This page has moved to a new address.

PIzza, homemade everything!

the urban baker: PIzza, homemade everything!

the urban baker

The Urban Baker is deliciously photographed blog about nourishing your family's soul through life in the kitchen. The recipes for fabulous savories and sweets are easily replicated and will inspire you.

Monday, July 19, 2010

PIzza, homemade everything!

My kids come home from camp STARVING!  Generally, I bring some sort of snack for the ride home.  But, when they get home, they want a full on meal.  I am trying to come up with healthy alternatives ( avoiding hot dogs, mac n cheese, ice cream, etc) and pizza is a really good choice.  Especially when one makes their own pizza dough and their own sauce.

I keep my freezer stocked with dough and usually make a double recipe of pizza sauce.  The left over sauce, I place in ice cube trays. Once frozen I store in baggies.  An ice cube equals about 2 tablespoons of sauce which makes defrosting fast and easy.  I started making my own sauce when I read what was on the label of a store bought pizza sauce.  I was somewhat disgusted.  After researching pizza sauce there was no question in my mind that I was now going to be making my own.  Not only is free of preservatives and junk, but it is so ridiculously economical.  Once one realizes that it is just as easy to make most of this stuff ( pizza sauce, salad dressing, marinades, BBQ sauce, rubs, etc ) at home, not only will you save money at the super market but you will be filling your family up with healthy, clean ingredients.


Eli likes his pizza with arugula, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and caramelized onions, Isaac likes his with cheese and pepperoni and Levi likes "just cheese".

Homemade Pizza Sauce
yield: 1.5 quarts

ingredients:
3 Tbls. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 (28-oz) cans tomato puree
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper, fresh ground

iinstructions:
• heat oil in a saucepan over medium high heat.  add all the ingredients and bring to a boil.  lower heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.
• unused sauce can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
adapted from David Lieberman, Ten Things you need to Eat
yield: 4 individual pizzas

ingredients:
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbls. active dry yeast
2 tsp. sugar
1 cup warm water (110*)
2 Tbls. olive oil

instructions:
• whisk flour + salt together in a large bowl
• in a bowl combine yeast, sugar, and warm water and let stand until all the yeast has been dissolved and the mixture starts to foam.  add olive oil and pour yeast mixture into the flour.  using a fork, combine the mixture until a loose dough forms.
• transfer the dough to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook and knead the dough for 10 minutes.  place the dough into a well oiled bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside to rise for 1 hour.
• preheat oven to 400*
• place a large sheet pan or two in the oven to preheat.
• place dough onto a well floured work surface and divide into 4 equal parts.  roll each disc into an 8" circle (the unused dough can be frozen and saved for another day).  i like to roll my pizza doughs onto parchment.  this makes it easy to transfer to the hot-preheated cookie sheet.
• top the pizza dough with favorite toppings.
• bake for about 15 minutes or until the crust is crispy and cheese is bubbling.

Labels: , ,

6 Comments:

Anonymous lauranav said...

Love the post-- I have a similar recipe for everyday pizza dough on my blog-- it's so great to know you have dough in the fridge or freezer ready to go!

lauranav

July 19, 2010 at 12:38 PM  
Blogger Jess @ Sugar High said...

You can't beat a completely home made pizza!

July 19, 2010 at 2:57 PM  
Blogger Active Foodie said...

Your pizza looks delicious! I love the idea of freezing leftover pizza sauce, and I completely agree with making your own -- you can control the ingredients, and that is so important, especially when you see at what goes into the jarred sauces! I will have to try your whole wheat crust recipe very soon!

July 20, 2010 at 9:54 PM  
Blogger Deeba PAB said...

Nom nom nom...what a good looking pizza. Love the whole wheat in the dough! This is how I make my pizza sauce too. Often grate a crarot or zucchini into it, and 'they' never figure out! Mine come back HUNGRY from school too, but hungry for fun stuff!

July 21, 2010 at 6:17 PM  
Blogger The Urban Baker said...

Hey Pizza lovers, thanks for your comments;

laura - the freezer is my best friend!

jess - no you can't. although johns nyc on bleeker is a hard one to beat!

active foodie - you and are "soul-food" sisters. we think alike. xx

have a sweet day
x

July 21, 2010 at 9:08 PM  
Blogger M. said...

this looks so great!!!

July 26, 2010 at 8:37 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home