Pizza party!

 
Last Friday, we decided to make a pizza party with a couple of friends.

I made three doughs that morning but there were only two doughs after work. Sister sandy and her boyfriend Steven were hungry and gobbled up one pizza before I could take pictures. However! They really enjoyed it :).

The pizza dough is very simple and can be made in the morning, let rise over the day, then about 8 hours later, ready to be kneed.

One pizza was deep-dish and made in a 9-inch cast iron, the second was thin-crust and spread on a large baking sheet.

Our toppings... well..... Sandy had cooked up a bunch of veggies, shredded lots of good cheeses, chopped up some fresh herbs, made a delicious and simple tomato sauce so really, the boyfriend and I didn't do much except let our creative juices flow.

Feel free to use any veggie topping, just make sure they have been cooked thoroughly and most of the water has been cooked out. If using meats or fish, cook them through as well and let cool before topping on dough.

For one flat dough on 13inch x 18inch baking sheet:

2 tsp dried active yeast (for bread machine)
1 cup warm water (about 30 deg C)

Mix and let bubble for about 5 mins.

1 3/4 cup bread flour
3/4 tbsp salt

Add into yeast water and mix until thoroughly combined, about 5-7 mins. I use a bread machine to mix and turn him out onto a large floured surface to knead by hand for another 5 mins. Proof covered in a large bowl in an oven with a small hot water bath to increase humidity.

After proofing for about 8 to 9 hours, punch dough down and turn out onto floured surface. Preheat oven to 425 deg C. Knead for 2 minutes and then start to knead outwards into a baking sheet shape (-ish). Flip over and knead outwards, flip over and knead outwards, flour surface as needed. I also lift up the dough to help stretch it thin.

Using a rolling pin, flip dough onto pin and gently lay down onto baking sheet.

Bake for about 5 - 7 minutes until slightly cooked and the surface hardens a bit. Take out and cool for about 2 mins then start loading 'em up!

The boyfriend decorated the flat dough pizza with some lovely mozzarella cheese, then sauce, then roasted peppers, olives, zucchinis and more cheese. I was responsible for the cast iron and forgot the sauce, but loaded it up with lots of mozzarella and parmesan and artichokes, olives, tomatoes, eggplants, and mushrooms.

Both were just delicious :).

Bon appetit!