Delicious homemade pizza

With our busy schedule this weekend, we still managed to find some time to eat!

What a relief because you should know how much I love food.

Earlier that day, we asked our friends how their cooking was coming along.

They said it was fantastic! 'We bought so much frozen pizza from Costco'.

Confession #10

Sorry...I couldn't help but laugh.

That totally does not count as 'cooking', does it?

I remember the days when I used my oven only for 'cooking' frozen food.

Now, you'll never even find that at our home!

_our own pizzeria

So I rummaged through our fridge.

Veggies? Check. Cheese? Check. Herbs? Check.

We're in business.

Italian Herb Pizza

yields 2 thin or 1 thick pizza

• 1 cup water
• 2 3/4 cups all purpose or bread flour (I used bread flour)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp dried Italian herbs
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast
 

1. Measure all ingredients into bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.(Mine is always starting with the base of  water and then adding all other ingredients in order in different corners of the bread machine. Dig a little hole in the middle - not far enough for it to reach to the water - and add the yeast).
2. Select Dough Cycle.
3. After the cycle is finished, remove the dough and place onto a lightly floured board and cover with a large bowl. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
4. Divide the dough in half if you want 2 thin pizzas, or leave as is for 1 thicker crust pizza.
5. Preheat the oven to 400°.
6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured board or mat (round or rectangular or whatever shape you want)... I must admit, I tried turning the pizza on my fists like they do in the pizza places!
7. Press dough into pans.
8. Bake for 8-12 minutes and remove.
9. Spread on your choice of toppings

Here's where you can get creative! While your pizza crust is in the oven, take that chance to prepare all the toppings and then have your kids help you out. I`m sure they'll have fun knowing that they can choose their own toppings. I personally used the following:

• olive oil 
• chopped garlic
• tomato-basil sauce 
• sliced mushrooms
• sliced red bell peppers
• diced tomatoes
• thinly sliced onions
  
• fresh basil
• thickly sliced ham
• thinly sliced pepperoni
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• freshly grated parmesan cheese

1. Brush the crust with a drizzle of olive oil.
2. Garnish with all other ingredients. Try a variety of combinations!
3. Sprinkle with cheeses. Don't be shy!!!
4. Bake at 400° for 10-20 minutes
5. Most important step: Mangia!

buon appetito!

Comments:

10/10

Excellent crust that was infused with flavours and the toppings were a perfect combination!

I can't wait to have my Italian in-laws over and show them my pizzeria skills.

Now THAT my friends, is a real pizza.

So much better than straight from a box!

Keeping it real,

the wife next door.

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