Pizzzzzzzza!

As I mentioned in my previous recipe blog, I have a newfound love of making sweet breads & dough. So much so that I refuse to buy store bought pizzas for the tribe anymore. Opting instead for making our own. Not only is it 110% more delicious but it is really rewarding to making it all by hand. The children love them and enjoy the process of putting their own tomato puree and toppings on. It's a family event and one we thoroughly all enjoy.

Not only is all of the above enough inspiration to make your own, but it is also highly cost effective to make your own too. Averaging roughly half the price of store bought pizzas and and an amazing quarter of the price of a family dominoes. Win win if you ask me.

Making the perfect dough isn't a science exactly however the magic all occurs with the amount of effort you put into the preparation of the dough. It is a perfect recipe to do when you need to exert some excess stress as you literally have to beat the life out of your dough to help it proof perfectly.

Ingredients 

500g Strong white flour
1 x 7g sachet of yeast
300ml warm water
2Tbsp olive oil (garlic olive oil is yum in this too!)

Method

1. Mix your flour and yeast in a large mixing bowl.
2. Make a well in the centre of your mix.
3. Mix your water and oil in a jug.
4. Pour your warm liquid into the well in your dry mix.
5. Combine thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
6. Once your dough in formed tip it out onto a floured surface and literally using a fist beat the living crap out of it. I put my fist palm down in the centre of my dough ball and squash it as I push/roll it forward. Then I pull it back towards me and repeat this process for a good 5-10 minutes.
7. Once you have done that, place your mix back in the mixing bowl and cover with clingfilm. Leave in a warm place (the kitchen) to prove/rise for 60-90 minutes.
8. Once the time has passed and your mixture has risen well take it out and place it on a floured surface (it will be sticky and stringy at this point)
9. Repeat step 6 for 5 minutes.
10. Leave to rise on your work surface for a further 5 minutes.
11. Then viola it is ready to use! If I have a ball I tend to cut into four pieces as you would a cake and then roll them out. This will make 4 medium sized pizzas.
12. Use plenty of flour when rolling your dough and try not to flip it as you want to base to be more floury so to speak then it doesn't stick to the pizza pan when baking.
13. Add your tomato puree and desired toppings. I like to use BBQ sauce as the sauce for my base! I also like to create stuffed crusts for that true dominoes style satisfaction.

As always with all of my recipes, feel free to email me some photos. I love adding your photos to my blog and seeing my recipes being enjoyed in your homes by your families. Much love-Steph xxx