My husband, tpizzahe football fan, and my two hungry teenage boys have been eagerly awaiting my first post.  Drum roll please… in their honor and the upcoming Superbowl, I present to you Lisa’s Pizza.  I call it my own, because I’ve morphed it over the years.    When I was a teenager, my neighbor would make homemade pizza for her five kids, and me, too!  The best part, in my opinion, was the dough; and I will give the credit to her for the delicious base of this recipe…the french dough.   Nothing beats the aroma and taste of homemade dough.  Yeah, it’s easier to pick up the phone and place your pizza order; but once you’ve tried the homemade version, you will agree it’s worth the effort to throw it together.  I use store-bought pizza sauce, because I gotta save time somewhere!  I do shred my own mozzarella.  It tastes better, melts better and
saves money.  It’s easy to shred the cheese while the dough rises. The hungry fans can also help out with “throwing” it together by spreading on their favorite toppings.   (I just have to be sure I get their help before kick-off time, or I’m on my own.)  You could actually shape the dough into individual french dough bread, but I shape the dough into two regular pizza pans.  I’ve always wanted to throw it up in the air and spin it, but I’ve never mastered that technique (maybe someday).  For now, after I knead the dough, and let it rise, I spread it out onto a pizza pan using the side of my palm to create the crust.   I then add the pizza sauce, the freshly grated mozzarella, a little fresh Parmesan, and gather the crew for the toppings. Voila! almost as fast as take-out and definitely better.

Lisa’s Pizza with French Bread Crust

Ingredients for French Breadpizzadough

1 package dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 Tablespoon Butter

4 1/4 to 4 1/3 Cups Flour

  1.  In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water
  2. Add sugar, salt, butter and 2 cups flour.
  3. Beat with a spoon until thoroughly mixed.
  4. Gradually add the remaining flour until easy to handle.
  5. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes or until dough is elastic and not sticky.
  6. Place in a greased bowl.  Cover dough with plastic wrap.  Let rise in a warm place until double in size ( 1 to 1 1/4 hours)
  7. Punch down and place on a lightly floured surface.  Divide into two equal pieces.
  8. Spread the dough onto pizza pans.  Use the palm of your hand to form the crust.  Be careful not to overwork the dough.

Ingredients for the Pizza

3 Jars of store-bought sauce

2 Cups Freshly Grated Mozzarella

1/4 Cup Finely grated Parmesan

Favorite Toppings of Your Choice (My Guys:  Pepperoni, Canadian Bacon, Onion and Green Pepper)

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spread the pizza sauce evenly on the two pizzas.
  3. Cover with the grated mozzarella and the Parmesan.
  4. Add your favorite toppings.
  5. Bake until cheese has melted and crust is golden, about 15 minutes.

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