Pizza Sauce the Right Way

Making your own pizza sauce is a little time consuming but the more you make it the better and faster it gets. I had been thinking about making my own sauce for a really long time and I just didn't know where to begin. I have used both canned and fresh and I prefer the fresh. I figure if your going through the trouble you might as well make it as fresh as you can. In the Winter would be the only time I would use canned tomatoes.

Ingredients:

10 large tomatoes

2 garlic gloves, minced

1/2 cup yellow onion, minced

1 tbsp. oregano

1 tbsp. basil

1 tsp. thyme

1-3 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp. vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Bring to boil a pot of water. Cut an X in the tomatoes and drop them into the water. When the skin cracks they are done. Transfer to an ice bath and cool. Remove skin and seeds from inside. chop the tomatoes. In a pan saute onions and garlic in olive oil. Add tomatoes and herbs. Simmer on low-med for 20 minutes. The longer the simmer the more moisture is removed. If you like it liquidy instead of chunky you can use an immersion blender or puree it in a blender. I prefer the immersion blender. At the end add the sugar. Go really slow with this and taste it, you don't want it to be too sweet. Then add a splash of vinegar and that's it.So good you will never turn back I promise!

Homemade Basil Pizza Dough

It seems like every pizza dough I try is good, but it doesn't quite have that chewy texture that you get at the pizza chains. I seriously think this is the best pizza dough and I really like the flecks of basil and flavor it adds. I also make this on the grill a lot and its delicious.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp yeast
1/3 cup really warm water
1/2 tbsp sugar
mix together and wait until foamy and doubled in size
then add:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour plus more if needed
1 tsp basil

Add all in a mixer with a dough attachment add the salt very last so it doesn't kill the yeast. knead and add flour until it pulls away from the bowl. If mixing by hand knead for about 5 minutes. Poke the dough with your finger if it bounces back with no dent, it's ready.

When I make pizza I cook it on 500 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.

Giada's Delish Pizza Crust

This pizza was so good! It tasted as good as it looks. I saw this pizza dough recipe on the food network and just added some olive oil to it. This is my absolute favorite pizza dough now!

Ingredients:

1 pkg dry yeast
1 cup warm water
combine and add to:
1 1/2 tsp. salt
4 cups flour
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:

In a mixer with the kneading attachment combine all ingredients and knead for about 5 minutes until it doesn't stick or crumbles. (can also do by hand) After that form your dough in a ball and place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 3 hours. Then form the dough into a log and cut into 3 pieces. (I used one to make a pizza with that day and put the other 2 back in the fridge for 2 more days to age a little bit.) Once you have your dough, spread work area with flour and roll out until about 13 inches in diameter and 1/4 in. thick. Top your pizza and cook at 475 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

* For pizza sauce I love "Classico's" Tomato and Basil Sauce.

Whole Wheat Pizza

We have really liked this pizza. It's loaded with lots of veggies and it can feed us for two days. The wheat crust is really a good alternative too, but they have white as well.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. whole wheat crust doe from Trader Joes (or any other store)

1 bottle pizza sauce

1 pkg. already diced baby Bella mushrooms

1/2 of a yellow onion

1/2 of a green onion
1 cup cooked and diced chicken

1 small can diced black olives

1 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Roll out dough onto a floured surface. Roll to thickness that you want and apply sauce toppings. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Then broil at 525 degrees for 4 minutes to get the cheese browned a little. You can also freeze the dough it makes it really easy for when you want a quick pizza. This is super good!

Alfredo Pizza

Ingredients:

1 store bought pizza crust, such as Boboli

1 tbsp. Olive Oil

1/2 jar Alfredo sauce, Classico

1 pd. grilled chicken cubed

1 green pepper diced

1/4 onion diced (opt)

1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

Directions:

Place crust on a large baking sheet. Brush with oil and spread the sauce. Top with all ingredients and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes until crust has started to brown and the cheese gets bubbly. Slice into six slices.

Quick Pizza Crust

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. dry active yeast

1 tbsp. sugar

1 cup warm water

Stir in:

2 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. oil

1 tbsp. sugar

Directions:

Mix together and let rest 5 minutes. Roll out and place on a baking sheet. Cook 4-5 minutes at 425 degrees. Take out and top with your favorite pizza toppings then bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. This is so easy kids would love it.

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients:

2 rolls store bought sugar cookie dough

1 8 oz. Cream Cheese

12 oz. Cool Whip

2 Cup powdered Sugar

fruit of choice

Directions:

Grease pan and flatten cookie dough to cover a sheet pan. Cook 10-12 minutes and let cool. Mix topping together with a mixer and spread over cookie dough. Add sliced fruit and refrigerate.

Pita Pizza's

This is another recipe i learned from a roommate, and now i make it all the time when i want something fast. I can just throw it in and it's ready in 10 minutes. It's really easy to make and you can mix up the ingredients to whatever you like.

Ingredients:

Chopped Green Bell Pepper
Chopped Yellow Onion
Pan Grilled Chicken in small pieces
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
pkg. of whole wheat or white pitas
ranch dressing, or BBQ sauce

Directions:

Heat oven to 410 degrees. Place 2 pitas onto a cookie sheet. Spread Ranch dressing or BBQ as a base sauce. Then top it with the peppers, onion, chicken, and then cheese. Place in the oven and cook for 10 minutes. *I like to broil it for a few minutes to brown the top a little bit and make it crispy. If you don't like any of these ingredients you can definitely substitute your own. This would be a fun meal to let the kids help with too. Who doesn't like pizza!