It was about a year or so ago that I got this idea to make homemade pizza one weekend when Daddy, Schnubbi, and I were all together. Don’t ask me where this idea came from. It just happened. Usually when this happens, all that matters is that I do it. While I was planning this out, I was seriously tempted to go the easier route and use store bought pizza dough and sauce. But then I got thinking, if I really want to make homemade pizza, why not make my own dough and sauce. I knew doing either one wouldn’t be hard, and really, it’s not. So, I started looking through some of the regular food blogs I follow as well as recipes on Pintrest until I found what I wanted. I now swear by these recipes. I have shared them I don’t know how many times with my friends and I even use the pizza sauce for my spaghetti sauce, with a tweek or two. Not only is it not as much work as you would think(whenever I try a new recipe, I think not only is going to fail, but it will also take a million years to make and be extremely labor intensive). Not only that, but you know exactly what’s going into your food, it’s cheaper than ordering out, and tastes a heck of a lot better than any carry out pizza I’ve ever had.

Pizzeria Style Pizza Sauce from Oh Sweet Basil 

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ¾ teaspoons onion powder
  • ¼-½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 ½ teaspoon fresh basil chopped or ¾ teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano or ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 8 oz cans of tomato sauce
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 5 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar(I don’t always use the brown sugar and it’s still yummy without)
  • ⅔ cup warm water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil and butter and heat until almost shimmering. add the garlic, stirring a few times around the pot and then quickly add the onion powder, red pepper flakes, basil and oregano. stir a few times and allow the herbs to bloom.
  2. Add Parmesan cheese, and brown sugar and then quickly dump in the tomato sauce, tomato paste and water. stir to combine and bring to a light boil. turn down to low, season to taste and allow to simmer for 1-2 hours for ultimate flavor or use immediately if needed.

I have made this sauce so much, I don’t even need the recipe anymore. A couple of tips: Before you even start making the sauce, it’s easier to have all the spices measured out before hand so that way you can add as needed without any fuss. The second, this sauce is even better the second day. By the second day, the spices have really blended together and is extremely flavorful. If possible, make the sauce the day before you need it. It takes a little more planning ahead, but you won’t regret doing so. If you’re wanting to use this for spaghetti sauce, I do exactly everything, but I also add mushrooms, diced tomatoes(usually drained), and cooked ground hamburger. Also since Daddy likes a creamier spaghetti sauce, I’ll add some heavy whipping cream to it as well.

The Perfect Pizza Dough from Chef in Training

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups warm water
  • 1 Tablespoon yeast
  • 1 Tablespoon salt, divided
  • 5 cups all purpose flour, divided
  • 4 Tablespoons olive oil(2 Tablespoons per pan)

Instructions:

  1. Mix warm water and yeast and let it set for about 5 minutes, until it proofs
  2. Add 2 ½ cups of flour with the proofed yeast and mix well in a stand mixer with a dough hook or by hand.
  3. Add additional 2 ½ cups of flour and salt and knead until smooth. Cover bowl with saran wrap and let dough rest for 20 minutes.
  4. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil on both pizza pans and evenly coat the bottoms of both pans.
  5. Remove dough from bowl and add more flour as needed to alleviate stickiness.
  6. Split dough in half and roll each ball of dough very thin and place on greased pan.
  7. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  8. Top with desired toppings and make sure to leave ¾ inch space around the edges for crust.
  9. Bake pizzas individually at 400 F for 18-20 minutes for pizza, 15 minutes for bread sticks or cinnamon sticks.

 

If you only need one pizza crust, the second ball of dough makes great bread sticks. How many depends on how big you make them. Also, don’t be afraid to use yeast. I know the first time I used a recipe that required yeast, I was silently freaking the heck out on the inside. There is no reason to do this. The only trick to using yeast is to make sure the water isn’t too hot. If the water is too hot, then the hot water will kill the yeast and the dough won’t rise. Here’s a few tips and tricks when it comes to working with yeast.

The picture is the first homemade pizza I made and it has mushrooms, pineapple, and hamburger on it. The fun part of making pizza is getting to put all your favorite toppings on it, and there’s no limit to the possibilities. The even more fun part of making pizza is getting to sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor and sharing with those you love. Please let me know if you try these recipes and what your favorite pizza toppings are.