Homemade Pizza Making... (Trip Report w/ pics)

['Chair]

Got inspired by the Domino's thread and I decided to cook FFK dinner: homemade pizza. We usually do a

half and half style since she's addicted to spinach/garlic/mushroom combo while I prefer more.

Her side: spinach, mushroom, garlic
My side: spinach, mushroom, garlic, red onion, bell pepper (usually green -- tonight orange), banana peppers, pepperoni, chopped bacon.

occasionally I stray from the above mentioned...artichoke hearts/sardines/etc...FFK is always loyal to her pizza toppings.

So I go to the grocery store and pick up the goods.

note: the pepcid complete is for me and is an awesome preventative medicine.

Prep work...



we go heavy on the garlic. (white onion is for the sauce -- red for topping)


you can't go wrong with J. A, Henckels (a gift from FFK's mom)


Bacon...
I take my bacon cooking serious. Start with a preheated skillet/frying pan...add bacon. Watch it carefully and flip just as bottom starts to brown. Dodge hot grease pops. Watch it carefully. Remove bacon from heat 45 seconds before it's fully cooked and place on paper towel. Bacon will continue to cook slightly while on the paper towels and will cook even more once added as a topping to the pizza and tossed in the oven. Chop for pizza topping.









Sauce...
I should mention that FFK has an italian aunt who has a wicked red-sauce recipe that we use all the time. I will not reveal secret recipe but will go through the basics...



1st sautee onions...add garlic at the end.


add rest of ingredients and raise heat. When sauce begins to bubble on edges, drop heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer for an hour or more -- spice to taste.




Crust...
We prefer thin (I'll go sicilian sometimes but only at felini's). We are using a generic pre-made crust but we'll sometimes make from scratch...really not much difference (sorry to disappoint).

Saucing and Topping the pie...
cheese/topping layering is ship-it-crucial


my side: cheese/red onion/bell pepper
ffk's side: cheese/spinach


my side: + cheese/mushroom/bacon/garlic
ffk's side: + cheese/mushroom/garlic --> DONE


my side: + cheese/banana peppers/pepperoni/cheese --> DONE



stacked -->

placed directly on the rack



Final Product...








And for dessert...










+

Edit: spellign

[skiier04]

Its not homemade without the crust.

Crust is by far the most important part of the pizza.

[NT!]

looks excellent AEKD.

one question... you don't blanch your spinach first? just put it on there fresh?

[Fast Food Knight]

[ QUOTE ]
looks excellent AEKD.

one question... you don't blanch your spinach first? just put it on there fresh?

[/ QUOTE ]

We just do it raw. If you put cheese on top of it, it cooks sufficiently and I like for it to have a little body. I do try to remove the stems though.

[NT!]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
looks excellent AEKD.

one question... you don't blanch your spinach first? just put it on there fresh?

[/ QUOTE ]

We just do it raw.

[/ QUOTE ]


whoa whoa whoa WHOA

let's stick to the topic at hand plz

another question... have you guys ever tried sourdough?

i am a firm believer in sourdough for this type of heavy-duty pizza.

['Chair]

[ QUOTE ]
Its not homemade without the crust.

Crust is by far the most important part of the pizza.

[/ QUOTE ]

true but imo extremely negligible for thin crust where crispness is more important.

[qdmcg]

desert should come before dinner

[NT!]

oh yeah AEKD your side could use some green on it, maybe a little basil schiffenade... color balance yo

[dinopoker]

Your bacon cooking skills are tremendous - I am anxious to try the process out.

Meanwhile, you should really put your meat products underneath the cheese, then finish the pizza's baking process by cooking it under the broiler for a few minutes at the end to brown the cheeze off and give it a crispy top side. Mucho awesome!

['Chair]

[ QUOTE ]


another question... have you guys ever tried sourdough?

i am a firm believer in sourdough for this type of heavy-duty pizza.

[/ QUOTE ]

no, but that will be added to the "for next time" list along w/ Dids' rec about not using pre-shredded cheese.