Pizza Night

We've now found a new favorite pizza---and it's homemade! As usual, I turned to Buddy Valastro from Kitchen Boss for the recipe.   This particular episode was all about pizza.  He made four different kinds... Four Cheese, Margarita, Prosciutto and Arugula, and Sophia's Sweet Pizza.  

The part that makes this pizza recipe stand out is the crust.  I usually buy the prepackaged crust and just add our toppings.  But, this recipe required only a few ingredients--- flour, water, salt, and dry active yeast. Buddy made it look so simple too! So, I tried it and it really was easy (Time consuming, but easy) The dough needs about 2 hours to rise. There's a lot of mixing, sitting, kneading, resting, and all that jazz, but it's so worth it!  

We made two different types because we don't agree on toppings... 

Brendon's

and mine....

Here's the dough recipe

Pizza Dough Recipe

(Enough to make 3 pizzas)

INGREDIENTS

15	ounces unbleached a.p. flour (approx 3 1/4 cups)
9	ounces tepid water
3/4	teaspoon active dry yeast
1 1/2	teaspoon fine sea salt
2	tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

PREPARATION:

1. Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle and mix, low, until mixture comes together. Switch to the dough hook and continue mixing, medium-low, another 3-4 minutes. Check dough – if too dry, add a bit more water. If too sticky, add a bit more flour.
2. Dump dough onto a lightly floured countertop or board and continue to knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, 5- 7 minutes. Form dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl, turn to coat, and cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Let rest 1/2 hr. to 45 minutes until risen.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and press down to deflate. Cut the dough into thirds (or desired portions), and form into tight balls to press air out.
4. At this point, you can place the balls of dough on a floured board covered with oiled plastic or a towel, and let rise one hour if you want to use the dough today. Alternately, place the dough on a lightly floured tray, cover with oiled plastic and refrigerate overnight. Allow dough to sit a room temperature 10-15 minutes before shaping/baking.

Next up, (the real reason we like this recipe) the dessert pizza!! It's made from the same dough and tastes AMAZING!   It's so good, I ate until my stomach hurt.  Then, I guarded the leftovers so that Brendon would eat my other piece. Seriously, yum!  The "pizza sauce" is actually Nutella, a hazelnut spread.  I've heard friends rave about how delicious Nutella is, but didn't fully understand until I tasted it on this pizza. Now, we keep Nutella in the pantry as a staple----it's just as important to us as peanut butter. :O)

Sophia's Sweet Pizza Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1	ball Buddy's Pizza Dough (see recipe)
1	Tablespoon butter
1/4	cup sugar
1	teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2	cup Nutella
2	firm-ripe bananas, sliced
1/2	cup sliced strawberries
1/4	cup chocolate sauce

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to highest setting (450°-500°). Pat or roll out dough to 9-10" round. Place on floured peel.
2. Combine the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
3. Brush dough with the melted butter, allowing for a 1/2" border. Prick the buttered portion of the dough all over with a fork. Sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar.
4. Bake pizza until dough is cooked and browned in spots, 5-7 minutes. Remove the pizza from the oven. Spread the Nutella all over the pizza. Top decoratively with bananas and strawberries. Drizzle with chocolate sauce.