Pizza Done Four Ways

I was sitting here at the table with my head resting on my knees, type type typing away when suddenly I sneezed.  It was a big sneeze, and I totally did one of those head jerks you do when you’re sneezing and my eye socket connected hard with me knee cap.  Yes, I socked myself in the eye with my knee. Now I am having sinus problems.  Yes, my coordination astounds even me. So pathetic.

And I am serious about the sinus problems. I am not sniffing like crazy and my vision is blurry. Oh the woe.

Moving on to the pizza… here is the thing, I am addicted to pizza. If I were stuck on a desert island I would bring pizza. It is as simple as that. Pizza is my survival food, hands down.   So, I have spent the last fewish months looking for yummy pizza dough. Let me tell you, good, homemade pizza dough is hard to come by.  Don’t you worry though, I found a great recipe.  It’s thin, tasty, crunchy, and I like it.  All the things that matter in life, check.

Then once I found the dough, it was time to start experimenting with toppings. 

Pizza 1: inspired by Nicolitalia Pizza in Provo.  Chicken Alfredo pizza with spinach, artichoke hearts, and bacon crumbles.  I make my own Alfredo sauce because I hate the stuff in the jar and because it is super easy.  Very scrumptious and impressive. 

Pizza 2: Margarita pizza inspired from Abountifulkitchen.  Perfect summer time treat when everything is fresh and in season.  I couldn't help putting up multiple pictures because it is so pretty!

Pizza 3: Not pictured because I am an airhead.  Anyway, it is a pepperoni pizza with caramelized onions and goat cheese sprinkled on top. The toppings though make this pizza really great.

Pizza 4: Traditional pepperoni pizza. Pepperoni pizza may be dull, but it is definitely my favorite pizza.  I like to add a little Romano cheese for a little something-something extra.  Can’t go wrong with pepperoni.  I put some of the pepperonis under the cheese on this pizza and would not recommend it.  It prevents them from getting good and crunchy-ish where the start to curl at the edges.

Any other ideas for pizza toppings? What do you like best on your pizza?

Enjoy!

Thin Crust Pizza Dough

 *Makes 2 10-12 inch pizza crusts so I usually cut this in half which can get a little tricky.

• 3/4 cup warm water 
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

1. Pour 3/4 cup warm water into small bowl; stir in yeast. Add 1/4 tsp sugar. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes.
2. Brush large bowl lightly with olive oil. Mix in 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, and salt.. Add yeast mixture and 3 tablespoons oil; process until dough forms a sticky ball. Slowly add remaining flour. Transfer to lightly floured surface.
3. Knead dough until smooth, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is very sticky, about 1 minute.
4. Transfer back to bowl and cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Place on floured surface and roll out very thin!  Add toppings, transfer to pizza stone or cookie sheet.  Cook for 15 minutes at 475 degrees or until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.

 Traditional Pizza Sauce

*Makes enough for two pizzas so freeze half for later!

• 14-ounce can whole tomatoes 
• 11/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon dried or 1/8 cup each: chopped basil, parsley and oregano
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• pinch of sugar
• salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large saucepan bring all ingredients to a simmer.  Simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced to about 1 1/4 cups. Cool to room temperature.

Alfredo Sauce

• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup milk

1. In a large sauce pan combine cream all ingredients, stirring constantly until smooth.  Add a little more milk if too thick.

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

• 1-2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced OR one can of chicken
• 7-10 jarred artichoke hearts OR 2-3 fresh artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh spinach leaves
• 2 TBS bacon bits
•  8-10 oz mozzarella cheese
• Alfredo sauce
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• Pizza dough

1. Spread Alfredo sauce on pizza dough, sprinkle garlic salt over the entire sauce.  Place spinach over the sauce.  Cover with almost all the mozzarella cheese.  Add artichoke hearts and chicken.  Add rest of mozzarella cheese.  Add bacon bits.

Margarita Pizza

• 1/2 lb fresh mozzarella, sliced or 8-10 oz grated mozzarella
• 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaved
• Traditional pizza sauce

1. Spread pizza sauce on to pizza dough. Cover with mozzarella.  Top with tomato slices and cook.
2. When  you pull the pizza from the oven, let sit one minute then add basil leaves.

Pepperoni and Caramelized Onion Pizza

• 1 pkg pepperonis
• 1/2 large purple onion, sliced
• 1 TBS brown sugar
• 1 TBS butter
• 2-4 oz goat cheese
• 8-10 oz mozzarella cheese
• Traditional pizza sauce

1.  In a small sauce pan, cook the sliced onions in brown sugar and butter until onions are soft and pliable.  Remove from heat.
2. Spread the sauce on the pizza dough and cover with mozzarella cheese. Add the onions, then pepperonis, then sprinkle on the goat cheese.

Pepperoni Pizza

• 1 pkg pepperonis
• 8-10 oz mozzarella cheese
• Traditional pizza sauce

1. Spread the sauce on the pizza dough and cover with mozzarella cheese. Add the pepperonis and bake.  Top with Parmesan cheese and shreds of basil, if desired.

Man this took a long time to write.