Hen Day

Okay, for Prairie Hen Day, It was my turn to make lunch. I chose pizza. The other HENS said I needed to blog the recipe, so here goes.

Here is my crust recipe, I don't think it is the best ever, but it is simple. This is for 1 large pizza:

1 cup warm water
1 TBS active dry yeast
1 TBS sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 - 3 cups flour (use the lower amount if you can manage it, it makes for a crispier crust)

1. Mix the ingrediants in the order called for and knead by hand or in your mixer (luckeeeey) for five minutes.
2. Allow to rise for 1/2 an hour (or if you are starving, skip this step, I usually do--but it does taste better the other way.)

While the dough is rising, make the sauce. This is a great sauce recipe. You must bear in mind that the *SECRET* to making great pizza at home is to spread the sauce thinnly. But I get ahead of myself

1. Put a small sauce pan on medium heat.
2. Swirl 1-2 TBS olive oil in the pan.
3. Add 1 crushed garlic clove and 1 tsp dry basil
4. Stir around for a bit and let it get smelling good.
5. Pour in 1 small (8oz) can of tomato sauce
6. Allow to simmer for a few minutes.

Okay now take your pizza pan and greaze it with shortening. If you have it, sprinkle corn meal over the pan.

Roll out the dough. I roll mine out right in the pan. Or you can roll it out on a floured surface and transfer it. It will shrink back as you roll. be patient, work bit by bit, and just keep rolling it. Roll it past the edges of the pan a bit so when it shrinks, it will be pan size.

Spread on the sauce (thinly, remember. You should be able to see the dough through the sauce. This is pizza, not soup) If you are only making one pizza, you may have some sauce left over. Use it to dip your crusts in later while you are eating.

Now is the fun part. Put on the toppings you like. I like to put any meat first. That keeps it down in the sauce and makes everything very ju-ic-y.

preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Now, two options.

1--either leave the cheese off and bake your pizza for 7-10 minutes, pull it out, add cheese and bake for 3-5 min more

or

2--put the cheese on and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching that the cheese does not burn.

If you like your crust very crispy, you made a thick crust pizza, or if your oven bakes hot, I recomment #1 so that the crust gets enough cooking time and the cheese doesn't get too much.