We love pizza around here. It is a great way to let the little ones help in the kitchen. Big sister loves to help roll out the dough and put on the toppings. I got the recipe from my favorite cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen.
Basic Pizza Dough
4 1/4 cups bread flour, plus extra for the counter
1 envelope instant or rapid-rise yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2Tablespoons olive oil
1 3/4 cup water, warm
1) Pulse 4 cups of the flour, yeast, and salt in a food processor to combine. With the processor running pour the oil then the water through the feed tube and process until a rough ball forms, 30 to 40 Seconds. Let the dough rest for 2 min then process for 30 seconds longer.
2) Turn the dough out onto a lightly flowered counter and knead by hand to form a smooth round ball, about 5 min, adding the remaining 1/4 cup flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking. transfer to a lightly oiled bowl cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Hand-Mixing Method
Whisk 4 cups of the flour, the yeast, and the salt together in a large bowl. Add the oil and water and stir with a rubber spatula until the dough comes together and looks shaggy.Turn the dough out onto a lightly flowered counter and knead by hand to form a smooth round ball, about 10 to 15 min, adding the remaining 1/4 cup flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking. transfer to a lightly oiled bowl cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Quick Pizza Sauce
2 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
2 Garlic cloves minced
1 (28 Ounces) can crushed tomatoes
Salt and Pepper
Heat the oil and Garlic in a medium sauce pan over medium heat until the garlic is sizzling and fragrant, about 1 1/2 min.Stir in the tomatoes and simmer until the sauce is thickened, about 15 min. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Classic Cheese Pizza
1 recipe Basic Pizza Dough
Flour for the Counter
1 Recipe quick Pizza Sauce
3 cups Mozzarella, shredded
3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan Cheese
Olive Oil
6 Tablespoons torn fresh Basil
1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position, place a backing stone on the rack, and heat oven to 500 degrees. Let the baking stone heat for at least 30 min.
2. Meanwhile, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter, but into three even pieces, and cover with plastic wrap. Working with one piece of Dough at a time shape into a smooth round ball cover again with plastic wrap, and let rest 20 -30 min.
3. Uncover one ball of dough. Stretch and shape the dough into a 12 inch round on a piece of parchment paper. Bush the top and sides with Olive oil. Spread 1 cup of the pizza sauce over the dough,leaving a 1/2 inch edge of dough uncovered. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the Mozzarella and 1 Tablespoon of the Parmesan.
4. Slide the parchment paper and pizza onto a rimless baking sheet, then slide it onto the hot baking stone. Bake until the crust edges brown and the cheese is golden in spots 8 to 13 min. (Prepare the second Pizza while the first bakes.)
5. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board, discarding the parchment paper. Sprinkle with 2 Table spoons of the Basil and cut Pizza into 6 wedges before serving. Let the Stone reheat for 5 min before baking the next Pizza.
We love homemade pizza! In fact, my recipe makes a lot, and keeps in the fridge for up to a week or two later, so it works for a big evening meal with dh plus leftovers, and then later in the week the girls and I make individual pan pizzas for lunch. Making pizza together has long been a fun family tradition for us. One we’ve shared with friends and their children as well. Making Kolaches is another fabulous activity for families. We had a kolache making day with my nieces and my mom a while ago, with all sorts of fruit fillings available.
Love the name of this blog! Fun spin on “helpmeets”. You’re doing it with your sis-in-law? That’s neat!
I love spending time with Big sister in the kitchen. She is such a great helper, most of the time. One of the biggest benefits is knowing that when she is in the kitchen with me she is not making another mess in the living room.