Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure€¦ · Working with dough can get a little messy, make sure you have a large flat surface (like a table) that is bigger than the pizza you are creating.

Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure

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Step 1: I knead more dough.

Buy or make your dough. If making dough, be sure to plan enough time to allow it to rise properly.

Option 1: I am one with the dough and will make it from scratch. (See dough recipe on page 4-5)Option 2: Who has time for that? I’m getting it pre-made.

Step 2: Get in shape pizza

Once you have your dough, stretch it out to fit the shape of your pan. Make the crust as thin or thick as you like. Make sure the dough is on an oven safe non-stick pan before adding anything on top.Tips and tricks can be found in the “Making the Crust,” Section of the recipe.

Option 1: My pizza will be most the perfect, beautiful circle in all the land.Option 2: I call it ... uh ... art.

Step 3: The sauce is boss

You are visited by a giant squirrel who drops off a mysterious sauce recipe.

Option 1: “Oooookay... let’s give it a try. (See sauce recipe on page 6)Option 2: I “made” the sauce when I got it from the store!

Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure

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Step 4: Over the top with toppings

After you spread the sauce on your dough, add your favorite toppings. Be careful not to overload it or the dough might not cook all the way.

Option 1: Toppings first, then cheese.Option 2: Cheese first, then toppings

Step 5: Into the oven

Make sure your pizza is preheated to 475⁰F. Cook one pizza at a time in the center rack for 15-20 minutes or to your liking.

Option 1: As soon as I see a golden crust and bubbling cheese I know the pizza is done.Option 2: It’s not burnt… it’s just extra crispy.

Step 6: Enjoy!!

Option 1: This looks wonderful! I must dig in immediately!Option 2: Uhh, something went wrong... better call for delivery after all.

Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure

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Ingredients

Crust: makes enough for two pizzas

• 1 teaspoon active dry or instant yeast• 4 cups all-purpose flour• 1 teaspoon salt• 1/3 cup olive oil• 1-2 teaspoons sugar• 11/2 cups water warm

Pizza Sauce

• 16 oz. can whole tomatoes in Sauce (or 16oz of tomato sauce)• 6 oz. can tomato paste• 3/4 of an onion finely diced (save the other 1/4 for a topping)• 3 cloves of garlic (minced)• 1 teaspoon sugar• 1 teaspoon black pepper• 1 teaspoon salt• 1 tablespoon garlic powder• 2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning• 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese• 1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes (only for those who like it spicy)

Topping ideas

• 8 oz. Mozzarella Cheese (makes 2 pizzas) • Fresh Mozzarella Cheese• Black or green olives • Mushrooms• Onion• Bell Pepper• Tomatoes • Basil• Pineapple • Pepperoni• Bacon • Sausage• Chicken• Ham

Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure

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Making the Crust

1. Proof the yeast Read your yeast instructions. Add 2 teaspoons of sugar into 1, 1/2 cups of water. Heat the water until it is warm to the touch but does not burn. Remove the water from the heat and make sure the sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of yeast over the water. Do not stir the yeast. Wait 10 minutes for the yeast to activate (you will see small bubbles forming on the surface).

-Pro tip: Yeast thrives at temperatures between 110ºF-120ºF but will die at temperatures 130ºF or higher, use a candy thermometer to get the temperature just right.

2. Mix all ingredients In a separate bowl, mix 4 cups of flour and 1 teaspoon of salt. Slowly mix in 1/3 cup of olive oil. Next, slowly add your yeast and water mixture to the bowl with flour. Mix all the ingredients until a uniform ball of dough has formed.

-Pro tip: Use a mixer with a dough attachment or put a little olive oil on your clean hands and start kneading the dough traditional style.

3. Let it rise Get a bowl that is at least 3 times as large as the ball of dough. Give the inside of the bowl a light coating of olive oil so the dough does not stick as it rises. Cover the dough with a moist cloth and let it rise. The minimum time to rise is 4 hours at room temperature, but it tastes even better if you leave it 24 hours in the fridge. Continue making sure the cloth is moist for the duration of the rising.

-Pro tip: Put a small amount of olive oil on a napkin or paper towel and use it to coat the bowl in oil.

Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure

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Making the Crust

4. Stretching the dough.Working with dough can get a little messy, make sure you have a large flat surface (like a table) that is bigger than the pizza you are creating. After sanitizing the surface, bring your bag of flour and dough over to begin the fun.

Split the dough in half to make 2 equal sized balls dough and choose one to form into your first pizza crust. Sprinkle a little flour on the dough ball and table to prevent sticking. Use your hands to begin stretching the dough into a shape that will fit your baking pan.

You can also use a roller to stretch the dough. If you don’t have a roller, a clean wine bottle or other smooth cylindrical object will work just fine. As you are stretching the dough out sprinkle on more flour if you notice it is getting sticky.

Once it is in the shape of a pizza, give the bottom a light dusting of flour and place it on your baking pan.

-Pro tip: Pizza still tastes amazing even if it is not a perfect circle.

Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure

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Making the Sauce

1. Prepare Ingredients Make sure all ingredients are sliced, cans are open and spices are nearby.

2. Sauté In a medium sauce pan add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat the pan on medium-high. Once the oil is hot (but not smoking) add ¾ of a normal sized diced onion and sauté until a translucent color is reached. Next add a tablespoon of minced garlic and cook with the onions for 2 minutes.

3. Add the wet ingredientsNext add a 16 oz. can of tomato sauce and 6 oz. can of tomato paste then stir. Once the sauce begins to boil, turn down the heat to medium-low.

4. Add spices Next add the spices to your liking and stir occasionally. Let the flavors blend on a low heat for 15 minutes.

-Pro tip: Add 3 tablespoons of shredded parmesan cheese in the last 5 minutes to take flavor to a whole new level.

Choose Your Own Pizza Adventure

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Other Secrets

• You can freeze pizza dough if you want to make extra.• When shaping the dough, add small amounts of flour to the outside of the dough to prevent

sticking. It should stick to you or the table. • Put a little olive oil on top of dough before adding the sauce.• Don’t forget the parmesan cheese in the sauce.• If you add ingredients with a high water content, like tomatoes, cut them into thin slices and do

not overload the pizza. If the toppings are too wet, you will end up with a soggy mess.• If you have problems with the crust not cooking well on the bottom, cook the pizza on your BBQ

for the last 3 minutes on high.