Pizza it up

Making homemade pizza is one of my favorite meals to make with my husband. We always like to experiment in the kitchen with new sauces and toppings. We made one last night with artichokes, black olives, feta and ricotta cheese and a little Parmesan cheese.

I first make the dough and let it begin to rise, then proceed making the sauce. The sauce recipe is very easy.

This meal is a great way to get your whole family involved in the dinner time cooking. You could also double the recipe and let the kids make their own personal personal pizzas by cutting the dough in half.

Happy pizza making!

Pizza Sauce
by Lane

1 can of plum tomatoes or any other type of canned tomato
1 tsp salt and pepper
1 6 oz can of tomato paste
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 tsp oregano
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp parsley

In a saucepan place oil, canned tomatoes and paste, garlic, and other seasonings. Mix well until combined and let simmer on medium heat for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set to the side off the heat until ready to place on pizza.

Pizza Dough
(adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe)

3/4 cup warm water
1/2 package yeast (scant 1 teaspoon)
1 tablespoon coarse salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more as needed

Place 2 tablespoons of the warm water in a medium bowl. Stir in yeast, and let rest until yeast begins to bubble, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, the salt, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to the yeast mixture, and mix well. Using a spoon, stir in 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup at a time. At this point, the dough should be too stiff to stir; if not, gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup flour.

Transfer the dough to a clean work surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 7 minutes. If dough is sticky, sprinkle with a little more flour, but try to add as little as possible.

Rub a large bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise for an hour.

Place dough on a pizza stone and I just stretch it out with my hands to the size of the stone.

Making your pizza

After your dough is on the pizza stone, place sauce and spread it around your pizza. Place as much or as little as you wish. I then like putting tsp of ricotta cheese about the pizza. The place whatever toppings you like; hamburger, olives, sliced peppers, zucchini, shrimp, chicken....there are endless possibilities. I then like topping everything with fresh Parmesan cheese and sprinkling a little more oregano on top.

Place in a preheated 450 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes. I like my pizza a little crispy...the pizza is ready when the cheese is a little browned on top.