pizza
Goat Cheese Pizza
Homemade pizza is a favorite in this house. I buy frozen dough instead of fresh because it is frozen in the perfect shape making it easier to maintain the desired round shape when it is defrosted. The fresh dough often is smushed, crushed, and very out of shape thus making it almost impossible to shape a round pizza.
This pizza can be altered to taste. I used what I had in the house, but you could eliminate the pepperoni and add ham or keep it meatless.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen pizza dough, defrosted
- 1/4 cup of flour
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 oz. goat cheese
- 4 tbls. grated pecorino romano cheese
- 1 fresh tomato, sliced thin
- 4 oz. pepperoni, sliced thin
- 8 fresh basil leaves
- dry oregano (to taste)
- Pizza Stone to bake pizza on
Directions
- Place pizza stone in oven and pre-heat oven to 450 degrees
- Sprinkle flour on clean counter surface near your stove!
- Place pizza dough on floured surface and sprinkle flour on top of dough
- shape dough to the size of your pizza stone
- When oven is heated, remove pizza stone from oven using an oven mitt
- Leave pizza stone on stove-top
- Quickly move your dough from the counter to your pizza stone taking care not to burn yourself
- Cover pizza dough with tomato sauce leaving edges without sauce
- Sprinkle on mozzarella and pecorino romano cheeses
- Top with pepperoni, goat cheese, fresh tomatoes, and basil
- Sprinkle with oregano
- Transfer stone to oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes – Keep an eye on pizza – top should be golden brown and crust should be thoroughly cooked
- When done, once again remove pizza stone to top of the stove
- Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes and cut with a pizza wheel
Pizza Caprese
I make pizza at home about once a week. We love pizza. As summer approaches and garden tomatoes and basil become available, I like to make Pizza Caprese. I love the simplicity of flavors this recipe produces.
I have two pizza stones and have experimented with using them. I've learned that heating the stones while the oven is heating makes a huge difference in the crispness of the crust. I will tell you, however, that the stone could be hard to handle and is VERY hot. Another thing you will need to think about is where you shape your pizza dough. It should be near the stove so that when you are ready to transfer it to the hot stone, you don't have to move the dough too far (as it might stretch in ways you don't want it to).
Ingredients
- fresh or frozen (defrosted) pizza dough
- 2 roma tomatoes
- 15 basil leaves, chopped
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella
- extra virgin olive oil
Directions
- Place pizza stone in oven and preheat oven to 500° F.
- Cut tomatoes into thin slices and lay them on a paper towel to soak up excess liquid.
- Cut the mozzarella into 1/4-inch slices and lay them on a paper towel to soak up excess liquid.
- Chop the basil leaves.
- Flour counter or board and press the pizza dough into a 12-inch circle.
- When oven is heated, carefully remove pizza stone and place on stovetop
- Move pizza dough onto hot pizza stone being careful not to get burned
- Lay the tomatoes on in concentric circles around the dough, about 1/2-inch away from the edge.
- Sprinkle on the chopped basil and some olive oil.
- Lay the sliced mozzarella around the top.
- Place back in oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until crust is browned and cheese is just starting to bubble.
- Carefully remove from the oven.
- Allow to sit 5 minutes, then slice with a pizza cutter and serve