Gabes Baby Momma Pizzeria

From Carolina's Pizzeria

Not really, but it seems like it. Since my MIL gave me a nifty Cuisinart 7-cup Food Processor, I have gone crazy trying to make all the things I have always wanted to try to do and came up with a million excuses why I should not, like Pizza.
I have NEVER baked my own pizza, not even with Pizza kits or pre-made pizza crust they have at the grocery stores. My thinking was why go through all that trouble when Little Caesars sells a large for $5 or the stores have the frozen gourmet kind on sale all the time. Proponents for pizza making have always told me that "store" bought could not compare, but I did not listen. Boy, were they right.

From Carolina's Pizzeria

The other day, I felt like trying a new recipe from my Cuisinart recipe booklet for Pizza Dough that seemed really easy,  and it was! It was even easier to roll out.  I was surprised, because I am STILL working on rolling out tortilla dough to look oval and not shaped like the United States.

The best part, we could add as much or as little of everything we wanted to exact specifications. That means, I loaded up half the pizza with garlic, jalapenos, and olives, while the kids still got their own half with cheese and pepperoni. Now, I know you can have a restaurant do that, but it took less time,  a lot less money (which I love), and was really fresh and hot. I asked the kids which they preferred homemade or takeout. Homemade was hands-down their favorite. Now, Saturday is our "Pizza Night" and the kids can help make their own (could be scary). For now, that makes them happy.

Which brings me to my next feat, I have worked out a schedule to help me and the kids know what's for dinner and help my shopping excursions (I hear this is the best way to save money, too!). So far we have decided, Monday is Spaghetti night, Tuesday is "The Other White Meat" Night (pork), Wednesday is "Breakfast for Dinner" night, Thursday is Hamburger Night, Friday is Taco Night, and Saturday is now Pizza Night. Yup, that leaves only Sunday. We are still taking suggestions.

Recipe: Basic Pizza Dough (makes 14-inch crust or 2-9 inch pizza crusts) using a food processor

• 1 package active dry yeast
•  1 tsp of sugar
• 2/3 cup of warm water
• 1-2/3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp of salt
• 2 tsp oil
• oil for pan
• 1-1/2 tbsp cornmeal for pan

Stir yeast and sugar in to warm water and let stand until foamy, about ten minutes. Insert metal blade, put flour and salt in a water bowl adn turn on food processor.  Pour yeast mixture through feed tube and process about 45 seconds, until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Add oil through feed tube and process 60 seconds longer.

If dough sticks to sides of bowl, add more flour. 1 tablespoon at a time, processing for 10 seconds after each addition, until dough leaves sides of bowl but remains soft.  

Roll dough on floured surface into circle, rotating and turning dough often and using enough flour so it doesn't stick. If dough resists rolling, let it rest for a few minutes and try again. Roll dough into a 15-inch circle for a flat 14-inch pizza  pan, or into 10-inch circles for flat 9-inch pizza pans.

Oil pans(s) lightly and sprinkle with cornmeal. Fold rolled dough in half loosely and then in half again. Position point in center outward, turn under the 1-inch overhang and shape it into a rim. Crust(s) is now ready to bake and fill.  

From Carolina's Pizzeria

Everything in this recipe is pretty much the way it went down for me, except I still need to work on the "shape into a rim" part.

The pizza tasted great.  I used a simple pasta sauce (store bought), various shredded cheeses (mozarella and fiesta blend), pepporoni slices, black olive, green olives,  jalapenos, and minced garlic.  Then topped with extra Italian seasoning.  I will use my own sauce and try baking different types of crusts later (honey wheat).


Okay, gotta get ready for Spaghetti Night and Tuesdays With Dorie's Savory Corn and Peppers Corn Muffins.

P.S. My hubby and I had a pizza for lunch with all our favorite toppings and Lime flavored Bud Light. I can not tell you how awesome the combinaton was. Al the flavors just burst. There is nothing like beer and pizza!