Thursday, April 15, 2010

Dinner for breakfast.....anyone??? It's Pizza......


Now a days I'm hardly getting any time to post anything on my blog, whatever little time I get,I try to read as many posts from my favorite blogs as many I can. My little one is no more a baby she's quite a handful as a very active toddler......who can easily figure out how to climb up the shelves, she doesn't like my kitchen stuff tucked inside the cupboards & pantry, the moment she sees kitchen floor is empty she feels it's her duty to get everything out on the floor, I guess that helps her decide which container is best to climb up on. These stories will go on & on, coming to the pizza....it's been a while now I've been baking this, I feel the recipe is very easy & no chances of going wrong. You can easily make the healthy choices when u are making it at home by choosing low fat version of cheese, controlling the quantity of cheese and mixing whole wheat flour in the dough.
What U need :
For Crusty pizza dough 
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1 cup Luke warm water(may be little extra)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 2&1/2  to 3&1/2 cups all purpose flour( i use unbleached + substitute 1 cup with whole wheat flour)
  • 1 Tblsp. corn meal 

For topping : 
  • little olive oil
  • tomato based pizza sauce around 1 cup
  • 2 cups of toppings of your choice
  • shredded mozzarella
  • chili flakes
What to do :
  1. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add it to 2 & 1/2 cups of flour along with salt and olive oil . Mix it.
  2. Add remaining flour, little at a time knead it till it comes together & no more sticky. In total it should take around 6-8 minute of kneading.
  3. Place it in a greased big bowl, roll it to grease the dough, cover with damp kitchen cloth or plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place, about 2 hour or so, it should be almost double by then if not wait some more time. Once rise punch dough down.
  4. At this stage it's ready to be shaped & baked or you can keep it in the fridge for using it next day. But I prefer to do one more thing provided I have time on hand let it rest for another rise, covered with plastic wrap in warm place, an hour or so and after that proceed with it. I feel this extra step eliminates any yeast smell which is usually there when u bake pizza at home. Thou no body complaints at home they always love fresh home made pizza, but I feel that little smell, so I prefer double rise method.
  5. When ready to make pizza make sure oven is preheated very well at 450 degree F and also if dough was in the fridge take it out at least half an hour before u shape it.
  6. Brush the pizza pan with oil. Sprinkle cornmeal on to it. Roll the dough using some flour & transfer it to pan, pressing across bottom of pan. 
  7. Using a fork, pierce the dough at few spots. Spread around 1/2 a cup of pizza sauce. Add toppings. Sprinkle some dry herbs like oregano & chilli flakes. Bake it in the hot oven for around 12-14min. or till sides start to get little brown.
  8. Take it out sprinkle shredded cheese & bake for another few minutes till cheese starts to melt(keep an eye).
 Notes :
  • As I'm using active dry yeast & I know it's fresh as I keep it in the fridge(I buy small quantities only) I don't poof it first, in case of other yeast poof it for 7-8 minutes.
  • My recipe suggest 14 inch pizza pan for this but  I normally makes 2 pizzas out of this recipe, one for kids with their choice of toppings & another one for adults with more spices & toppings. And I use one 10" cast iron flat griddle(makes wonderful pizza), quality of this one is very much similar to one made using pizza stone, as I have used that too......oh, yes! when it comes to kitchen stuff specially fancy kind I love to buy it. Second pizza is usually in my standard size baking sheet(good for thin crust).
  • For pizza sauce, if u notice in the top picture I used 2 kind of sauces, left is regular tomato based & on right side it's spicy green sauce(cilantro + green chillies), it does take it to whole different level.
  • For toppings let your imagination run wild, few of my fav. unusual toppings are baby corn, home made meatballs or cheese balls(kofta), you can't see but top pizza has nice crunchy toasty cashew nuts & pistachios as one of the topping & last but not the least chocolate chips, favorite with DD & her friends. If u want to use choc. chips only put them toward the last few minutes of cooking as that will result in gooey warm choc. chips and not totally melted chocolate.
I started writing this post with  "Baking from a Book" event in my mind, as I use this recipe form my little recipe book which comes with kitchen aid Stand mixer. But now when I checked champa's blog I realized I missed the part breakfast in the event. But I'm still forwarding it to you Champa(Bangalore Baker), if you like u can add it to your event, as in my house we are big eater when it comes to pizza. Me & my DD always enjoy leftover pizza for breakfast next day & the days when I plan little ahead it's fresh pizza for the weekend brunch. And I'm sure there must be many more like me who can not resist a slice of pizza for the breakfast. Off it goes to Bake-off event also, hosted by Champa only. Also sending it to Susan's Yeastspotting event.

39 comments:

Rita said...

The joys of being a mom; remember that stage where they are in everything!..I had 4 boys.
I really admire that you are tacklig home made pizza; looks terrific. I haven't done that in quite a while. Have fun with your little one; they do grow so fast.
Rita

Tina said...

Pizzaaa looks mouthwatering dear...

? said...

Interesting 'green' base; must try it out this weekend! Thanks for sharing.

Sushma Mallya said...

Hi, how are you and your little one doing? kids always keeps us busy and there will be no enough time for anything else, i do understand, i have been through that phase and still going through but not that much as before...pizza looks yum...

