Anyone make their own pizza? Is it worth the time, effort and clean up?

[dex]

Dumb question - I have one of those pizza wheel cutters - do you cut the pizza on the ceramic pizza stone or should you cut it on something else?

[justin]

I've made my own including dough from scratch. It's a pain when Sam's Club is so cheap and so good. I can't replicate what sam's produces for $8.61 tax included...

I'd recommend the frozen dough balls from wherever you can get them. I worked at Jersey Mike's during high school and they use long frozen dough for their sub rolls. I'd take a couple of those and turn em into a pizza crust and bake them right in the restaurant after hours with some sauce and toppings of course. Mmmm... bet nobody knew Jersey Mike's made pizza...

[cute fuzzy bunny]

My local winco also has fresh pizza dough balls in a chiller near the deli counter. That makes for a pretty quick pizza. Its about a buck for a ball big enough for a 12-14" pizza.

By the way, my half decent nearly instant pizza sauce recipe:

Can of tomato paste
Add water until it gets to approximately sauce consistency
Add garlic powder to taste (fresh is better, but more work)
Add oregano to taste (fresh is best, but dried works)
Add salt to taste
Some basil if you feel like it

Allow to stand a bit while you form the crust and shred the cheese or whatever else you're putting on the pizza.

Lots of oregano is the secret ingredient for good pizza sauce.

Using this sauce, the dollar ball of dough, and some preshredded cheese, you can knock out a pizza in about 10 minutes for about $3-4.

[TromboneAl]

It took a long time, but we can finally make pizza that is as good or better than restaurant pizza. Last night was olive-oil sauteed mondo onion and garlic with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, ham, mushrooms, and more.

Here are the two secrets:

1. Make the dough in your bread machine. I use white flour with some whole wheat if I'm feeling like being healthy-minded. Last night I put in a third of a cup of Bob's Red Mill seven grain cereal. Don't use "better for bread" flour or add gluten, or you'll have more trouble spreading it out. I make a full loaf (three cups flour), cut it in half and make bread in the oven with the other half.

2. Forget the pizza stone! Buy a pizza pan that is an open grate. This does not give a super crispy crust.

I slide the pizza on to a large round cutting board when done, and cut it with a pizza slicer. Be careful not to roll past the edge, and slice your table.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

...and one of the weirdest, yet best pizzas I ever had was on whole wheat crust, cheeseless, with sauce, shredded carrots and raisins...

Lets also pay homage to the unlikely sounding yet equally tasty clam pizza.

[My Dream]

I'm usually at Costco i(n Canada) every second week and I've never seen Pizza dough there. Has anyone seen it in the Canadian stores?

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Check at the snack counter, where you buy the pizza slices.

[My Dream]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cute Fuzzy Bunny Check at the snack counter, where you buy the pizza slices.

Pizza slices as in already cooked? If so that's passed the checkout register on the way out.

I've never seen pizza sold by the slice in the frozen section.

[riskadverse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo Check this link: http://www.pizzamaking.com/thincrust.php Gonzo

I got into this a year or so ago - these guys are serious experimenters - I finally had to give it up . . . the results were getting better, but my weight was starting to increase too much.

[lazygood4nothinbum]

if you like onion try caramelizing an sliced onion first in frying pan with butter & salt (to dark brown in color) then sprinkle ontop cheese before baking. it turns to a charcoal color and imparts a lovely sweet smokey taste to your pizza.

also excellent on pizza is fresh arugala added after baking.

[Jane_Doe]

For our "quickie" at home pizzas, my dh uses large tortillas (bought in a ten pack in the grocery refrig. section) add sauce and toppings - surprisingly good tasting crust and SO easy! Also we do use the screen-type trays like in T-Al's picture - we find it makes it perfectly crisp. We bought our pizza trays at a restaurant supply store. Also, try a really good topping combo: fresh chopped garlic and shrimp (need to precook shrimp of course).

