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Friday Night Pizza

I have been doing deep dish in a cast iron dish. Comes out SOOOOO good.

I use pretty much any raw pizza crust but I line my cast iron dish with a garlic butter spread first...

Put the dough in, more garlic butter spread...cheese and toppings, pizza sauce, cheese and toppings, pizza sauce.

425 for about 30 minutes.
 
This week, I thought I'd give an attempt at a prosciutto pizza. I brushed olive oil on the crust as a base. Then I added goat's cheese mozzarella, some fresh shredded provolone and a little smoke cheddar. Next, I added some prosciutto. After it was done baking and cooled, I added some arugula and drizzled some balsamic reduction sauce on it.

If I had to do it again, I would probably take it out 30 seconds to a minute sooner. I'm guessing it cooks faster with less sauce and toppings on it. It was still quite yummy!

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Did the different this week. I give you... 5-cheese pizza! (My own) garlic white sauce, fresh shredded provolone, fresh shredded smoked cheddar (smoked with wood and apple), fresh goat cheese mozzarella, fresh grated parmesan and asiago, sauteed arbol peppers, olive oil, lemon zest and fresh basil. Yummy!

Garlic white sauce: In a sauce pan, whisk 1 tbs of butter and 1 tbs of flour over medium heat. Next add 1/2 cup of cold milk. When it starts to simmer, add 1-3 cloves of fresh garlic, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan, and a pinch of both pepper and nutmeg.

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Lookin good. I’ve been trying out some Chicago tavern style pizzas after seeing videos by Brian Lagerstrom and America’s test kitchen. The crust isn’t too difficult since it’s rolled out.
 
I have been doing deep dish in a cast iron dish. Comes out SOOOOO good.

I use pretty much any raw pizza crust but I line my cast iron dish with a garlic butter spread first...

Put the dough in, more garlic butter spread...cheese and toppings, pizza sauce, cheese and toppings, pizza sauce.

425 for about 30 minutes.
How do you make this garlic butter spread?
 
I probably made it sound more fancy than it is!

I just melt up better and add garlic salt to taste. Super easy but it makes a difference.
I didn't know if you had an actual measurement or what. 👍
 
Made a new batch of tomato sauce on Wednesday using fresh garlic on the suggestion of someone. Got a really good rise today out of my dough. Had to pop a few huge bubbles. I was only able to eat two slices today. But it was sooo good!

Pecan smoked sausage, fresh cut jalapeños, red onion, (my own) tomato sauce, fresh grated Parmesan, fresh shredded low moisture whole milk mozzarella, fresh shredded provolone and applewood smoked cheddar.

Tomato sauce: San Marzano tomatoes, fresh garlic, oregano, salt.

Now, on to the pizza porn...
CsXF0NB.gif


ducPcz6.jpg

qhm2Sz7.jpg
 
Made a new batch of tomato sauce on Wednesday using fresh garlic on the suggestion of someone. Got a really good rise today out of my dough. Had to pop a few huge bubbles. I was only able to eat two slices today. But it was sooo good!

Pecan smoked sausage, fresh cut jalapeños, red onion, (my own) tomato sauce, fresh grated Parmesan, fresh shredded low moisture whole milk mozzarella, fresh shredded provolone and applewood smoked cheddar.

Tomato sauce: San Marzano tomatoes, fresh garlic, oregano, salt.

Now, on to the pizza porn...
CsXF0NB.gif


ducPcz6.jpg

qhm2Sz7.jpg


Give this a chance, great results.
 
Made a new batch of tomato sauce on Wednesday using fresh garlic on the suggestion of someone. Got a really good rise today out of my dough. Had to pop a few huge bubbles. I was only able to eat two slices today. But it was sooo good!

Pecan smoked sausage, fresh cut jalapeños, red onion, (my own) tomato sauce, fresh grated Parmesan, fresh shredded low moisture whole milk mozzarella, fresh shredded provolone and applewood smoked cheddar.

