Two Positive Stories about Orthodox Jews
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Fun and delicious for the whole family.
Last summer we purchased an outdoor pizza oven and it was one of our favorite outdoor and indoor pieces of equipment. It’s fun, versatile and creates fantastic toasty pizza within minutes. We’ve cooked lots of different pizza varieties from traditional to more creative. If you like, make your own pizza dough (recipe below), but feel free to buy the frozen dough from Trader Joe’s or in your local market and defrost it. I think it's delicious and an easier way to make this a fun treat.
A few tips: use cornmeal or flour under the dough for easy removal and turn the pizza in the oven to get even baking. These can be prepared in a traditional oven. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 20 - 25 minutes. Each of my kids makes their own pie with toppings, desired thickness and flavor. It’s great fun, the perfect summer night activity and a super easy dinner! Triple win!
Pizza tips and recipes…
Makes enough for 2 pizza recipes below
In a liquid measuring cup, combine the warm water, yeast and sugar. Allow the yeast to dissolve and proof, about 5 minutes, it will appear foamy and puffed up. Once proofed, add the olive oil.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough attachment, combine the flour and salt. Stream in the water/yeast mixture and as the dough begins to come together. Allow the dough to knead, adding a bit more flour if needed, so that the dough releases from the sides of the bowl, 1 to 3 minutes. You should be able to touch the dough and not have the dough stick to your fingers. Once the dough has kneaded and has pulled away from the sides of the bowl, remove the dough and place it on a floured work surface and, with floured hands, continue to knead it by hand for 1 to 2 minutes. Then form the dough into a round ball and place it into a large bowl sprayed with nonstick spray. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean dish towel and let the dough rise in a warm area of your kitchen until it doubles in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Roll out and top anyway you like.
Photo by abeautifulplate.com
Serves 4 - 5
Feel free to use homemade pizza dough and homemade marinara sauce (my favorite recipe is in the pantry section of my cookbook, titled CELEBRATE), pizza sauce or regular tomato sauce.
To prepare pizza, roll pizza dough out to desired thickness. Spread marinara sauce on top and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Lay mozzarella cheese slices all around. Top with basil leaves and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.
Preheat the pizza oven according to the manufacturer's instructions. Bake for about 12 minutes in a pizza oven, turning about every 4 minutes for even cooking. Alternatively, Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 20 - 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is lightly toasted.
Image by seriouseats.com
Serves 4 - 5
This is a perfect combination, tangy pesto sauce with creamy ricotta. I often add caramelized onions and fresh tomatoes too, but start with this base.
Roll pizza dough out to desired thickness. Spread pesto over the dough in a thin layer, reserving some for dolloping later. Spoon about teaspoon sized balls of ricotta cheese over the pesto across the pizza. Add a few dollops of pesto too. Sprinkle with Parmesan and pine nuts, then drizzle with oil, salt and pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.
Preheat the pizza oven according to manufacturer's instructions (mine uses a propane tank and gets hot very quickly. Bake for about 12 minutes in a pizza oven, turning about every 4 minutes for even baking. Alternatively, Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 20 - 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is lightly toasted.
Serves 4 - 5
This can be made pareve (with soy meat strips) or a meat version, being mindful to use a meat oven for a meat pizza and a dairy or pareve pizza oven for the pareve or dairy version. This is a copycat recipe for the famous California Pizza Kitchen recipe of BBQ chicken pizza.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook for about 2 minutes. Add salt and cook until lightly browned and caramelized, about 15 minutes.
Roll pizza dough to desired thickness. Spread barbecue sauce over the pizza evenly. Add cooked onions and chicken strips.
Preheat the pizza oven according to manufacturer's instructions (mine uses a propane tank and gets hot very quickly. Bake for about 12 minutes in a pizza oven, turning about every 4 minutes for even baking. Alternatively, Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 20 - 25 minutes, until the crust is lightly toasted.
Top with arugula and drizzle with spicy mayo.
Photo by eatgood4life.com
Serves 4 - 5
Place oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and sauté onion about 10 minutes, until translucent and softened. Remove from heat and Stir in balsamic vinegar and thyme.
Roll pizza dough to desired thickness. Spread cooked onions all over the crust. Scatter crumbled feta and sliced mushrooms on top.
Preheat the pizza oven according to manufacturer's instructions (mine uses a propane tank and gets hot very quickly. Bake for about 12 minutes in a pizza oven, turning about every 4 minutes for even baking. Alternatively, Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 20 - 25 minutes, until the crust is lightly toasted.
Top with fresh basil, arugula and toasted nuts
Photo by kitchenconfidante.com
Serves 4 - 5
Use any vegetable of your liking in this.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
On a large lined baking sheet, toss oil with zucchini, mushrooms, pepper, and red onion. Add oregano, salt and pepper and toss to coat.
Roast until vegetables are lightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Roll pizza dough to desired thickness. Spread pesto or marinara over dough. Top with roasted vegetables. Sprinkle it with cheese, sun dried tomatoes, salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.
Preheat the pizza oven according to manufacturer's instructions (mine uses a propane tank and gets hot very quickly. Bake for about 12 minutes in a pizza oven, turning about every 4 minutes for even baking. Alternatively, Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 20 - 25 minutes, until the crust is lightly toasted.
Photo by dessertnowdinnerlater.com
Serves 6 - 8
Roll out pizza dough thinly. Melt chocolate in the microwave by placing it in a glass bowl and cooking for 30 seconds, stir and continue to cook in 20 second intervals, until smooth.
Spread melted chocolate across pizza dough. Layer marshmallows and graham cracker on top
Preheat the pizza oven according to manufacturer's instructions (mine uses a propane tank and gets hot very quickly. Bake for about 12 minutes in a pizza oven, turning about every 4 minutes for even baking. Alternatively, Bake in a preheated 375°F for about 14 minutes.
Photo by vincenzosplate.com
Serves 6 - 8
Roll pizza dough out thinly. Spread Nutella across the pizza dough. Lay banana slices on top of Nutella. Sprinkle coconut on top.
Preheat the pizza oven according to manufacturer's instructions (mine uses a propane tank and gets hot very quickly. Bake for about 12 minutes in a pizza oven, turning about every 4 minutes for even baking. Alternatively, Bake in a preheated 375°F for about 14 minutes.