My favorite day of the week is pizza night, which is usually on Friday. It is the only day of the week that I don't have to think about what's for dinner. The decision is already made, and it is guaranteed to get no complaints! Everyone loves pizza night.
For years I tried to make my own pizza, but with no luck. I bought a pizza stone from the pampered chef, I tried different recipes, I tried cornmeal on the pizza stone... it was never quite right. A couple of years ago I read in my trusty Cooks Illustrated cookbook about a method using parchment paper, and finally after long wait - the perfect pizza crust! Now we eat it once a week.
Whenever people ask me for my pizza dough recipe I always tell them - It's not the recipe, it's the parchment paper! I still use my pizza stone. I preheat it in the oven at 500 degrees and roll out my pizza dough onto a piece of parchment paper. I use the back of a cookie sheet to slide the whole thing into the oven and bake about 8 minutes. It's the perfect pizza crust every time.
For the record I like the Pioneer Woman's basic pizza crust, but I have sometimes been known to use a store bought pizza dough. It really doesn't matter. Sadly, most of my family will only eat pepperoni on their pizza. I usually make half a pizza for Tyler and me with pineapple and ham on it, but I secretly wish I could sneak some veggies in there. If I am feeling ambitious I will save a small piece of dough and experiment with other toppings. Like this white pizza with arugula. Yum.
On another note, Luke's wrestling awards night was this week. Oh, happy day - wrestling season is over! (one more post-season tournament in Reno in 3 weeks and it will really, really be over).
Here is a terrible picture of Luke receiving his varsity letter. (That's the last time I give Danford camera duty.)
It was very interesting to hear his stats for the season. He wrestled 42 varsity matches - won 22, lost 20. He earned 140 varsity points, which was 5th highest on the team. He had 15 pins, which tied for the most on the team. Also, he only got pinned 6 times. I can just breathe a sigh of relief now that there were no injuries on that list. Congratulations Luke!
I want to come to dinner!! This Friday!!! Your pizza is the best ever!!!! I gave up on it but you have inspired me to try again. Maybe tonight. Yaaay Luke! What a great season!
ReplyDeleteAh, I remember with fondness when one pizza fed our family. I even remember days gone by when two pizzas would feed our family. I never *make* pizza, because it is too much work to make it for 9 hungry people. We either buy it, or we fake pizza by spreading sauce on french bread and topping it. We did that on Friday night (twinners!) and I made every kid top their own. It was like the easiest dinner for me ever, and I probably ought to do that once a week too.
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