Make Your Own Pizza

A super special tradition that I have carried on from my mother. Growing up make your own pizzas combined with rootbeer floats usually meant that one of us had a friends sleeping over or it was time to celebrate this, that or another thing.  It is amazing how having a hand in making the pizza makes any night feel like a celebration and to this day still holds a special place in my family's memories.

  With a little planning, Make your Own Pizza Night is a fun and delicious event for the whole family!


2 hours-1.5 hours before you want to eat

Start with the dough
This recipe makes (2) 12 inch pies, (4) 6 inch pies or (8) 3 inch pies (great size for little ones!)

Pizza dough recipe (Adapted from the Joy of Cooking)

1 1/3 cup warm water 
1 package of yeast  (2 1/4 teaspoons)

Combine the yeast and water and let them hang out for 5 minutes.  (You should see the yeast bloom on top of the water.  If you don't see this agitate the bowl and wait a few more minutes.  If still nothing then your yeast may be dead. in that case start over.with new yeast.)

The next step you can do by hand or in a mixer.  If you use a mixer just go straight to using the dough hook.  If doing by hand remember to take off the rings!

Add to the yeast and water

3 cups of flour
2 Tb olive oil
1 Tb salt  (1.5 Tb if using Kosher salt)

 Mix until combined.  Dough should still be sticky.  Dough will need 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup more flour before it starts to feel soft and pillowy.  Go slow, stop the machine and feel with hands to see where the dough is at.   A few times making this and you will get the feel down.  Kneed by machine or hand for five minutes.

Put into a bowl that is coated in olive oil and wrap in plastic wrap.  Wait at least 1 1/2 hours for the dough to double in size.   The longer you let the dough sit the better it will taste though up to 4 hours. 



The next step the sauce

Pizza Sauce

1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
2 cloves Garlic, chopped
2 Tb Olive Oil
1 Tb Salt
1 Tb Sugar
Sprig of Basil


This is a low and slow simmer sauce.  So you are going to want to get this going while the dough is rising. 

Saute garlic and olive oil in non reactive saucepan until aromatic.  Add tomatoes, salt and sugar and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low, put the lid on (very important as this sauce will jump out of the pan and all over your kitchen!).  Let slowly simmer, stirring occasionally while your dough is rising.  In the last half hour throw the sprig of basil into the sauce. (Don't forget to fish that out before you make your pizza!)


Tip: A great summer variation is to use the Roasted Tomato Sauce as a fresh lighter version of sauce

10 minutes Before:

Get your toppings together.  Grate your cheese, chop your veggies, slice your pepperoni etc.  What ever your family loves!


Turn the oven to 500 degrees. (if using a pizza stone put that in when you turn the oven on)

Divide your dough into smaller balls and stretch out into your best pizzas

If using pizza stone you will need something to transfer your pizza to the stone on. A pizza peel or sheet pan flipped over then coated in semolina or fine corn meal works well.

If using a sheet pan (instead of a pizza stone), coat liberally in olive oil before putting dough on them.

Sauce, top and cheese up your pizzas however you like! This is the joy of the Make your Own Pizza Night! Everyone gets what they want!!



Cook 5-10 minutes depending on size. Let cool a minute to set cheese then slice and enjoy!!

 

 

Note: Don't get distracted once your pizza is on the peel.  I left the last one for a while and I had a little trouble getting it into the oven.  It's the newest thing...the Picasso Pizza!  It still tasted delicious!