Ali Cooks: Homemade Pizza

It's kind of funny how Brian and I will come up with a dinner idea and then end up making it weeks after the idea first came to us.  Like pizza.  I'm pretty sure it was about two weeks ago when Brian and I decided that we should make pizza for dinner soon.  And so...pizza night is finally here!

We've made homemade pizzas together on two other occasions, and they were way tasty!  Brian had always been the dough/crust maker before, so this time, it was all on me.  (Yeast has always been an arch nemesis of mine, but I think I might have finally made amends with it!)

I will be honest and say that the dough takes awhile with the mixing, resting, kneading, etc.  The trick:  make pizza dough in advance!  Who says you have to have pizza every time you make dough?!  I made the dough yesterday and threw it in the freezer.  This morning I put the dough in the fridge to thaw out, and our pizza-making will total 45 minutes for today's hands-on work.  Not bad for a homemade dinner!

I wouldn't recommend making huge batches of dough all at once (not sure how the yeast doubling would work out...), but I'm an advocate for planning ahead!  Give it a shot and skip the delivery next time!  Cheaper, healthier, and yummier!

Homemade Pizza

*adapted from HalfBakedHarvest.com

Ingredients

2/3 cup warm water

2 tsp active dry yeast
1 Tbs honey
1 1/2 Tbs olive oil
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt

Toppings

 

Instructions:

 

In a large bowl, combine the water, yeast and honey.  Mix with a spoon, then let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.  Add in 1 2/3 cups flour and the olive oil, stirring with a spoon until the dough comes together but is still sticky.  Using your hands, form the dough into a ball and work the additional 1/3 cup flour into the dough, kneading it on a floured surface for a few minutes.  Rub the same bowl with olive oil then place the dough inside.  Cover with a towel and place in a warm place to rise for about 1 1/2 hours.

After the dough has risen, punch it down and place it back on the floured surface.  Cut the dough in half and either freeze the other half to save for another day or make two pizzas.  Using a rolling pin or your hands, form the dough into your desired shape and place on a baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Next, add desired sauce, toppings, and cheese.

Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese and crust is golden and bubbly.  Remove the pizza and let cool for five minutes, slice, and serve. 

 

BEFORE

AFTER

Oh--and Happy National Pizza Day everybody!