Family Pleasing Pizza Recipes

FAMILY-PLEASING PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain and set aside., Meanwhile, press pizza dough into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Brush with butter; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Layer with 1 cup mozzarella, sausage and tomatoes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Italian seasoning., Bake 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.

FAMILY PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Whisk 1 1/4 cups warm water (95 degrees), yeast and sugar together in a bowl. Let stand in a warm place for 10 minutes, or until yeast is foamy.
• In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add yeast mixture and oil. Using a wooden spoon, stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until mixture is too stiff to stir, then mix with your hands until dough comes together and pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead, adding only as much flour as necessary to prevent sticking, until smooth, elastic and only slightly sticky. Transfer dough to a large oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or overnight, until doubled in size.
• Punch down dough and turn it out onto a well-floured work surface. Divide into 8 pieces (about 4 ounces each) and shape each one into a ball. Cover with a tea towel and let stand for 15 minutes.
• Heat griddle pan over medium heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. Dust a large work surface with a mixture of flour and semolina. Pick up one of the dough balls and begin to pull and stretch dough into a circle, then lay on work surface and press into a thin round (about 8 inches), adding only enough flour and semolina to keep dough from sticking. Using one hand as a guide, slope a slightly thicker rim all around dough circle. Work quickly, and be careful not to overwork dough; if it resists or shrinks back, let it rest briefly before proceeding. (If you prefer, you can roll out dough with a rolling pin; lightly flour work surface and pin.) For larger pizzas, use 2 dough balls.
• Carefully place dough round on griddle pan and cook until barely tan on first side and browned in a few spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip crust over and cook until second side is completely dry, about 1 minute.
• Transfer crust to a wire rack or a baking sheet, brushing off any excess flour, and allow to cool. Repeat with remaining dough. (Parbaked crusts can be refrigerated overnight or frozen, well wrapped, for up to 2 weeks.
• Top and broil each pizza: Heat broiler and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat. Spread a very light coating of pesto evenly on crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Scatter mozzarella over pesto. (Don't put toppings on crust until ready to broil, to avoid sogginess.)
• Place pizzas on hot stone or pan; slide under broiler, about 4 inches from heat source; and broil for 7 or 8 minutes (or as long as needed), until toppings are heated or cooked through, or both, and crust is charred and blistered in spots. Watch closely so that ingredients don't burn, and move pizza around or lower broiler rack if necessary. (Depending on topping, bottom of crust may start to become soggy; you can slip pizza back onto griddle momentarily to recrisp.) Cut into slices and serve hot.

PIZZA CASSEROLE - EASY AND KID-PLEASING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350.
• Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and reserve.
• Meanwhile, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium high heat for 6 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Drain off excess liquid. Stir in oregano, salt, soup, 1/3 c water, and noodles. Remove from heat and add half the cheese. Spoon into 11x7 baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly.
• Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
• Note: since making this more often I tend to use Penzey's Pizza Seasoning instead of the spices, use extra cheese, and double all but the meat to freeze casseroles that are less "meaty.".

FAMILY-FAVORITE CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Move oven rack to lowest position. Heat oven to 450°F. Spray 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix and very hot water until soft dough forms; beat vigorously 20 strokes. Press dough in pizza pan, using fingers dipped in Bisquick mix; pinch edge to form 1/2-inch rim. Spread pizza sauce over dough. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and mozzarella cheese.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
• Cut American cheese slices into desired shape with 2-inch cookie cutters. Arrange shapes on pizza. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes or until American cheese is melted.