Cooking for People Unsure of what a Stove Does: Recipe 7 - Pizza!!

Giant elevator buttons?

     And its that time of the week again!  We'll be taking a field trip away from my sad little kitchen and its pair of burners, to visit a friend with an oven to make pizza!  The good news is that I wasn't allowed to take so many of the final pictures, so hopefully you all enjoy having more proper photography for a change!

Simple Pizza

*Ingredients:

• Flour (2 cups) (+ some extra)
• Brown Sugar (1 teaspoon)
• Salt (1 teaspoon)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Don't be so second-best, use the good stuff)
• Yeast (1 packet)
• Warm water (a little less than 1 cup at the same temperature you'd use for a baby's bathwater)
• Tomatoes (very ripe and diced)
• Tomato Puree (1 cup or more)
• Oregano (fresh or dried)
• Rosemary (fresh or dried)
• Basil (fresher than Will Smith)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Garlic (3 cloves)
• Onion (one small)
• Bell peppers (sliced; any topping of your choice will do)
• Fresh mozzarella (not ever optional)
• Good quality melting cheese
• Salad (optional, no ones cares it's pizza!)

The photography is already better, and this is just flour!

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees (Celsius). 

     Combine the yeast, sugar, and water in a bowl, and allow them to sit in a warm place for 5-10 minutes. Make sure that you see foam appearing on the mixture to show that the yeast has activated. Then mix in the flour - do not mess around with the oil and salt yet. With a dough hook, or when you're a student more likely a wooden spoon, stir thoroughly and gently until you have a single ball of dough.

You can't wait on creativity. You have
to go after it with a club.

     Cover the dough with some oil and top that with a layer of cling wrap to prevent your creation from drying out. Let rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.

Purple onions.  Don't worry about it, its fine that you're
jealous.

MEANWHILE ON YOUR CUTTING BOARD:

     Chop the garlic, onions, and herbs (keep some of the basil back), and soften them in the oil over medium heat. (Technically that last bit isn't on your chopping board) But really though, don't burn the garlic. 

Mmmm, tomato!

     Add in your tomatoes (juice and all), and simmer them over medium heat. Finally add your tomato puree and seasoning along with a sprinkle of sugar. I won't tell you the amounts. Use your taste buds; don't be so lazy.

And now I bring you joyous news! The dough has risen to bring salvation to this pizza.

There is a picture of the uncooked pizza outside of the oven.
It is currently indisposed.

     Knead your risen dough for at least 5 minutes like you're massaging someones back. Also add in the oil and salt and put some flour on the surface first though folks! But be very gentle - an Italian pizza maker once told me to treat the risen dough like a baby: spread it over your pan, and then top it!**** (Kidding, don't do that to your baby)  I was informed that it is a distinctly American thing to absolutely drown a pizza in cheese and toppings, so bear that in mind.

     Then, place your pizza inside of a 250 degree (Celsius) oven, and bake for approximately 15 minutes (use your best judgement based on your pizza and oven you pizza burning baboon).

Check that out!

     And you're done!  It wasn't too painful I hope?  While your toppings might vary (eat your vegetables!), hopefully you find this recipe as easy as it is intended to be.  See you next time!

For your Amusement:

As it was meant to be!

Use fresh oregano!  Its amazing!

Proverb of the Day:

There is such a thing as German flag colored fortune cookies.

*The pizza dough recipe is original.

**Source links are included for stock images.

***The background music is from a personal music project in progress.
****My guest photographer thought she was being funny and edited my post.  Forgive the cheekiness.