Friday, April 20, 2012

Pizza Bread…adding a new dimension

We’re still IN IT!  (Canucks I mean) – WOOOO! It’s “Foodie Friday”, and, since it IS the weekend, and we all have SOOOO much time to spend in the kitchen playing, I thought I’d share a new favorite way to make up Pizza…using the sauce as a dip, instead.. of a…well… topping? base? Layer that you put the toppings on?... what do you call the sauce on a pizza??  ANYWHO!
I present… Pizza Bread.  Not quite a loaf of bread… as I think there’s basically more toppings that “bread”…  Not quite a Pizza… as pizza’s are typically round (or rectangle-ish) and flat.  This is definitely a bread loaf… that is LOADED full of your favorite Pizza Toppings, baked – then you can use your favorite Pizza Sauce (Pasta sauce works too) to dip the warm slices in.  Perfect for a light dinner, a group Appetizer, or even a herd of hungry kids that needs a creative dinner dish to settle em' down around the dinner table..   It’s like pizza in a whole new dimension!  (hmmm, maybe I need some more coffee… or vino… or… )  Of course sending this to yeastspotting, as without sites like that... I wouldn't be able to do half the things with bread / yeasted dough!  love!!
Our household loves meat – just about any kind – on pizza, so I added a little more there, then tossed in some diced fresh peppers, and onions to add some sort of vegetable aspect (and colour!) I will warn ya… this could become the “NEW” pizza style…  so simple! Play with the “toppings”  - add in olives, feta, spinach – make it “greek style”…  or toss in some shredded cooked chicken, carmalized onions, bacon and serve with BBQ Sauce instead of pizza sauce.  Oh the options! Oh I’m starting to get the craving…..
Pizza Bread

·         1 teaspoon yeast
·         3.4 cup warm water
·         1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
·         1 teaspoon salt
·         1 ½ cups TOTAL of favorite toppings, chopped
·         1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
·         1 table spoon olive oil

-          Sprinkle yeast over warm water in mixer bowl.  Let sit for about 3 mins (until foamy)
-          Add in flour, salt, and using dough hook, mix until it just comes together



-          Add in 1 ½ cups favorite toppings and combine well.  Dough should be tacky, but still form a decent dough ball (add more flour or water if needed)

-         Let rise for about 1 hour; then put in the refrigerator for another hour.

-         Take the dough out of the refrigerator and flour counter space. Roll out into a rectangle shape
-          Sprinkle cheese over top. Carefully fold along the long side, like an envelope. Seal sides so cheese is not exposed.
-         Let rest, covered, while Oven is Preheated  to 450F
-         Let oven stay at 450 degrees for  20 minutes.
-         Bake the bread, either on a pizza stone or baking sheet, for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown.
-         About 5 minutes before taking it out, lightly brush the top with olive oil and let it finish baking.
-         Let rest on a wire rack to cool slightly before slicing as like “regular” pizza – Toppings are HOT-TA TA!


-         Cut up in slices, and served with warmed up pizza sauce (or pasta sauce), dunking in the slices as you go!
In preparation for Sunday’s game, and in case I’ve started something here….
GO CANUCKS GO!!

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