We’ve officially changed to our Summer Menu:-) (Actually, that’s another post I haven’t written!)
And tonight, it’s pizza:-)

With one exception (Mmm… Matteo’s!) we don’t buy pizza. Instead, our freezer is generally stocked with pillows of pizza just waiting to be used:-)

Today though, was also a restocking.

Pizza Dough (based on a recipe from The Return of the Naked Chef)

500 grams plain flour (you can use only plain if you wish)
500 grams wholemeal flour (don’t make it solely from wholemeal… it makes for an unpleasantly dense pizza crust )
pinch of salt
30 grams yeast (dry)
30 grams honey
300 mls tepid water
325 mls tepid water
flour for dusting

Put the flours and salt in a bowl, make a well in the middle. Dissolve the honey and yeast with the 300 mls of water, and leave for a few minutes. Pour into the centre of the flour, and mix well. Add most of the remaining water and continue mixing (add the rest of the water if necessary… it may depend on the weather or your flour). Tip onto a floured surface and knead well, for at least five minutes. Return to the bowl (possibly oil it a little), cover, and set to rise in a warm and draught-free place for 40 minutes.

While the dough is rising, put your pizza stone (unglazed terracotta tile) in a hot oven to heat up.

Take a bottle of sundried tomatoes in oil (or sundried capsicum works nicely if you have folk allergic to tomatoes) and blend it well.

Assemble your pizza toppings.

Knock down and divide the dough into eight. Each of these pieces will make one pizza base. At this point, they can be wrapped in gladwrap and put in the freezer. We generally eat about one pizza per person.

Roll out or stretch one pizza base to shape. Take the stone out of the oven, spread some tomato paste on the base, and add your choice of toppings. With these pizzas, less is more. Spread the topping thoroughly, but they don’t need to be especially thickly spread.

Put in the oven for about 14 minutes. Remove, cut and serve. Take a photo quickly, or you’ll miss your opportunity!

We usually do at least one prosciutto and bocconcini pizza, and add basil after cooking. Bacon and banana is another favourite. Seafood and avocado (add the avocado after cooking) is good.