PIZZA CRUST AND SAUCE

This was really good.  I didn't do her method of cooking, but liked how the crust tasted and LOVED the pizza sauce.  I made the pizza sauce in the braun.  Was able to get one round pizza and one cookie sheet pizza out of the sauce.  I 1.5 the pizza crust recipe to make one round and one cookie sheet.  Judi had given us two fresh mozzarella packages.  They made the pizza a little bit wetter but it was good. We also did pepperoni, cheese, pepperoni and cheese, breakfast sausage with green peppers.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

This recipe is very adaptable so feel free to play around with the different seasonings and amounts. I usually forego all measuring utensils and just sprinkle in until it feels right.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• Pinch of crushed red pepper (didn't add)

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until desired consistency. I leave mine slightly chunky. You can adjust the seasonings to taste. This recipe is open to interpretation. Use what you like, taste it along the way and it is sure to be delicious!

Homemade Pizza – New and Improved

YIELD: MAKES 2 12-INCH PIZZAS OR 1 LARGE 16 TO 18-INCH PIZZA

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the dough the night before or early the morning on the day you want to make the pizza. In a large mixing bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer), mix the water, yeast, sugar, honey and oil. (If using active dry yeast, increase the amount of yeast to 2 3/4 teaspoons and proof the yeast in the water until foamy before mixing in the sugar, honey and oil.) Then mix in 1 cup flour and the salt. Continue mixing in all the remaining flour until you get a nice, soft dough. Knead until dough is soft and smooth, about 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes with a stand mixer.
2. Shape the dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl and cover tightly (with a lid or plastic wrap). Place the dough in the refrigerator to slowly rise until three hours before baking. Three hours before baking, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature, keeping it lightly covered.
3. 45-60 minutes before baking, move the rack to the lowest position in the oven (if the lowest rack in your oven is nearly touching the oven floor, move it up one notch - you don't want it that close or the bottom of the pizza will burn), place the pizza stone on it and preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Don't be nervous about a hot oven! I used to be scared to death to cook anything above 400 degrees but I promise 500 degrees is the only way to go when cooking pizza. If your oven is a bit sketchy at that temperature, bake at 475 degrees. Also,I think a pizza stone makes all the difference in good versus great pizza. I have this pizza stone and I love the rectangular shape. I have baked many a pizza on this stone and it is awesome.
4. Here's a few different methods for making great pizza:
5. Pizza Paddle/Peel: I have a wooden pizza paddle, like this, which I sprinkle with cornmeal and place the pizza dough on. I layer my toppings on the dough and slide the dough quickly onto the hot pizza stone. After about 8 or 9 minutes, the pizza is baked to perfection and I slide it onto a cutting board to slice and eat.
6. Alternative Pizza Paddle/Peel: If you don't have a pizza paddle, you can use the underside of a baking sheet (I use an 11X17 size) or a large cutting board as a makeshift pizza paddle. Cover it lightly with cornmeal, flour or parchment paper, make your pizza on the floured baking sheet or cutting board and gently slide the pizza off of the makeshift paddle onto the baking stone when ready to bake (if using parchment paper, you can let the parchment paper slide onto the baking stone with the pizza). Bake for 8-9 minutes until the crust is nicely browned. Retrieve the pizza with a pair of tongs or a spatula and slide the baked pizza quickly onto a waiting cooling rack.
7. Rimmed Baking Sheet: If you currently bake pizzas using cornmeal on a pizza paddle, you'll know how messy it can be - cornmeal everywhere. In fact, right now, my oven is in serious need of a good vacuuming. So, ofttimes, I'll still preheat my baking stone like normal and instead of using my wooden pizza paddle, I stretch the dough into an irregular shape on a lightly greased rimmed baking sheet (I don't worry about pressing it into the corners to give it a rustic look), add the toppings, and slide the entire baking sheet on the pizza stone to bake. Bake the pizza for 9-10 minutes until the crust is nicely browned. This method still browns the crust nicely - and while you don't get the extremely authentic pizza crust, it is still mighty delicious and I can make more pizza at once rather than sliding them one at a time onto the baking stone.

WHOLE WHEAT PIZZA ROLL UPS

WHOLE WHEAT PIZZA ROLL UPS
http://www.littlehouseliving.com/whole-wheat-pizza-roll-ups.html

Everyone really liked these.  Fun variation to pizza.  Would definitely make again.  Did with whole wheat dough I always use.  Took out enough dough for 1 loaf of bread.  Made 2 cookie sheets of roll ups.  We also brushed melted butter on each roll and topped with parmesan cheese mixed with pizza seasoning because I forgot to sprinkle on some before rolling up.  According to post these freeze really well.

-roll dough out like you would cinnamon rolls
-top with sauce (1 full jar & maybe more), cheese and toppings (don't over do the toppings) - we did 1 pkg pepperoni and 1/2# cooked breakfast sausage and 1 bag (2 cups) mozzarella cheese
-sprinkle seasonings (WinCo has bulk pizza seasoning)
-roll up like you would a cinnamon roll
-cut like you would a cinnamon roll
-we brushed on melted butter and sprinkled parmesan cheese, but you would have to do this step
-bake at 350 for 25 min

Really good dipped in pizza or spaghetti sauce.

