Just another day on my COVID-19 watch. T.G.I.S. (Thank God It’s Someday!)
Today I know I can’t visit my favorite Italian Pizza restaurant because it is closed to indoor seating. I also know it so happens that my close friends happen to have a wood-fired pizza oven and a pool. The timing is great because they decide to have a small get together – very socially distanced – It’s a make your own Pizza Day!
If you have never had a wood-fired pizza, you need to keep your eyes out for pizza places that use this kind of oven. The crispy texture from the high heat of the oven and the smoky flavor of the crust is hard to beat!
The good thing about having your own pizza day is that you can prepare all your ingredients beforehand to make the perfect pizza for you and your guests!
So you tell me that you don’t have an outside pizza oven. Easy fix! Use indirect heat on your charcoal grill. You say you don’t have a charcoal grill…Use your propane grill…You say you don’t have a propane grill. Use your oven! There are no excuses for not experimenting and trying to make your own pizza.
You tell me you have never made bread. Still no problem. You can buy your dough balls at your local Italian deli, restaurant, or Trader Joes. I know Campinis Italian Deli and Trader Joes in Temecula sell dough balls. If frozen, take your dough ball out of its package and let it defrost. Once defrosted, dust your dough in a little flour; roll and tuck the dough until it is a nice smooth ball. Do not overwork the dough. Wet a towel and squeeze out excess water. Put the towel on top of the dough and let it rest to let the glutens in the dough soften and for your pizza ball to rise. Let it rise for a good hour after it has thawed out or taken out of the fridge. It will now be easy to roll out into a nice round shape.
Throw a little semolina flour, or whatever flour you have in your pantry on a cutting board or your kitchen island to keep the dough from sticking. Start by taking your rolling pin or fingertips to flatten the dough. Again, using your fingertips, stretch your dough from the inside of the ball to outside. Continue to rotate your pizza to stretch the pizza to your desired shape and size. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfectly round. It will taste like your favorite pizza!
If you are lucky enough to have some good friends who happen to have a pizza oven, a pool, and want you over to enjoy a pizza day; don’t hesitate…you will have a great time experimenting in making the perfect pizza!
As always; thanks for Spending Time In My Kitchen!
