#5 - Pizza Friday
Fiday my family loves to eat pizza. I love pizza, the whole world loves pizza. Those Italians gave us some very good things, but this is the best. I remember the early days of my marriage and my husband and I would get the "2fer" pizzas at Little Caesers. I would get a large pepperoni and mushroom and he would get the large combo. I could down a whole pizza by myself but if there was some left it was saved for breakfast. I couldn't understand why I gained so much weight those first years of marriage. Hmmmm.
Well we still have pizza on fridays, but it is a healthier option. Here is the recipe I use for a whole wheat crust, it is so good and doesn't get soggy. I got it from the "Set For Life" book by Jane Merrill and Karen Sunderland
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 T sugar
1 T dry yeast
1/2 t salt
1 cup comfortably hot water
2 T oil
Mix 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add water. Let stand while preparing dough. Knead 5 minutes; let dough rest 5 minutes. Use a pizza roller to roll dough about 1/4 inch thick on a lightly greased heavy pizza pan or baking sheet. To prevent soggy crust, prebake at 500 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes, just until puffed but not brown. After baking, spread dough with sauce (I use spagetti sauce) and add desired toppings. Bake in a 500 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes for a large pizza or 5 to 7 minutes for a medium or small pizza.
We let the kids put their own toppings, and sometimes divide the dough into personal pizzas, the kids love making thier own pizza and get quite creative. It is a fun family activity that we all look forward to. Remember mozerella cheese has less fat than cheddar, and you can add a smaller amount and still get the flavor. One favorite is ham and pineapple, you can buy lowfat ham lunchmeat and cut it up. Other ideas include lowfat turkey sausage, and I am pretty sure you can get a lower fat version of pepperoni. I love veggie pizzas, and use all the mushrooms, olives, peppers, tomatoes, and pineapple and fresh basil I can fit on it. When my husband and I were in Rome I was amazed at how little cheese they really use on a pizza, the crust was crispy thin, had beautiful bright red tomato sauce, thin slices of ham (which I can't spell right now, but it starts with pro...) peices of fresh basil, sliced roma tomatoes and slices of buffalo motzerella. It was a celestial experience, I will never look at the telestial version pizza hut offers the same way again. Get creative, and enjoy!
Happy Friday! Send me a picture!
13 comments:
We love pizza here too. We like to use alfredo sauce and make it with chicken, although I am sure the alfredo adds some fat to the whole thing.
I always used to joke that pizza was a balanced meal because you could get all of the food groups in one thing.
I love pizza. But because I have cut out alot of grease and fat I can only eat small amounts of restaurant pizza. So we have started just making our own homemade. I love the wheat dough recipe. I will have to try it next time we do pizza as a family. But because tonight is date night, I am using a suggestion I heard from someone - using the "Flatouts" in place of a pizza crust. I am sure its not as healthy as your wheat dough, but I did get the wheat kind and its super easy and super fast. I bought the toppings they like, and maybe they won't be as mad that we are going out, and they aren't. Happy Friday.
That sounds great, I'll have to give it a try!
I was going to ask you for your pizza crust as I saw on Marc and Megan's site that you had one. I've never found a whole wheat crust I liked so I'm anxious to try this one, thanks!
You are my hero! I've been meaning to find a whole wheat crust recipe for ages but have never gotten 'round to it. Thanks!
I'll be anxious to use this wheat crust recipe. Thanks.
We are pizza lovers.
Mmmmm...pizza!
I have very scant mozzarella at my house....
I see a trip to Sam's in my future tomorrow!!!!
Gotta try your crust recipe too. I know what we're having for dinner Saturday night!
I've been wanting to learn to make pizza for awhile. I'm totally going to have to try that. Thanks! We're heading to Denver sometime next month so I'll have to buy some whole wheat flour while we're there (our town is too small...I'm 99.9% positive we don't have it here).
You mean I can't just scrape the toppings off the pizza and feel like I'm being healthy by not consuming the white flour crust?? Yet again you've shattered my reality. I LOVE cooking with whole grains... can't wait to try this recipe.
Heffalump - I bet you could try making the alfredo light by using less butter and skim milk...I think I am going to try it. I love a balanced diet.
Davis family - I don't know what a Flatout is, Tortilla? Pita? pie crust? please inform.
Tara, when you do, I want a piece. I know you are a better cook than I am .
mindyluwho, kimberly and yvonne, you are most welcome, now I hope after you taste it you will still be grateful...
natalie, I think it is time you move to seattle, I know there are officers here.
spidermom, I laugh because I didn't think there were others who scrape off toppings, my kids wait like vultures watching for moms scrapings!
Oh my gosh! I have to second the deliciousness of *real* Italian pizza. You describe it so perfectly! I hope one day to figure out how to make it myself. And, I'm excited to try your whole wheat crust! :)
The 'flat out' is a flat pita. They have a few different varieties and all the kids liked it. and for us that is a miracle. One had me cut it into triangles, and the others rolled it up. And it was super easy, kid friendly meal, without the mess of my usual biscuit pizzas.
Oh great Whole Wheat Bread Goddess...I salute you...I bow to you...
I made your whole wheat bread today! I started at 6:00 am and was done by 8:00 am! And it turned out beautiful and delicious and my kids were going crazy and thanking me and promising me all kinds of things if they could please just have one more piece!
You are forever my bread hero!
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