I decided to try making pizza. It was a perfect chance to use my new Kitchen-aid Artisan Mixer which I got for Christmas but haven't used yet. I've never used a mixer like this before and was surprised at how easy it is to use. I enjoyed using the mixer a lot and will likely use it again very soon.
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| Initially I wanted a red mixer but the stores were out of them. This chrome coloured one is nice too! |
Crusty Pizza Dough
1 package active dry yeast (1 tbsp.)
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp. cornmeal
Dissolve year in warm water. Add salt, olive oil and 1/1/2 cups flour. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute.
Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about 2 minutes. Knead of speed 2 for about 2 minutes longer.
Please dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place free from draft, about 1 hour, or until it is doubled in size. Punch dough down.
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| The dough formed into a ball but before I greased it for rising. I mixed a double batch of pizza dough. After rising I formed half of it into a loaf of bread. I used the other half to make a huge pizza.The bread turned out nice and crusty; just as the name of the dough says! |
Brush 14-inch pizza pan with oil. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Press dough across bottom of pan, forming a collar around edge to hold toppings. Add toppings as desired. Bake at 450 degree F. oven for 15-20 minutes.
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| There are green beans and broccoli in the chopped mixture above, as well as a red onion. You can add more flavour to your pizza by seasoning the ground beef, adding herbs to the tomato sauce, or putting fresh herbs, like basil, on the top of your pizza as a topping. |
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| The pizza is fresh out of the oven and ready to enjoy! |
I don't eat much pizza and this was the first time I'd ever made one. I made this one extra large, in a rectangular pan rather than my round pizza pan which was too small. There was plenty of pizza left over for snacks and next day's lunch.
I think I'll experiment more often with pizza making. I'd love to try using unusual combinations of vegetables.
