Note: While I get things going at mymessykitchen there won’t be a lot of pictures in my posts… those will get updated as I go. Patience young grasshoppers!
Update: Now with pictures!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 2 1/4 tsp Quick-rising yeast (or 1 package)
- 2/3 cup Water
- 2 tsp Olive oil
- 2 tsp Liquid honey
- 1/3 cup Pizza sauce (or more if you like it saucy)
- Your favourite toppings
- Cheese
- Total prep time: 30 mins
- Total cook time: 25 mins
- Feeds 2 with leftovers, if you’re feeding 4 make a salad.
Don’t be afraid of yeast! As this is quick-rise, it will only take about 20 minutes to rise which is just enough time to chop up all of your toppings.
For the dough, in a large bowl combine both flours, salt, and yeast. Measure out water in a glass measuring cup and place in microwave for 1.5 minutes. Once the water is hot, add the oil and the honey. Here’s a tip… measure the oil first, that way the honey will just slide off the measuring spoon. Pour the water mixture into the flour mixture. Lightly mix with a wooden spoon. You’ll see the dough look really sticky and globbing onto the spoon. Like this!
Pull the dough off the spoon and get rid of the spoon. Get your hands into the dough. You are going to knead the dough for about 5 minutes. Kneading is largely done with the butt of your hands. Scoop your hands under the dough and fold it over on itself, then push down and away from yourself with the butt of your hand. Turn the dough slightly every time you fold over. Once the dough is fully kneaded, place bowl in a warm place. May I recommend the top of the fridge, on a windowsill in the sun, on a radiator, OR if none of these exist in your house… place bowl to the side. It should look like this after you’ve kneaded it… it will look the same after it’s risen… it will just be BIGGER!
Now this is where you get creative… prepare your toppings! Here’s what I usually include:
1 small zucchini, sliced into half moons
1 pepper, any colour… or parts of every colour! Finely diced.
Turkey pepperoni (It’s better for you but tastes just as good!)
Red onion, only a little bit though
Pizza sauce (I like the Primo squeeze bottle sauce)
Cheese, mozzarella, marble, cheddar, and parmesan… whatever you like!
20 minutes have passed… turn your oven to 425F. Clean and dry your counter thoroughly. Grab a pizza pan or cookie sheet, spray with cooking spray (read: rub a bit of oil on it with a paper towel). Take a small palm-full of flour and sprinkle it on the counter. Take the dough out of the bowl and place on counter, roll in flour to coat all sides. Using a rolling-pin (OR a wine bottle… or a can of soup) roll out the dough to the size of your pan. Note than when you are rolling, it’s a good idea to flip the dough over and re-flour it to prevent it from sticking to the counter. Look!
Place your dough on the pan. It doesn’t have to exactly fit… my pizza’s are usually oblong weirdo shapes. If the dough hangs over the edge just fold it over on itself. Now top your pizza! Sauce! Toppings! Cheese! Yay!
Toss that puppy in the oven for 20 minutes. Depending on how thick your toppings are the cooking time will vary. You’re looking for melted and slightly browned cheese and if you put a spatula under the pizza it should be solid and not gooey. Hopefully it will look like this…
Feel like BBQing in the last few days of summer? BBQ instructions to come soon from guest-chef/super brother, Ben!