Tomato sauce: San Marzano tomatoes, fresh garlic, oregano, salt.

Now, on to the pizza porn...
CsXF0NB.gif


ducPcz6.jpg

qhm2Sz7.jpg
Excellent stuff Boxes thanks for sharing. I looked back through the thread and didn’t see your dough recipe anywhere
You mind sharing that with the rest of the class?
 
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Excellent stuff Boxes thanks for sharing. I looked back through the thread and didn’t see your dough recipe anywhere
You mind sharing that with the rest of the class?
5 cups King Arthur's Bread flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 2.5-2.75 cups water, 2 tsp active dry yeast, 2 tsp sugar, 2 squirts of olive oil. Makes 4 14" crusts.

In large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt and sugar. In medium bowl, dissolve yeast in water with a pinch of sugar. Let sit for 15 minutes. I use a KitchenAid mixer with the dough hooks. I start with just a couple cups of the flour mixture and add the contents of the yeast mixture and I add a couple of squirts of olive oil. I start the mixer and slowly add one cup at a time until everything is mixed. I then use my fists to kneed the dough to smooth it out a bit. I add some flour to be able to handle it if it's too sticky.

I transfer it to a cutting board where I can continue to kneed the dough. I form a big ball. Then I cut it into quarters. But then kneed these quarters into balls. I grease a couple of aluminum baking sheets lightly with olive oil. I place two balls on each sheet, giving room for them to grow. I brush each dough ball with olive oil. I then cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, I take each ball and kneed it again working all that oil into the dough. It's at this point that the dough becomes a lot less grainier and more smooth. I then form tight balls and put them in individual gallon freezer bags that I have dated. They going to the refrigerator if I'm going to use it that week or into the freezer for future use.

I usually let them sit in the refrigerator for 48 to 72 hours for cold fermentation. At some point between the time that I put it in the refrigerator and the time that I take it out to use it, I take out the dough and stretch it till it becomes a rectangle. I then fold the edges to the center and then press to remove most of the big bubbles. I then turn it over and repeat the process. Stretch the dough till it becomes a rectangle and fold the edges to the center and press again to remove most of the big bubbles. I then gently reform a ball and put it back in the bag and into the refrigerator until I'm ready to use it.

The day I go to use the dough. I grab a bowl or container and lightly grease the bottom and sides with olive oil. I then place the dough ball in the container and cover and let sit on the counter for about 3 hours until I use it.

VrRtwTj.jpg
 
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Grape tomatoes, fresh thyme, (my own) tomato sauce, fresh grated parmesan and asiago, fresh shredded low moisture whole milk mozzarella, fresh shredded applewood smoked cheddar, fresh mozzarella, olive oil. Sooooo good!

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Boxes,
Where do you get your mozz?
 

You got anywhere better near you? Not sure where you live, but if you're near any kind of major city, chances are, there's a place that will have better ingredients. Walmart is fine, but you'll see a noticeable difference with fresher, more authentic ingredients. And man, if you can find like some kind of Italian market or grocer...you're going to geek all the way out.

You might also check into getting some things shipped to you. Tons of fun, interesting places online that you can try for things like any kind of cured meats and cheeses. I get my blocks of parm from Costco. It's fine. Pretty much the best I can find for normal, every day use parm. Used to think it was great. One year for Christmas, my wife got me an authentic block of real parm shipped in from Italy. It was a splurge for sure and nothing I could justify for every day use. But holy crap, it was a whole different level. I'd only thought Costco had good parm.

I don't know, maybe that's not your cup of tea, but you seem like you're into it enough to take the next step of playing around with some better ingredients.
 
You got anywhere better near you? Not sure where you live, but if you're near any kind of major city, chances are, there's a place that will have better ingredients. Walmart is fine, but you'll see a noticeable difference with fresher, more authentic ingredients. And man, if you can find like some kind of Italian market or grocer...you're going to geek all the way out.