Jane (who cooks as little as possible)

[Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheel We make our own Pizza all the time. We buy a case of frozen dough balls at Sams Club (sold in the snack bar section), and it is great. You can make thin or thick crust pizza from it. Works great.

I had no idea that you could buy this at Sam's Club. I love this forum, because I learn new things every day!

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Dream Pizza slices as in already cooked? If so that's passed the checkout register on the way out. I've never seen pizza sold by the slice in the frozen section.

Yep, I havent seen it in the frozen section either. Ask the folks at the pizza counter if they sell the caseloads of frozen dough (or whatever) at your costco. If they do, someone will go in the back and get it for you. Then you go through the register.

[dex]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane_Doe For our "quickie" at home pizzas, my dh uses large tortillas (bought in a ten pack in the grocery refrig. section) add sauce and toppings - surprisingly good tasting crust and SO easy! Also we do use the screen-type trays like in T-Al's picture - we find it makes it perfectly crisp. We bought our pizza trays at a restaurant supply store. Also, try a really good topping combo: fresh chopped garlic and shrimp (need to precook shrimp of course). Jane (who cooks as little as possible)

Great idea - I'm going to try it. Now to find a pizza screen!

[dex]

Are the pizza screens better than the aluminum pans with a lot of holes in them?

I'm only asking since I've only seen the pizza screens on line and the aluminum pans with a lot of holes in them in Walmart.

A couple of good sites I've found:

http://www.billyreisinger.com/pizza.php?p=3

http://www.abestkitchen.com/store/pizzapage.html

http://www.foodservicedirect.com/index.cfm

[sailor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex Are the pizza screens better than the aluminum pans with a lot of holes in them?

DW instead of a screen or holed pans uses SilPat ( http://www.demarleusa.com/product/silpat/silpat.htm ).
Works great for pizzas and bread.

[dkpearson]

Every Saturday night.....cheating by having breadmaker make the dough.

It's great cuz you can add a whole head of roasted garlic, and a good tablespoon or two of dried basil, to boiling water...basically making a great 'tea' for the crust.....and let cool down before starting the cycle.

And...so you can convince yourself it's really health food.....add a couple teaspoons of flax seed.

Makes a really nice crust!

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex I got a ceramic pizza stone to try on frozen pizzas. That got me thinking about making my own from scratch. I really like the thin crispy type with a minimal amount of toppings.

You want to get yourself a nice large wooden pizza paddle to go with that ceramic stone.

It is SO worth it. Use a bread machine to make the dough. I used to make the BEST pizzas - very, very thin crust, and just the kind of toppings I liked. Minimal cheese - and only fresh buffalo mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Unfortunately, it is a completely impractical thing to do in an RV (my only home) and a smallish microwave/convection oven simply does not cut it for baking pizza from scratch.

I have to settle for using a whole-wheat boboli crust base - no good enough to do very often.

Hmmm - our ceramic stone and pizza paddle is stored at the in-laws, and they have a bread machine - hmmmmm!

Audrey

[Jane_Doe]

from Dex:

Quote:

Great idea - I'm going to try it. Now to find a pizza screen Are the pizza screens better than the aluminum pans with a lot of holes in them? I'm only asking since I've only seen the pizza screens on line and the aluminum pans with a lot of holes in them in Walmart.

Hey, Dex! Glad you like our idea. Yes, the screens are better - those aluminum pans might burn the tortilla, plus it gets a lot of stuff stuck in those little holes, and the only way to clean them out iswith a toothpick! pita! Anyway, let us know how you make out.

Jane

[Chuckanut]

Today is National Pizza Day!

I thought we might review this thread and add any tips we use to get a great pizza.

Me? I use a pizza stone in my oven on which I place my pizza. The pizza is on parchment paper which makes it easy to get on and off the stone, while not interfering with a good crust. I prefer a square pizza stone since I never really know the actual shape the pizza will take until I am finished stretching out the dough