Best Pizza EVER!
I make this thing all the time.. such a crowd pleaser really. It looks really pretty, but tastes DANG good! Remember how I just posted boring Baked Ziti.. this is NOT like that! you MUST try it!... I always want to take a picture... but then we eat it. I swear I will next time...maybe
Ingredients:
Dough-
4 Cups bread or all purpose flour (white) (I use all purpose... of course)
1 1/4 C lukewarm water
1 packet active dry yeast, (2 1/4 TBS)
2 TBS olive oil, extra virgin is best
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar (or honey.. I've never done it, but you could)
1/4 -1/3 C milk (recipe calls for 1/4 but I always add a little more. Also it says you can use water instead of milk... I've never done it)
topping-
~pizza sauce (Don't let your mom fool you, pizza sauce is NOT the same a spaghetti sauce. But don't worry, it just comes in a can. I've had all different brands, and as long as it's "pizza sauce" it's good!)
~1 lb shredded mozzarella cheese (or combo pizza cheese, like mozz and provolone)
~grape tomatoes- slice horizontally (they lay flatter and look prettier)
~fresh basil (chopped... Rachael Ray taught me a neat way to cut Basil.
1. pick the leaves off
2. stack them on top of each other
3. roll them into a tight little burrito
4. thinly slice the "burrito" (Ok, burrito is my own word for this..)
5. you end up with "basil confetti"
~Feta Cheese (to taste)
~Fresh Ground Pepper
~Dried Rosemary to sprinkle on the crust
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 F
Using a large mixing bowl (I make this dough in my kitchen aid with the kneading hook), add the flour, make a "well"in the middle, and put in 1 teaspoon salt, stir to combine well. Set aside.
Prepare the "starter": In a liquid measuring cup (or whatever) pour in 1 1/4 C lukewarm water, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 package of yeast. Stir and set aside for about 5 minutes. Allow to foam up, or POOF
Next, with mixer on low, mix the "starter" (yeast water) and the milk in the bowl containing the flour. Add 2 TBS olive oil.
Knead until you get a smooth elastic rubbery dough ball. (this is where I add a tad more milk to get the right consistency... BEWARE not to add too much to where the dough becomes "sticky")
Set aside in bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil to keep the dough from drying out. Let dough sit covered lightly with plastic wrap or damp towel to cover it.
Allow to rise for 30-60 minutes.
grease pan, flatten dough and press out into a circle to fit pan (or Square if you have a square pan). Don't be afraid to lift underneath to stretch the dough.
Top with pizza sauce, cheese, sliced grape tomatoes, confetti basil, feta, pepper, and sprinkle rosemary on the crust.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, but watch it!
When bottom looks slightly browned and the pizza looks bubbly, remove from oven.
Best pizza EVER... you're welcome
Ingredients:
Dough-
4 Cups bread or all purpose flour (white) (I use all purpose... of course)
1 1/4 C lukewarm water
1 packet active dry yeast, (2 1/4 TBS)
2 TBS olive oil, extra virgin is best
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar (or honey.. I've never done it, but you could)
1/4 -1/3 C milk (recipe calls for 1/4 but I always add a little more. Also it says you can use water instead of milk... I've never done it)
topping-
~pizza sauce (Don't let your mom fool you, pizza sauce is NOT the same a spaghetti sauce. But don't worry, it just comes in a can. I've had all different brands, and as long as it's "pizza sauce" it's good!)
~1 lb shredded mozzarella cheese (or combo pizza cheese, like mozz and provolone)
~grape tomatoes- slice horizontally (they lay flatter and look prettier)
~fresh basil (chopped... Rachael Ray taught me a neat way to cut Basil.
1. pick the leaves off
2. stack them on top of each other
3. roll them into a tight little burrito
4. thinly slice the "burrito" (Ok, burrito is my own word for this..)
5. you end up with "basil confetti"
~Feta Cheese (to taste)
~Fresh Ground Pepper
~Dried Rosemary to sprinkle on the crust
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 F
Using a large mixing bowl (I make this dough in my kitchen aid with the kneading hook), add the flour, make a "well"in the middle, and put in 1 teaspoon salt, stir to combine well. Set aside.
Prepare the "starter": In a liquid measuring cup (or whatever) pour in 1 1/4 C lukewarm water, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 package of yeast. Stir and set aside for about 5 minutes. Allow to foam up, or POOF
Next, with mixer on low, mix the "starter" (yeast water) and the milk in the bowl containing the flour. Add 2 TBS olive oil.
Knead until you get a smooth elastic rubbery dough ball. (this is where I add a tad more milk to get the right consistency... BEWARE not to add too much to where the dough becomes "sticky")
Set aside in bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil to keep the dough from drying out. Let dough sit covered lightly with plastic wrap or damp towel to cover it.
Allow to rise for 30-60 minutes.
grease pan, flatten dough and press out into a circle to fit pan (or Square if you have a square pan). Don't be afraid to lift underneath to stretch the dough.
Top with pizza sauce, cheese, sliced grape tomatoes, confetti basil, feta, pepper, and sprinkle rosemary on the crust.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, but watch it!
When bottom looks slightly browned and the pizza looks bubbly, remove from oven.
Best pizza EVER... you're welcome
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