Friday, April 17, 2009

California Pizza Kitchen Dough

1 T. yeast
1 1/2 c. + 3 T. warm water
4 1/2 c. flour
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
3 T. olive oil

Dissolve yeast in water, sprinkling sugar on top. Place flour and salt in bowl. Make a well and pour in yeast mixture and oil. Mix and knead. Should be tacky. Coat bowl/dough with a little oil and let rise until doubled. Place pizza stone in oven and preheat at 500. Punch dough down and divide in half. Roll out one portion to the size of pizza pan. Sprinkle pizza peel with cornmeal. Place dough on top. Cover with desired toppings. Using peel, transfer pizza to stone in oven. Cook 8-10 mins. Remove with peel. Make second pizza following the same steps.

Note: If you do not have a pizza peel, DO NOT preheat stone. Make pizza on stone and then place in oven.

Makes 2 pizzas

Chicago Stuffed Pizza

3 1/2 c. flour
1 pkg. yeast (1 tbsp)
2 tsp. sugar
2 T. vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
1 c. luke warm water

Dissolve yeast into water. Add sugar and oil, mix. Add flour, mix. Knead on floured surface fro 8 - 10 mins. Place in a greased bowl and roll around to coat all sides. Cover and let double in size. Divide into 2 parts (bottom part needs to be a slightly larger portion). Roll out larger ball on pizza stone, making it one inch larger than the stone. Put filling on, leaving 1/4 inch clearance from edge of stone. Roll out remaining dough. Put on top and roll edges together to seal. Top with sauce and cheese. (1/4 lb. mozzarella and 1/2 c. grated parmesan) Bake at 400 for 20-25 mins.

Filling:
3/4 lb. mozzarella
1/3 lb. probalone
1 lb. sausage (browned)
3 med. onions (diced)
1 lg. green pepper
1/2 lb. mushrooms
1 lb. pepperoni

Mix in pan and put on pizza. (confession: I use less cheese and onions than called for in recipe)

Sauce:
16 oz. can whole tomatoes (mashed to pulp and drained)
1/2 tsp. crushed rd pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 T. italian seasoning
1/8 tsp. salt
16 oz. tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper

Heat to boil. Reduce heat and simmer. (approx 20 mins)