Thursday, January 31, 2013

What's for dinner? ... PIZZA




Hey guys!! Here's a quick recipe for homemade pizza. I personally like it better than buying it out for so many reasons! I can make it ahead of time (details below), it's less oily, I can choose whatever toppings I want on it, and it's also less expensive to make it at home. I don't know about you guys but it costs me about $16-$20 per pie where I live not including toppings. I will list the approximate cost of each of the ingredients I used specifically for the pizza.  I used a pizza pan in this one but I have used a pizza stone (details below) before. The stone makes it crispier and cooks faster but it definitely takes more effort to use it. The 1st time I used one my pizza was not very nice looking and made a huge mess! Ok so enough chatting, here we go ...


Makes 1 12" pizza


What you will need:

Equipment:
- Pizza Pan or Pizza Stone
- Pizza Cutter or Large, Sharp, Long knife

Main Ingredients:
- Pizza/Tomato/Pasta Sauce (I will post that recipe as well) (estimated $2)
- Pizza dough (I used Trader Joe's but most Italian deli's and supermarket delis sell it, you can also make it yourself but for me it's easier to buy it - it costs about $1-$2)
- Cheese of your choice (I used fresh mozzarella $7 - this is more expensive, if you are on a budget packaged mozzarella or shredded mozzarella will do just fine)

Other Ingredients:
- Toppings of your choice (I used black olives, garlic, & green bell peppers)
- Flour for dusting
- Pam to coat pizza pan
- Olive oil for the crust (I mixed some garlic powder in it)

Let’s Get Cooking …
1.    If you bought ready to use dough (such as Trader Joe) follow to instructions on the package - usually let sit in bag for about 20 min. | If you bought dough that needs to self-rise put in well oiled (extra virgin olive oil) bowl and cover with a moist towel. Leave in a dark place like the microwave until dough rises to about double it's original size (I don't recommend this unless you have time/patience to let it rise)
2.    Lightly coat pizza pan with cooking spray (I used Pam)
3.    Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F
4.    Flour your work surface and knead the dough. I just lightly coat the dough in the flour to make it less sticky than just press it into the pan
5.    Place sauce on top of dough
6.    Place cheese on top of sauce
7.    Place toppings on top of cheese
8.    Lightly coat crust with olive oil using a brush or fingers 
9.    Place in oven for about 10 min (checking often), it is done when the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling
10. If you want it extra crispy; place on Low broil for 1-2 min. DON’T WALK AWAY - IT WILL BURN QUICKLY
11.   Take out of the oven and let cool for about 5 min.

Cut and serve!

Using Pizza Stone:
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F
  2. Place stone in oven while preheating (don't place cold/room temp stone in hot oven)
  3. Prepare pizza as written above ^^
  4. Flour stone and bottom of pizza very well so it doesn't stick (can use cornstarch, I don't because I don't like the taste)
  5. Once oven is heated to 425 degrees F, place pizza carefully on the stone
  6. Cook for about 6-8 min. or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling (time will depend on your oven)
** Placing the pizza on the stone can be difficult so to make it easier you can cook it in the pan and then when it is fully cooked place on the stone for a couple more minutes to allow it to get crispy **


To Make Ahead of Time:

  1. Prepare as written above ^^ 
  2. Place plastic wrap over it making sure it touches the crust so it doesn't dry out
  3. Place in fridge
  4. When ready to cook take out of the fridge and allow to come to room temp (can preheat oven at this time too)
  5. Cook as written above ^^
Best part ... there is almost no clean up because I prepared everything earlier so I cleaned and put away everything then.

I hope you enjoy!
xoxo --- Cait K.

No comments:

Post a Comment