Thursday, June 3, 2010

Homemade Pizza

Homemade pizza has always been comfort food for my family.  I remember when my mom used to make it when I was a girl, and it was such a treat!  Fast forward twenty-five years, and I am making it for my little family (and Brother and a few of his friends).  I like to make the crust with some whole wheat flour, because it makes me feel virtuous. 
Homemade Pizza Crust
courtesy of allrecipes.com

Into a mixer, pour 1 1/2 c. warm water, 1 tsp. sugar, and 1 Tbs. yeast.  Wait 10 minutes for the yeast to "proof," or look foamy.  You can just stand there and watch if you want, because it is kind of neat.  Not that I do that.


Add 1 Tbs. olive oil and 1 tsp. salt.  With the paddle attachment of the mixer, mix this together.  That may have been a little redundant.  Or thorough, depending on how you look at it.
Next, add 2 c. whole wheat flour. Mix on low speed until incorporated.  Then add 1 c. all purpose flour and mix until it comes together.  Dump it on a floured surface.


Start kneading in the flour.  You will use another 1/4 to 1/2 c. of all purpose flour in the kneading process.  It is hard to really say how you know you are done kneading, but it should take about five minutes. 
Half way through:


Still bumpy and not quite elastic.
Done:


Smooth, elastic, and very pretty. 
Put it into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel.  You could use the mixer bowl.  Why not.


Go see what everyone else is up to while it rises. 


Some people may be destroying the living room in order to have a comfortable place to read.
Others may be just too drowsy to participate.


About an hour later, I had this:


Yeast, man.
Punch it down (no, really.  Punch it.) and cut it in two.  Place both under a towel to rise again, just for about 20 minutes. 


When it is done rising, kneed it a little and then roll it out on a floured surface into a circle.  Or something like a circle.


Place it on a pan or pizza stone, top it as desired, and bake in a preheated 475 degree oven for about 8 minutes.  Just look at it.  You will know when it is done.


Because it will look like that, and you will want to eat it...if the teenage boys don't get to it first. 
Luckily, the recipe makes enough dough for two pizzas.
"Party on, Wayne." 

3 comments:

  1. Looks like my crust recipe except I use my bread machine and its makes enough for 3 pizzas. I usually freeze 1 dough portion for later in the week. Today I took my crust recipe and made hot pockets with it. Sooo good! My friend Peggy has a wheat grinder and I trade her eggs for flour. I must have a wheat grinder-I NEED one!

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