and texture.

After the rest, knead it for about 10-15 minutes,

adding a little flour if the dough is too sticky.

Form into a ball

and place in an oiled bowl.

Cover and let rise until doubled.

I believe this has more than doubled.

It's good to go.

Punch down!

Start spreading out the dough on your baking pan.
You might want to sprinkle a little flour on your pan

so the dough has something to pull on.

This takes a while.
Spread it some,
 starting in the middle and pressing outward,
then let it rest a few minutes.

Come back in a few minutes and spread out some more.

Keep resting and spreading.
Rest and spread.
Rest and spread..
No rush.
Let the dough gently rise and develop its flavor.
The slower this process is, the better.
The flavor of the final product only gets richer.

While this is going on,
start on the sauce:
1 small can of tomato sauce
2 TB chopped onion
2 TB chopped pepper
1 garlic clove, minced

I sweated the onion, pepper, and garlic
in a little olive oil,
then added in the tomato sauce,
some oregano, and heated through.

Sauté some sliced shrooms in butter and oil.

Never, ever salt your mushrooms.
Salting brings out the moisture
and the shrooms will steam, not brown.
Salt to taste after sautéing.

I always nuke my pepperoni slices on a paper towel
and blot the excess grease off.
Else all that grease goes into your pizza.

I baked the crust in a 400° oven until nicely browned.

Added some grated mozzarella for the first layer.

Ladle the sauce over top.

I like a light sauce.

Place pepperonis on top.

Sliced onions.

Green peppers, shrooms, sliced tomatoes.

Add the cheeses - cheddar and mozzarella.

I'm in the "you can't have too much cheese" camp.

400° oven until cheese is nice and bubbly
and pizza is heated through.
About 15 - 20 minutes.
I do mine on a pizza stone.

Mr. Hawthorne uses his new Zyliss pizza cutter he got for Christmas.

Red pepper lovin'.

I love a good homemade pizza!

 

There's nothing better than a good homemade pizza!