While I was growing up, pizza was a regular meal.
Not the round pizza in the frozen food section or the pizza we see in commercials
for take out or delivery vendors.
Just a simple, homemade pizza.
Easier, and maybe healthier, than Carmela Soprano's Pizza.
I couldn't say how many this would feed.
Sometimes it was the main course.
Sometimes it just added a bit of heft to a soup dinner.
It was Ma's pizza.
Hint:
The toppings (spices, tomatoes and cheese) are the total amounts for both pizzas.
Just use half on each.
Or modify to suit your family… or budget.
Pizza
In a large bowl combine
3 Cups warm water
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons yeast
Let sit 10 minutes.
Stir in
2 teaspoons salt
8 Cups flour
Knead 15 minutes.
Place the dough in an oiled bowl.
Rotate the dough to cover the surface with oil.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel.
Let rise 2 hours.
About 30 minutes before the dough is finished rising
combine in a small bowl
1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 teaspoons oregano
Slice
8 ounces pepperoni (optional)
Shred
16 ounces mozzarella
Grease 2 large cookie pans
Divide the dough and knead each piece on a floured surface.
Roll out a piece of dough, place it in a cookie pan and stretch it to fit.
Repeat with the other piece of dough.
Preheat oven to 450ยบ F
Top each pizza with
3 Cups crushed tomatoes
Sprinkle the cheese / spice mixture over the tomatoes.
Drizzle over each pizza
1/4 Cup olive oil, about
Run the back of a spoon over the tomatoes to blend the ingredients.
Top with
the prepared meat and cheese
Bake 25 minutes.
Serve hot.
Ma's pizza is also good cold.