You might also check into getting some things shipped to you. Tons of fun, interesting places online that you can try for things like any kind of cured meats and cheeses. I get my blocks of parm from Costco. It's fine. Pretty much the best I can find for normal, every day use parm. Used to think it was great. One year for Christmas, my wife got me an authentic block of real parm shipped in from Italy. It was a splurge for sure and nothing I could justify for every day use. But holy crap, it was a whole different level. I'd only thought Costco had good parm.

I don't know, maybe that's not your cup of tea, but you seem like you're into it enough to take the next step of playing around with some better ingredients.
Dude. This is my thread. Walmart's just a grocery store. They carry the same things that everyone else carries. If I need to go get something special I can always go somewhere else. My neighborhood market has a huge selection of different types of cheeses. Get off your high horse. If you want to send me a gift basket of cheeses then have at it. My pizza rocks!
 
5 cups King Arthur's Bread flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 2.5-2.75 cups water, 2 tsp active dry yeast, 2 tsp sugar, 2 squirts of olive oil. Makes 4 14" crusts.

In large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt and sugar. In medium bowl, dissolve yeast in water with a pinch of sugar. Let sit for 15 minutes. I use a KitchenAid mixer with the dough hooks. I start with just a couple cups of the flour mixture and add the contents of the yeast mixture and I add a couple of squirts of olive oil. I start the mixer and slowly add one cup at a time until everything is mixed. I then use my fists to kneed the dough to smooth it out a bit. I add some flour to be able to handle it if it's too sticky.

I transfer it to a cutting board where I can continue to kneed the dough. I form a big ball. Then I cut it into quarters. But then kneed these quarters into balls. I grease a couple of aluminum baking sheets lightly with olive oil. I place two balls on each sheet, giving room for them to grow. I brush each dough ball with olive oil. I then cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, I take each ball and kneed it again working all that oil into the dough. It's at this point that the dough becomes a lot less grainier and more smooth. I then form tight balls and put them in individual gallon freezer bags that I have dated. They going to the refrigerator if I'm going to use it that week or into the freezer for future use.

I usually let them sit in the refrigerator for 48 to 72 hours for cold fermentation. At some point between the time that I put it in the refrigerator and the time that I take it out to use it, I take out the dough and stretch it till it becomes a rectangle. I then fold the edges to the center and then press to remove most of the big bubbles. I then turn it over and repeat the process. Stretch the dough till it becomes a rectangle and fold the edges to the center and press again to remove most of the big bubbles. I then gently reform a ball and put it back in the bag and into the refrigerator until I'm ready to use it.

The day I go to use the dough. I grab a bowl or container and lightly grease the bottom and sides with olive oil. I then place the dough ball in the container and cover and let sit on the counter for about 3 hours until I use it.

VrRtwTj.jpg
I use pretty much the same recipe for my pizza dough. I never measure anything. just eyeball it.
 
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I have a recommendation for anyone who doesn't want a hot oven on in the house (It is going to be 102 here in Eastern Washington, today). I was using my gas Weber grill and a pizza stone, but I came across this device watching a YouTube video. It is a Piezano Pizza Oven made by Granitestone. It has controls for temperature for both the Top and Bottom and it goes up to 800 degrees. I have to make smaller pizzas as it will only make about an eleven-inch pizza. I've made about a half dozen pizzas so far with good results. I am rotating the whole pizza 180 degrees after about 4-5 minutes and I am cooking the pizzas at 600 degrees on top and bottom and then turning the bottom control up to 800 degrees after rotating the pizza. I think I have a little more even heat and control than I do when using my Weber. It gets hot so I place it on top of a wine barrel on the patio when I am using it. $129.99 on their website.
 
I use pretty much the same recipe for my pizza dough. I never measure anything. just eyeball it.
Totally. I have my basic recipe and I tend to eyeball it because I've done it so much. Pizza snob say you got to measure everything out in grams. I've got a food scale and rarely use it. I use recipes but I can wing it if I want to and it usually turns out good.
 
