9.18.2012

{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

11 comments:

  1. Oh looks wonderful. We are having pizza tonight for dinner but not like your wonderful pizza...ours will be made on french bread. I may have to fly him to California one day to enjoy his pizza.

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  2. yes, yes, yes.... I can not wait to try it!!!! Dave's dough is way more complicated that the kind I make but I'm sure WAY better so I'm in!!! And the sauce... love that idea instead of buying "pizza sauce". Grate your own cheese... okay I guess if I'm going this far I might at well :)

    Thanks Cindy and Dave. It looks AMAZING and made with love... what could be better? Someday I'm driving up to your house on pizza night!

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  3. Thank you both so much for this, Cindy...it looks amazing! I can't wait to try it. The kids will have a ball. Peyton is my cook and baker. She will be excited when I show her this. I love your blog look for fall, and my favorite... the little people lined up on the fireplace! Flynn does that all the time. : ) have a great rest of the week,

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  4. I can't believe how long it takes to make the dough. But there's no rushing perfection. I may have to try this. That dough looks like it's worth it.

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  5. Thanks for posting this! All I need is a scale. YUM YUM!!!

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  6. THANK YOU {and Dave!}!!! I am so going to try this. It looks amazing. And that broccoli pizza? Oh my word! I am with you on shredding your own cheese...no bag cheese here either. And thank you for the smoothie recipe & tips...I am making them tomorrow!

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  7. This is a definite must try! Looks so yummy :-)

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  8. we miss our friday pizza night. haven't braved making it here yet! :)

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  9. Love this post, love that Dave is so great in the kitchen, and I love your Backyardigans reference at the end. :) You know I'm drooling over that fabulous pizza. I am going to try my own crust next time I make pizza. I don't have all of those fancy contraptions in my kitchen, but maybe I can make do? The pizzas ALL look AMAZING. Fun post Cindy, and Dave. :)

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  10. Thank you so much for this post i have been wondering the best way to make pizza and this post really helped

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  11. lovely shot of the panties through the pink trousers.

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