Pizza Party

We had an impromptu pizza party, our best friends came over with Christmas gifts for the littles so Matt made the most delicious pizzas, like crazy good. He even made his own sausage. Go big or go home, right? I think that's his life motto because he never does the bare minimum, always over the top. I'm thankful because I get to eat all the crazy, complicated food he comes up with.

Anyway, here is his recipe if you ever feel like making too many pizzas on a random monday night...

The sauce, start it before the dough, it needs time to simmer

Ingredients

1 medium-large onion, sliced.
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped.
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped.
2 ribs celery, chopped.
1 can san marzano tomatoes.
Small handful dried basil.
Small handful dried oregano.
Generous amount of freshly cracked black pepper.
Olive oil.
Salt to taste.

Directions

Heat a couple of good glugs of oil in a medium saucepan. Add onions, carrots, and celery.  Cook until carrots begin to soften.

Add garlic, pepper, and dried herbs.  Cook until everything is soft and onions are golden. Add tomatoes.  I use whole tomatoes and break them into chunks after they're in the pan.  Use a wooden spoon or similar implement. Cook a few minutes, then puree with immersion blender.

Lower heat to simmer, and allow to reduce until very thick. 2 hours or so.  Long enough to make the dough.

Crust:

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 t yeast
Good glug olive oil
kosher salt
1 1/3 cup water
Cornmeal

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a stand mixer, mix on lowest speed.

When the dough forms a ball, turn speed to next highest setting.

Divide dough in half, cover and let stand for an hour/until doubled.

Once the dough has risen, form it into your pizza shape. Sprinkle cornmeal on a baking sheet, then place dough on sheet.  Top as desired.

Bake at 500° for 5-7 minutes


* Adapted from this recipe

Once the sauce and the dough are ready, add any topping you'd like. We used (pre cooked) sausage, peppers, homemade mozzarella, mushrooms and cracked an egg on top. We can't wait to try out different combinations though, you could even make personal sized pizza crusts and set up a build your own pizza bar. Could be fun for a party!

And a brownie recipe (if after all that pizza you have room for dessert)...

Ingredients

1 cup chocolate chips                                                 *for the peanut butter swirl*
1/2 cup butter (salted)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour                                                         2T butter
1/2 t baking powder                                                        1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 t salt                                                                           1/2 t vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder                                                           1/4 t nutmeg
2 eggs (beaten)                                                                     1/4 t cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 T vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° and grease two 8" cake pans

Melt the chocolate chips and butter on the stove top or in the microwave

Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl

When chocolate is melted, add eggs, sugar and vanilla to mixture 

Add chocolate mixture to the dry ingredients 

Pour batter into both cake pans, until they're half way filled

Mix all ingredients for the peanut butter swirl together 

Drop small spoonfuls of peanut butter mixture to the top of the brownie batter 

Use a skewer to create the swirls

Bake for 30 minutes or until firm


*Adapted from this recipe