Maybe one of the things I have loved the longest

Pizza

Pizza has been in my life since childhood, so the only things I have loved longer are my parents! It makes me happy when I am sad, it fills the void when I am lonely, it is my everything in the food kingdom! Ha ha!

I have made my own pizzas since I became a mom which was at a very young age. I have tried lots of dough recipes but there is one that I have made once a week for 30+ years.

This dough can be used right away or you can let is rise once or even twice which now that I have more time is my preference. When I was working, going to school and raising a family, I used it right away.

Ingredients for pizza dough:

2.5 tsp yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 T olive oil
2. 5 cups all unbleached purpose flour

Directions for pizza dough:

This makes one normal thickness crust as shown in the picture or two thin crusts. I use sheet pans and just spread the dough out with my hands.

Add one cup warm water to 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast. Add 1 tsp of sugar and let rest about 5 minutes until you see the mixture bubble. Then add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil and lastly stir in the flour.

Mix until it all sticks together in one lump. At this point you can use right away or you can cover with a towel and let it rest until it doubles in size. You can use it then or you can punch it down and let it rise one more time. I love to do the last option because it seems to give the dough a lovely sourdough flavor which I adore.

Use any toppings you want. I love everything under the sun. I usually cook it all together and add to the pizza. I prefer to make my own pizza sauce too but you can used jarred.

Ingredients for pizza sauce:

Tomato Paste 1 can
Olive Oil 3 T
Water 1/4 to 1/2 cup
Crushed Garlic 1-2 gloves
Italian Seasoning 1 T
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. 1 tsp (optional)
Sea Salt to taste
Cracked Black Pepper to taste

Directions for pizza sauce:

I put olive oil and the crushed garlic in a pan and heat to let the flavors mingle. If I have time I will turn off heat and cover for a few minutes so the oil is really infused. Then I add the rest of the ingredients and some of the water and heat. As it gets hot I add water until I get the consistency I want for the sauce.

Once you spread out your dough, spread on the sauce and then add your toppings. Lastly add your cheese. I use fresh grated Parmesan and Mozzarella. Not too much cheese as it overpowers the other flavors in the pizza. Before I pop it all into the oven, I drizzle a little olive oil over it and add a few more pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. Then i put it in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. The time will depend on how crisp you like the crust. We love crispy crusts.

One of my favorite pizzas to make in the spring is a mushroom pizza made with Morel mushrooms. I used to find them while on the trail where I ran and took walks. In the mountains they grew near Trillium flowers that had turned from white to purple. Believe me there is not a better pizza than those made with these jewels. If I don’t have Morels though any mushroom can be amazing.

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Often if in a pinch my husband will create the most amazing pizza from a box. He cooks up fresh toppings like mushrooms, onions, red peppers, etc. adds to the frozen pizza with extra fresh cheeses and lots of EVOO and boom, to die for almost homemade pizza!