Pizzaaaaaaaaaaaa

Tonight we had the chance to share dinner with some sweet friends and I promised to post my pizza dough recipe - which was given to me by the family of another great friend in Texas. So here you go!

OLGA ODABASHIAN'S PIZZA DOUGH

Ingredients:

3 CUPS FLOUR

3 TABLESPOONS OIL

1 TABLESPOON INSTANT YEAST

PINCH OF SALT

1 CUP WARM WATER

Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix - knead with hands or use the paddle attachment on a standing mixer and watch for dough to pull away from sides of bowl. Shape into a ball and allow to rest/rise 20 minutes. Roll out to desired shape on a floured surface (you might stretch with your hands or toss it at this point, whatever you want to try!). Transfer to pizza pan or cookie sheet and shape pizza edges with your fingers. Lightly brush the pan and the edges of the crust with olive oil - or I think you can use cornmeal(?) on the pan - I never have. Top with whatever floats your boat and bake at 400 degrees until your cheese is melted and edges are lightly browned!

Here is a pic Jonathan took of our dinner tonight - the rectangular pizza was 1/2 pesto/tomato slices/fresh basil and 1/2 tomato sauce/sauteed spinach and garlic - with mozzarella and parmesan over all. The round was pepperoni on 2/3 and green pepper on 1/3 all with tomato sauce and mozz/parm.

It seems to me that with the cookie sheet you get a softer crust, and with an airbake pan (holes in it) you get a crispier crust. You could definitely try grilling it, a pizza stone, whatever! It is also great dough for making calzones and strombolis, both of which Jonathan and I have enjoyed! The dough recipe makes 1 pizza crust, 2 strombolis (LARGE) or 3 calzones (also quite large!).

On another note, Baby Schallmo and I had a great mile swim today and we will be SO SAD when the pool is closed on Tuesday!