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

YIELD: MAKES 24-28 PIZZA ROLLS

I've made these pizza rolls (and our favorite pizza dough) with all types of flour. Bread flour, all-purpose unbleached flour, and white whole wheat flour. My favorite combo is probably half bread flour, half white whole wheat flour; the dough is extremely versatile!

We really liked these.  Did one 1/2 pepperoni and 1/2 italian sausage.  Everyone liked the pepperoni better. Didn't have mozzarella so we did a white cheese and sharp cheddar.  Used spaghetti sauce.  Was good but would like to try homemade next time.  We did the extra sauce for dipping.  Yum!  Did 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour.

INGREDIENTS

Pizza Dough:
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour (see note above)
Filling:
• 2 1/2 to 3 cups pizza sauce (homemade recipe here) - see blog post
• 8 ounces (about 2 cups) freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
• 5 ounces pepperoni, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup (about 1 ounce) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet (about 12X18-inches) with parchment paper.
2. For the dough, in an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook (you can also do this by hand in a large bowl with a spoon), stir together the water, honey, olive oil, yeast, salt and 1 cup of the flour. With the mixer on low speed, continue adding the flour until the dough clears the sides of the bowl and forms a soft, smooth ball. Knead for 3-4 minutes (add a few minutes if using whole wheat flour). Let the dough rest, covered, in the bowl for 10-15 minutes.
3. Separate the dough into two pieces. On a lightly greased countertop, press one portion of dough into a thin rectangle, about 14X10-inches.
4. Spread 1/2 to 3/4 cup pizza sauce evenly across the top. Sprinkle evenly with half the mozzarella cheese and then half the pepperoni. Starting with on long side, roll up cinnamon-roll style, pinching the seam together to seal.
5. Place the cornmeal in a bowl or shallow dish. Cut the dough into 1-inch sections. One by one, press the bottom of each pizza roll into the cornmeal and then place on the prepared baking sheet about an inch apart.
6. Repeat with the remaining half of dough.
7. Once all the pizza rolls are placed on the baking sheet, sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.
8. Warm the extra pizza sauce, and serve the pizza rolls immediately out of the oven with the pizza sauce for dipping.

PIZZA

CANADIAN BACON AND PINEAPPLE PIZZA

We loved this pizza - super delicious!!! Very easy to make. I took this to a potluck and only got one piece, so I was glad I had enough to make another one. This is a pizza I could have every week. Came from Jackson's Pillsbury 2010 calendar.

1 can refrigerated pizza crust (original or thin) - also made it with Naomi's 15 minute bread recipe - worked great (used 1 cup gluten free, 1 1/2-2 cups white)

1 pkg (6 oz) sliced provolone cheese

1 pkg (5-6 oz) sliced Canadian bacon

1 can (8 oz) pineapple chunks, well drained on paper towels (I had rings on hand that I cut up)

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/2 cup or more chopped green or yellow bell pepper (about 1/2 of a pepper)

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

Heat oven to 425 for classic or 400 for thin. It says to spray the cookie sheet (15 x 10 rectangle), so I sprayed my pizza stone. (When I made Naomi's bread I used a cookie sheet that had been sprayed and topped with corn meal - we liked).

Unroll dough, starting at center, press dough out.

Top dough with provolone cheese. Arrange Canadian bacon, pineapple, onion and bell pepper over provolone cheese to within 1/2" of edges (also left the center free of toppings except cheese. Scott says it cooks better that way). Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.

Bake classic for 16-20 and thin for 10-14 minutes.

THREE-CHEESE GARDEN PIZZA

All the best cookbook - The Pampered Chef pg. 22

BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA
Everyone really liked this...was easy to put together since I already had the chicken and bacon cooked.  Didn't use the onion and added chunks of pineapple.  Cilantro would be good too.  The BBQ sauce I used was Kraft...it was pretty spicy.  Did homemade dough.  
http://www.simplystacie.net/2015/07/bbq-chicken-pizza/

• 1 Pillsbury Pizza Crust (or your own homemade pizza crust or other brand of refrigerated pizza crust)
• ¾ cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup cooked chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• ¾ cup cheddar cheese, shredded (used Sharp)

directions:

1. Prepare the pizza crust according to package directions. For the Pillsbury Pizza Crust I used, I greased a pizza pan and spread the dough to fit. Then I pre-baked for 8 minutes in a 400°F oven.
2. Spread barbecue sauce over pizza crust, leaving a gap around the edge.
3. Evenly distribute green pepper, onions, chicken and bacon over the sauce. Then top with cheddar cheese.
4. Bake an additional 7 to 10 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted.

PIZZA BIANCA
I liked this but no one else really did.  Got it from Martha Stewart FOOD magazine.  I used a boboli crust.

• All-purpose flour, for dusting and rolling
• 1 pound pizza dough, thawed if frozen
• 1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella (6 ounces)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano (1 ounce)
• 2 ounces baby arugula (2 cups)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Lightly dust a work surface, rolling pin, and a baking sheet with flour. Roll dough out to a 13-inch round and transfer to sheet.
2. In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, 1 tablespoon oil, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Spread ricotta mixture on dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with mozzarella, then Parmesan. Brush 1 teaspoon oil on edge of dough. Bake until crust is golden and cheese is melted and browned in spots, 12 to 14 minutes. In a small bowl, toss arugula with 1 teaspoon oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Top pizza with arugula and serve.