Simplyfood said...

Pizza looks wholesome and delicious.

notyet100 said...

pizza is my fav,and now even i ahve started baking the crust at home,..

RV @ Food for 7 Stages said...

This looks exactly like store bought pizzas. Amazing recipe. yumm

Unknown said...

looks delicious..

Champa said...

Pizza looks yummy. Did you send me an email with this? I never got it and I even checked the spam folder. I'll take it for 'Bake-off' for next week since i already finished editing the one for today. Do send it. Thanks,

Champa said...

Got the email. Thanks.

sangeeta said...

pizza is welcome anytime ...and with nuts as a topping it's wonderful..

Ash said...

Awesome & scrumptious topping... I would love it anytime.... for sure... Awesome prep with awesome pictures to accompany it....

Ash...
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Urmi said...

I love pizza very much. Thanks for this lovely recipe. I have never prepared at home but going to try your recipe definitely. You made pizza so nicely that it looks delicious and spicy and I cannot resist myself.

Champa said...

Spice, I am talking in reference to your comment. You can send that one too. It helps if you remember the name of the magazine.

Ann said...

Pizaa.. looks yumm.

Aparna S Mallya said...

delicious!! makes me want to eat a slice right now!

tasteofbeirut said...

Finally back! Great recipe and wonderful pizza!

Malar Gandhi said...

Thats nice to read' your anecdote', enjoy motherhood:) Pizza, count me in, look appetizing:)

Unknown said...

I wouldnt miss a breakfast like this :)

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Wow ! I can have this anytime....And like you I also keep on experimenting with different toppings :-) .
Thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving nice comments. It really means a lot. Hope to see you again
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Spice said...

Thanks everyone for taking time out to leave your valuable thoughts...

@ Sage, U r so right, kids do get themselves into everything(i mean literally they get into everything)....but u r right again, they do grow fast....I already feel that....

Spice said...

@ Tina, thanks....

@ ?, please do let me know your opinion on this, whenever u try it...

@ Sushma, thanks for asking dear....I'm doing great except that I miss reading all the beautiful blogs....& baby is becoming more active day by day(sometime I feel hour by hour....lol)

Spice said...

@simply.food, thanks.

@notyet100, nice to know that u too bake crust at home, I'm sure it must be Advay's fav. too...

@ RV, I feel I'm in the air...thanks for the wonderful compliment...

@ Sowmya, thanks.

@ Bangalore Baker, thanks & about the other recipe for "Baking from book event" I'll def. try to post within this month.....

Spice said...

@ Sangeeta and Ashkuku Thanks.

@ Babli, thanks for the lovely compliment...sure & go ahead give it a try, u gonna love it & do let me know your view about it once u try it...about spices, as an Indian be it a chicken curry or pizza got to have lots of spices.....right.

@ Ann, thanks.

Spice said...

@ Aparna, TasteofBeirut, Malar and Divya, Thanks.

@Hamaree Rasoi, Thanks & I do love to read your posts....it's only that now a days even when I'm free I can't sit in front of computer as my little one immediately take charge of computer, but i'll be surely checking your blog whenever I can...thanks for stopping by...

Pavithra Srihari said...

pizza is utterly mouthwatering

Namitha said...

Oh, yes I know..I have a toddler son too...son means double the trouble.Our daughter was not this naughty...:D
Pizza looks delicious..home made is the best :-)

Veggie Hut said...

delicious! i CAN have it anytime.. breakfats or dinner.. hehehe

SE said...

yummy...delicious...been a while, i see your post..howz you doing ?

Padhu Sankar said...

Mouthwatering pizza!!
http://padhuskitchen.blogspot.com

tasteofbeirut said...

I remember those days! I was in a daze most of the time! Patience.
Your pizza looks and tastes great, love these chili flakes especially!

Preety said...

love pizza anytime..my husband is baking one right now for dinner..love the topping suggestion too..and i can totally relate to you as i have 2 1/2 year old:)

Padmajha said...

HaHaHa I am facing the same situation at home now!The moment I enter the kitchen lil angel promptly
finds her spot there!!Love ur pizza.Its ages since I ate Pizzaz and would to have a bite anytime :)

Premyscakes said...

Hi, u have wonderful blog. Thanks for your lovely comments and my b'day wishes. I was in india, arrived 3 days back. will keep in touch. thanks

M D said...

Love pizzas and do a lot of them at home. Almost similar to ur base, except for the corn meal. Pizza looks great. Would love to bite into some ;) Also loved ur previous post on the cake. Damn good!

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

Wow, that's a delectable pizza. I will try this weekend, and am going to delight my kids. thanks for sharing dear. do drop in at my blog sometime.

Sanyukta Gour(Bayes) said...

pizza from stratch looks wonderful....wanna hv a bite..nice clicks..
first time here...u have a lovely space...just started blogging..and love to add u in my list..
ur comments/suggestions r highly appreciated..happy blogging...following u>>>>>>



sanyuktagour(bayes)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Amrita said...

Great!!..I would surely like to bake the crust at home as well rather than using the ready made base

Yasmeen said...

Fresh homemade pizza is always inviting for any time of the day :D