Pizza Night

Friday nights are typically pizza nights at our house. This is the recipe I've been using lately because it's so quick and easy (and tasty!). (Adapted from America's Test Kitchen)

Crust:

2 1/3 c. all-purpose four (or a combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flours)

½ t. salt

1 pkg. instant yeast (2 ¼ t.)

¾ c. warm skim milk

2 T. olive oil

2 t. sugar

Heat oven to 200 degrees F, then turn off.

Mix flour, salt, and yeast in bowl of mixer.  Combine warm milk, olive oil, and sugar and add to dry ingredients with mixer on low speed.   Increase speed to medium-slow and knead till smooth and shiny.  Shape into a ball and place in a greased bowl.  Cover and proof in warm oven (turned off) for 30 minutes.

When dough has risen 30 minutes, remove from oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.

Sauce:

1 T. olive (or canola) oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1-28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

While dough is rising, add minced garlic to olive oil in cold pan.  Cook on low 2 minutes.  Stir in crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 15-30 minutes, until thickened.

Pizza:

4-6 T. olive oil, for pans

4 oz. pepperoni

3 c. mozzarella cheese

Place 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil in each of two 9” round cake pans with 2” sides.  Divide dough in two.  Roll a piece of dough into a 7” circle.  Drape on knuckles and gently pull into a bigger circle of dough that is thinner in the center than the edges, about 9 ½ “.  Place in one oiled pan.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Cover pans and let dough rise a bit.

Working in batches if necessary, pre-cook about 4 oz. pepperoni (20-25 slices per pizza) in microwave, placing slices on a plate between paper towels, for 30 seconds.

For each pizza, spread 2/3 c. sauce within ½” of edge of crust (freeze leftover sauce for later).  Top sauce with 1 ½ c. mozzarella cheese and half of the pepperoni.

Bake  in preheated oven for 20 minutes.  (Bake on bottom rack for a darker, crispier crust.)  Cool in pan 1 minute then remove pizzas to a wire rack to cool further.  Slice and serve.