Monday, May 30, 2011

Spicy Hawaiian Pizza

Homemade pizza is definitely becoming a favorite around here.  I wasn't a huge fan of homemade pizza growing up - probably because my mom always made it "healthy" and I missed the greasiness of delivery!  Don't get me wrong, I still love that too...but I'm realizing how delicious homemade can be too!  I love that I can add any toppings (and not pay an extra $2.00 for each one!), and the flavor is wonderful!  

First - you start out with the pizza dough.  I like doing this ahead of time and then freezing the dough in two separate bags so I have two meals already half made! :)  I have grown to love the pizza dough recipe from Annie's Eats - but you can use any standard pizza dough recipe.  I also don't have a dough mixer, so I knead everything by hand.  

Ingredients: 
½ cup warm water
2¼ tsp. instant yeast
4 cups (22 oz.) bread flour, plus more for dusting
1½ tsp. salt
1¼ cup water, at room temperature
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Directions: 
Measure the warm water into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.  Sprinkle the yeast over the top.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the bread flour and salt, mixing briefly to blend.  Measure the room temperature water into the measuring cup with the yeast-water mixture.  With the mixer on low speed, pour in the yeast-water mixture as well as the olive oil.  Mix until a cohesive dough is formed.  Switch to the dough hook.  Knead on low speed until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, 1½-2 hours.
Press down the dough to deflate it.  Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface.  Divide the dough into two equal pieces.  Form each piece of dough into a smooth, round ball.  (If freezing the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze at this point.)  Cover with a damp cloth.  Let the dough relax for at least 10 minutes but no longer than 30 minutes.
(Crust brushed with oil and topped with Italian seasonings
To bake, preheat the oven and pizza stone to 500˚ F for at least 30 minutes.  Transfer the dough to your shaping surface, lightly sprinkled with cornmeal.  Shape the dough with lightly floured hands.  Brush the outer edge lightly with olive oil.  Top as desired.  Bake until the crust is golden brown, and cheese is bubbling, 8-12 minutes. 


My ingredients: Canadian Bacon, Garlic, Scallions, Pineapple, JalapeƱo, Hot Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella cheese, Crushed Red Pepper.  

 Top as desired. 


Bake, and enjoy!  

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