New Year's Party at Home, Pizza
I can't think of a better way to spend New Year's eve., than being home with my family, tucked under blankets on the couch, watching a good movie and eating this homemade pizza...but then again, I'm a bit of a hermit, so that describes a lot of my nights! Lol!
Not only is this pizza great, but the recipe for this homemade dough is "no rise" thanks to the "pizza" yeast made by "Fleischmann's" (this is not a paid advertisement for Fleischmann's"...just handier than a third arm!) I used to use the quick rise yeast, which requires rising, but since I discovered this particular kind of yeast, I can whip up this pizza faster than two shakes of a lamb's tail...and yes, my alter ego is Ellie Mae Clampett!
Preheat oven to 425 degrees...then, in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, add 1 cup of warm water,
1-1/4 tsps. of "Fleischmann's" pizza yeast (use the quick rise or active dry yeast if you wish, but you will need to place the dough in a greased bowl, turning dough once, then cover with a clean tea towel...then place bowl in a warm dry place and let rise for about 1 hour).
Next, add 1 tbsp. of cooking oil, (I use olive oil)
1 tbsp. of granulated sugar...
...and 1 tsp. of salt.
Let mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until the yeast looks a little foamy.
Next, add 2-1/3 of a cup of sifted, all purpose flour...measuring carefully as to not add too much flour to your dough, which will make it tough.
Using the dough hook attachment of a stand mixer, "knead" for about 5-7 minutes...(if you do not have a stand mixer, knead dough by hand on a floured surface for about 5 minutes)
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface...
...and flatten the dough ball slightly with your fingers before rolling out.
Roll out dough...
...flipping over and lightly sprinkling flour onto your work surface as needed.
Roll dough to the thickness that you desire...We like a thin crust...but that's just us!
Place dough onto a pizza pan...I sprinkle my pan with cornmeal so it doesn't stick but you can lightly grease or flour it too...roll the edges up into a "crust" trimming away any excess dough if necessary...
James said that my crust was waaaay too thick and that I should do it again, strictly for blog photo purposes, but I'm tired man...he really needs to be thankful for this one!
Spread pizza or a pasta sauce of your choice on top of rolled out dough...
...top with shredded mozzarella cheese and add your favourite toppings. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for approximately 20-25 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
I like to use a fairly good quality mozzarella on my pizza...this is a good one...quite "stretchy"!
Remove from oven, place on a wire rack and cool for about 5 minutes before slicing...and there ya have it...a New Year's eve. treat from the comfort of your own home...and you won't have to tip the delivery boy...unless you want to tip the cook?! :)
New Year's Party at Home, Pizza
1 cup of warm water
1-1/4 tsp. of "Fleischmann's" pizza yeast
1 tbsp. of olive oil
1 tbsp. of granulated sugar
1 tsp. of salt
2-1/3 cup of all purpose flour, sifted.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add in the first 5 ingredients, letting it sit for about 5 minutes or until yeast becomes foamy. Next, add the flour and knead using the dough hook attachment. Turn out onto a floured surface and roll out to the shape and thickness that you want. Roll the edges to form a crust, trimming any excess dough if necessary. Place dough onto a pizza pan that has been sprinkled with cornmeal, flour or lightly greased. Spread top evenly with pizza or pasta sauce and top with shredded mozzarella and your favourite toppings. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Remove from oven, place on a wire rack and cool for about 5 minutes before slicing...Enjoy! :)
Approximately 8 slices
*note...I used a pizza stone for this recipe
* the original recipe that I posted called for 2-2/3 cups of all purpose flour...I reduced the flour by 1/3 (recipe now calls for 2-1/3 cups of flour)...I find it is easier to roll out reducing the flour...the dough will be somewhat sticky.