Pizza....Mama Mia

Hello Everybody. Ive been craving to bake fresh out of the oven pizza for quite some time. So today i did try to bake a Pizza for the "First Time" ...and it did turn out well. hurray .. So i wanted to put it in my cookbook so that all of you can make your own fresh pizza's at home ...:)
So lets get started..

Here's what you ll need:
To make Pizza Dough:
All Purpose Flour - 4 Cups
Luke warm water - ( as required) ~ about 110ºF ( not hot)
Instant yeast ~ about 2 1/4 tbsp
Olive oil (and more for hands) - 2 tbsp
Salt - 2 tbsp

To make Pizza Sauce:
Diced Tomato - 1 can or Whole tomatoes, pureed in a Food Processor or
Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
Garlic cloves - 4 ( minced )
Pressed salt and pepper
Italian herb mix - a few pinches
Fresh basil leaves - 1/2 cup ( chopped )

For Toppings:
You can add any kind of fruits, veggies or meat of your choice. Anything....Ive heard, in italy, people just beat an egg and add it as toppings for their pizza... Its absolutely your choice. You can add any thing you would like to eat ..:)

I added Onions, Bell Pepper, Mushroom and Pineapple for topping in the pizza that i made today.

Plus - Lots and Lots of Mozzarella Cheese... mmm

For the Dough:

• Add the yeast to 1/2 cup luke warm water and let it remain for 15 mins. By the end of 15 mins, you will see form like substance rising up to the top. Its now ready to be used and we can start working on the dough.
• Place the flour in a mixing bowl, add the salt, olive oil and the yeast and start mixing n kneeding to make a nice dough. Kneed it well for around 5 to 10 mins, till you get a nice soft and elastic ball of dough. If it is sticky, add for flour and make your dough soft.
• You can add a pinch of Italian herbs (seasoning) to get some flavor in the crust/ pizza base.
• Now let the dough remain for atleast 1 1/2 to 2 hrs in an air tight container.
• Gently turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. The dough should have raised in size and volume bcoz of the yeast. Oil your hands in order to avoid from sticking and plus the olive oil gives in a crispy crust.
• Press and kneed the dough well to release all the air bubbles formed for another 5 to 10 mins.
• Pizza Dough is all done.
• You can cut the dough into portions and use when ever you want to. So cut it into either 2 or 4 portions. Refregirate the unused piece.
• So now, flatten the dough and using your hands strech it nicely to make it a thin layer. Not too thick and not too thin. you can also use a roller to do it ..but better results are when you strech it with your hands.
• now that your base is ready, let get started with adding the sauce and toppings...

For the Sauce:

• In a Pan, Add 2 tbsp olive Oil, and once hot, add chopped garlic and fry to 10 secs
• Add diced tomatoes or puree and let it cook.
• Add Italian Seasoning ( for flavor) and the fresh Basil leaves.
• If you dont get it fresh, used bottled basil leaves.
• Let the mixture get cooked nicely till the raw smell has gone.
• Add salt and pepper
• Pizza Sauce is ready. Let it cool down before you spread it on your base. Or else, your pizza will become very coggy and watery...

Preheat the oven at 450ºF.

In the meantime, Lets get the raw pizza ready,

For the Final Finish:

• To the Pizza Base, Spread the Pizza sauce (cooled) , Add the onions first topped by a layer of mozzarella cheese in order to avoid the oinions from getting burnt. On top of the cheese layer add the rest of the topping so that they get roasted in the oven. Add shredded mozzarella cheese all over the pizza. ( Dont add toooo mch of topping, It might ruin your pizza...)
• Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is spotty and melted. Keep an eye on it and remove it when you think it looks good.
• This might take anytime between 20 to 30 mins depending on the size of your pizza.

Tips:

1. Your pizza might not be round the first time... however you make it ..it's going to be edible so give it a shot.
2. To get bright red color sauce, use, Wine or Roma Tomatoes. Some people add color powder( but i dont recommend that).
3. If you d like to add non veg, first get it cooked or half cooked seperately before adding it to the pizza pan..this is just to maintain even cooking time for the pizza.
4. Use Only Olive Oil while making your pizza's, coz that gives your pizza a good flavor...

Enjoy your freshly baked home made pizza....
Godetevi la vostra pizza!!! ( means in italian Enjoy your pizza !!!) Adding a lil Italian touch while enjoying your pizza....ciao ...buongiorno!