I have a recommendation for anyone who doesn't want a hot oven on in the house (It is going to be 102 here in Eastern Washington, today). I was using my gas Weber grill and a pizza stone, but I came across this device watching a YouTube video. It is a Piezano Pizza Oven made by Granitestone. It has controls for temperature for both the Top and Bottom and it goes up to 800 degrees. I have to make smaller pizzas as it will only make about an eleven-inch pizza. I've made about a half dozen pizzas so far with good results. I am rotating the whole pizza 180 degrees after about 4-5 minutes and I am cooking the pizzas at 600 degrees on top and bottom and then turning the bottom control up to 800 degrees after rotating the pizza. I think I have a little more even heat and control than I do when using my Weber. It gets hot so I place it on top of a wine barrel on the patio when I am using it. $129.99 on their website.
I was wondering about those and suspicioned that they were smaller than desired
 
I have a recommendation for anyone who doesn't want a hot oven on in the house (It is going to be 102 here in Eastern Washington, today). I was using my gas Weber grill and a pizza stone, but I came across this device watching a YouTube video. It is a Piezano Pizza Oven made by Granitestone. It has controls for temperature for both the Top and Bottom and it goes up to 800 degrees. I have to make smaller pizzas as it will only make about an eleven-inch pizza. I've made about a half dozen pizzas so far with good results. I am rotating the whole pizza 180 degrees after about 4-5 minutes and I am cooking the pizzas at 600 degrees on top and bottom and then turning the bottom control up to 800 degrees after rotating the pizza. I think I have a little more even heat and control than I do when using my Weber. It gets hot so I place it on top of a wine barrel on the patio when I am using it. $129.99 on their website.
I like to bake pizza in my pellet smoker on a pizza stone. Gives it great added flavor.
 
I probably made it sound more fancy than it is!

I just melt up better and add garlic salt to taste. Super easy but it makes a difference.
Dude I do the same thing!!!

Only I make my pizzas at home with pita breads because its good, and because pita bread seems to soak up garlic butter better than uncooked dough.

I make my garlic butter sauce like this:

1 stick of unsalted butter in a small pan on med/low and brown that butter slowly. Once you get all those golden delicious particles in the bottom put in your garlic and toast that garlic until its brown but do not blacken it. In fact, it works just fine to toss in your granulated garlic then shut the heat off. The heat of the butter will toast it for you. Then I slather that deliciousness on both sides of the pita bread. Makes a damn good pizza crust!
 
Dude. This is my thread. Walmart's just a grocery store. They carry the same things that everyone else carries. If I need to go get something special I can always go somewhere else. My neighborhood market has a huge selection of different types of cheeses. Get off your high horse. If you want to send me a gift basket of cheeses then have at it. My pizza rocks!

Cool, bro. I thought we were all discussing pizza in here - sharing recipes, trading ideas, kicking around different techniques. Didn't realize this was just a thread for you to try to convince everyone how great you are. Have fun.
 
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I give you the fajita pizza! First time using semolina flour for the bottom of the pizza. It's what the experts use so I thought I would try. Made the fajitas from scratch for the first time, as well. Plenty of leftovers for traditional fajitas. Made them with top sirloin, onions and green pepper that I marinated overnight. (My own) tomato sauce, fresh shredded low moisture whole milk mozzarella, Monterey jack and provolone.

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I give you the fajita pizza! First time using semolina flour for the bottom of the pizza. It's what the experts use so I thought I would try. Made the fajitas from scratch for the first time, as well. Plenty of leftovers for traditional fajitas. Made them with top sirloin, onions and green pepper that I marinated overnight. (My own) tomato sauce, fresh shredded low moisture whole milk mozzarella, Monterey jack and provolone.

xMtv4XC.jpg

eJx6jn2.jpg
You keep impressing
 
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