{How to Make Homemade Pizza}

i know you have been waiting a long time for this.

we finally got our act together.

yeah

hope you enjoy this really looooong post and find some inspiration to make your own homemade pizza.

it looks rather intimidating but it's sooooo worth it.

trust me:)

 

all the directions and comments below are from my hubby.

i just type and eat around here.:)

 

 

here are the cast of characters:

 

 

a good mixer, a dough rising bucket, king arthur sir lancelot flour, sugar, dry yeast, salt, and a digital scale.

 

start by adding 400 g of sir lancelot flour to the mixing bowl.
{this flour really makes all the difference.}

 



use a small bowl to make three wells in the surface of the flour

 

fill each of the wells with one of the following,

10 g sugar, 10 g salt and 10 g of yeast.

 





add 325 g of very warm water.

not too hot or it will kill the yeast.

 



mix on low until well incorporated.

the dough will seem very wet at this point.

 



allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes to achieve proper hydration.

 

 

 



after 20 minutes add an additional 100 g of sir lancelot flour.

 



 

mix on low until incorporated then increase speed slightly and mix for a total of 6 minutes.



remove the dough ball and place in a rising bucket coated with cooking spray.

allow the dough to rise in a warm place for at least 6 hours.

 



it will more then double in size by then.



 

for our sauce we puree san marzano tomatoes in the food processor.

these are really the best tomatoes to use for sauce because they are low in seeds and have less water content. this makes your sauce thick and rich.

 

 



season with salt, pepper, a dash of sugar and a splash of red wine.

 



simmer in a sauce pan till thickened and

 allow to cool completely.

after the dough has risen, form it into a ball and place on a flour dusted counter.
you can use all purpose flour for this step...no sense in wasting your good stuff!:)

cut into four equal sections.

fold them into individual balls tucking them under.

place on a flour dusted pan and cover with a damp cloth for an hour.
this is the perfect time to preheat your oven to 550 to allow it to come to temperature.

 

 



the dough is now ready for pizza!

 



get all your toppings ready cause the next steps move fast and furiously.
advise all small children and signifcant others to stand back!:) ha ha

 



dust the counter with all purpose flour.

 



press the dough ball against the counter with your finger tips while spreading the dough at the same time.
{try not to laugh when your wife takes a gazillion pictures of you!}

 



by picking the dough up at this point you are letting gravity help shape the dough into a pie shape.

 



swing the dough side to side again...just getting it into the right shape.

 



stretch the dough again working on getting that thin circular shape.

be careful not to tear it.

 



if you feel brave...

 



...toss.

{use knuckles not finger tips}

 



if you're not feeling too brave, return the dough to the floured counter top and spread it out that way.

 



 

now you have to act fast or the dough will start sticking to the counter top.

we have had many a stromboli that way:)

 

don't over sauce

 



grate your cheese...no shredded cheese from a pkg in this house.:)

 



add toppings

 





quickly and carefully slide the pizza piel under and shake back and forth gently to insure it does not stick. this is a hard step that takes practice. we have lost a few here in the early days.:)
we got our piel at the kitchen shop in the mall. you really need a metal one so it is thin enough to slide under the pizza.

 



slide the pizza onto the pizza stone that has been preheating in the oven at 550 for at least an hour.

(remove the top rack prior to preheating to give you more room to work.)

the hotter the oven the better.

the high temps remove the moisture from the stone and allows the dough to cook quickly and keeps it crisp and chewy. we just leave our stone in the oven all the time.

 



half cheese and pepperoni

 



broccoli, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, coarse salt, fresh black pepper, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

 



take a look at that crust.

the best pizza you will ever have.

for sure.

 



pizza picnic with backyardigans chitzen itza pizza optional.

so what do you think?
are you gonna give it a try?:)
have a happy day,
cindy