We love to make our own pizza. I am not sure if this really is so much related to my pizza days or managing a restaurant that had really good pizza as it is that big boxed pizza places just don't have good pizza anymore. Yes, it would be easier and quicker to just pick-up the phone and order. Yes, at the prices that these places no run specials at it would be a little cheaper too. But quality food and spending time together in the kitchen also counts for something. Oh yeah ... and there are plenty of ways this counts as a school lesson too.
Pizza making time is something we all participate in. I am in charge of making the dough and sauce. I have tried too many dough recipes to even think about counting. The one we currently use is the one we have stuck with for the last two years. We make our own sauce too. I just have never found a really good pizza sauce I prefer to buy. Besides if your making the crust, you might as well go all out for that good quality taste. The hubby's job is to make the actually pizza. He loves doing this and I love having the extra help. Penny job if you ask her is to just hang out and tell Daddy if he is doing something wrong to the pizza. Oh yeah and stealing little bits of cheese and lots of peperoni's when no one is looking, I wonder how long it will be till she catches on that she is also "getting schooled"?
The recipe follows and it is super easy to make. The one really cool think we like about this recipe is you don't have to wait for the dough to raise. All you need to do is fast proof if "MY WAY ". Here is how you do it: turn your dryer on while your making your dough so it gets nice and warm. When you have your dough all made ... turn your dryer off and set the bowl in the warm dryer. I even leave the clothes in if they are all the way dry for some added heat around the bowl. Wait about 10 minutes and your dough is ready to use. Bonus ... you get a load of clothes dried too. Please remember I did say turn the dryer off when you put the dough in the dryer. You laugh, but trust me I bet there is someone out there that would not.
PIZZA DOUGH
3-4 cups all-purpose flour (I have found it always takes 4 if you are making a larger pizza)
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tbs. oil (Canola oil is our preference, but vegetable oil could also be used)
1 tsp. salt
1 tbs. sugar or honey (we prefer the honey)
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
Activate the yeast in the water. Put all dry ingredients into your mixer Kitchen Aid mixer bowl (this can be done by hand .. just takes a little more muscle). Next add the oil and honey (if using sugar add it in with the dry ingredients). Make a well in your dry ingredients and pour the water/yeast mixture slowly in. Start mixing at a low speed. As it starts to hook on your paddle turn it up to medium. Mix just until mixture forms a ball. Take out of bowl and put into another bowl that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with a towel and fast proof your dough.
While dough is proofing make your sauce.
PIZZA SAUCE
1 - 15 oz can diced tomatoes (if you like a smokey taste use the Wood Fire style)
1 - 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 - 6 oz can of tomato paste
*Spices to your taste ... we use Garlic Powder, Garlic Salt, Onion Powder, Parsley Leaves and Italian Seasoning and a small amount of sugar)
Mix in your Kitchen Aid on low to medium until well combined.
Then it is time to stretch your dough and make your pizza!!!!
We bake ours on 425 for 20-25 minutes. If you want a crispier crust bake at 500 degrees and check it in 15 minutes. Some ovens take longer or it may depend on how crisp you like your pizza.
We bake ours in a pizza pan with the air holes. You could also bake it on a pizza stone if you have one. I do not suggest baking this on a cookie sheet, but if it is all you have it will work. The crust just will not be as good.
Homemade pizza is so much more rewarding. You can choose what toppings and just how much of them you want on your pizza. You can also choose the thickness of your dough. Once you try your hand at homemade pizzas you will see just how bad some of that pizza out their is!
Some ideas if you are looking to purchase new PIZZA BAKING items ... I have not reviewed these particular ones, but they are similar to what we use. We have been making pizza so long, I could not guess anymore the ones we originally bought.
http://www.amazon.com/AirBake-Nonstick-Pizza-Pan-15-75/dp/B000063SKU/ref=pd_bxgy_79_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1PASGE85RXA37FA06039
http://www.amazon.com/Pizzacraft-Round-Cordierite-Baking-Pizza/dp/B005IF2ZNM/ref=sr_1_13?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1458393280&sr=1-13&keywords=pizza+stone
http://www.amazon.com/Update-International-WPP-1222-Wooden-Pizza/dp/B0037XIK9A/ref=sr_1_14?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1458393337&sr=1-14&keywords=pizza+paddle
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