Friday Favorites

We love a good homemade pizza, and tonight ours turned out great! However, it is late, so I will post the recipe and picture tomorrow! :)

UPDATE:

Sous Chef: Megan

Recipe: Homemade Pizza

Pizza Crust (by my dear friend Cyndi LiCausi):
Mix
1 envelope/ 1 T. yeast
1 c. warm water
Add
1 1/2 cup wheat flour
1 T. oil
1/2 T. salt
1 T. sugar
Mix in Kitchen-Aid type mixer with dough hook on speed 2 for 10 minutes.
Add
1 -2 cups white flour
Knead well, let rise, punch down and roll into desired pizza shape and thickness. Makes 1 pizza.

Basic Pizza Sauce (by Cooking Light):
Cooking spray
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup white wine (I do NOT use wine...instead I use Chicken Stock...or water)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (14.5-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (I use 1/4 tsp instead)
Preparation
Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add garlic to pan; sauté 30 seconds. Stir in wine; cook 30 seconds. Add tomato paste, oregano, pepper, and tomatoes. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; stir in basil and vinegar. Cool. Provides plenty of sauce for 1 pizza and a very thin layer for 2 pizzas. I like to double or triple the recipe and freeze leftovers for future pizza nights :)

NOTE: I process the finished sauce in a blender to make it less chunky, but that is my preference :)

Pizza Assembly:

Spread Basic Pizza Sauce in an even layer over crust, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Top sauce with desired pizza ingredients. Bake on middle rack in a 425 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese melts. Cut into 12 wedges.

NOTE: I make a simple garlic butter sauce to brush on the outer edge of the pizza crust right after I take it out of the oven. Microwave 1/4 cup butter with 2 cloves of garlic for 30 seconds. Mix well.

Critiques: I didn't write down the exact responses, but everyone loved it, and the sauce turned out to be the best ever!! :) :)