Friday nights around the Long house are always hopping! It's the one night a week that we spend doing absolutely nothing but holding down the couch. And watching old movies. And eating pizza and drinking soda pop. And just being together. Does it get much better than that?
Even though we love Dominos pizza, our homemade pizza is a real treat... even Dad (who generally dislikes pizza- imagine that!) loves the stuff. Chewy crust and dripping cheese and lots of pepperoni. Yes, Family Film Night with homemade pizza is a family tradition.
Here's our secret recipe!
Long's Friday Night Pizza
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1- 1/4 oz. package active dry yeast
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal (plus extra for dusting the pizza pans)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 3/4 cups unbleached flour (you can use half whole wheat white flour)
pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese (organic tastes best!), pepperoni, and your choice of toppings
Pour yeast into a large mixing bowl. Pour lukewarm water over yeast; let dissolve 5 minutes. Beat in 2 cups of flour and all of the cornmeal. Beat vigorously for one minute using a wooden spoon.
Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap; set in warm spot for 10 minutes. Stir in salt and olive oil. Add remaining 1 3/4 cups of flour, a little at a time until you have a soft, kneadable dough. Turn onto countertop and knead vigorously for 8 minutes, adding sprinkles of flour to prevent sticking, until your dough is smooth and elastic.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place for an hour. Lightly dust two pizza pans with more cornmeal. Divide dough in half and punch out into circles (we like to use a rolling pin). Place on pizza pans. Top with pizza sauce, meats, and mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 425 degrees for 18-20 minutes.
Voila! Long's Friday Night Pizza. Can you make it in time for supper next weekend?
posted by Apphia
This recipe looks great although I have never made pizza. You mentioned a pizza pan. Is that a special round shaped pan and can it be purchased at most stores like Target?
Posted by: joanne | January 22, 2011 at 05:04 AM
Hello Joanne!
Yes... Target should have the pizza pans! Ours are just the plain old silver kind. Like a round cookie sheet. (Although you could use the rectangular cookie sheet with success, too.)
You'll have to let us know if you make up some pizza!
love, the Long ladies
Posted by: the long ladies | January 22, 2011 at 02:48 PM