Sicilian Style Pizza

Buongiorno, and Happy Monday, ya'll!

Let me begin today's post with a {teensy} disclaimer: I am not Italian, Sicilian, or of Mediterranean extraction. I have nothing but respect for Italians, especially ones from Sicily whose ancestors immigrated to the U.S., and established {criminal organizations}. If I screw up your great aunt Benedetta's recipe, I assure you, I mean no disrespect. -end disclaimer. 

Okay, so with that out of the way, this is a recipe that Herr Handsome and I have been {addicted} to this summer. 

That kind of sucks, because every time I bake it, it heats up the house. But - it is  soooo worth it! 

This recipe was inspired by an episode of Man v. Food that we saw somewhere, and we worked out a recipe after watching it.

The Crust:

3-4 cups flour 

(use fresh ground whole wheat if you can. I use my Momma's old wheat grinder. So yummy!)

1 heaping Tbsp {kosher} salt

2 tsp yeast

1 1/2 cups very hot water

2 Tbsp olive oil

Mix together dry ingredients, keeping out about 1 cup of flour, then add wet ingredients. 

Add flour until your dough is soft, not sticky. 
(I use the dough hook on Lola, my {kitchen-aid}, and it makes my life so much easier!)

Coat your dough ball with olive oil, cover with plastic wrap to rise. 

(risen a bunch!)

The Sauce:

Hello, my name is {AmberLou}. (hi, AmberLou) I have never tasted Prego. or Ragu. In my house (like my mother's before me) we eat homemade sauce. It is so easy. {Trust me}.

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

1 Tbsp olive oil

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

a big handful of fresh basil from your garden, chopped 

(or like, 1 tsp dry basil)

(May I say, I {adore} basil. If things with Herr Handsome ever go sour, me and basil are getting together.)

1/2 tsp dry oregano

Pour the olive oil into a small saucepan. 

When hot, add garlic and herbs. 

Cook  just until fresh herbs are wilted, then add sauce. 

Turn to low, and simmer until ready to use. 

(This is not {real} Italian sauce. My girlfriend, Melinda (who is Italian - like the scary kind who will stick a fork in your eye if you break your spaghetti noodles) will probably fall over in a swoon when she reads this. She is {serious} about her sauce. If you simmer it for less than 36 hours, you're not really trying!)

The Toppings:

Step {away} from the pepperoni! Do it! 

about 1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese, sliced. 

(I use Frigo. Forgive me {Father} for I have sinned.)

1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan 

a nice big drizzle of olive oil

That's it! 

No mushrooms, no bell peppers, {ABSOLUTELY} no pineapple!

 Capice?!

The Assembly:

Roll your dough into a large cookie sheet. (No. You {don't} need to grease the pan. With all that olive oil!?)

Assemble the slices of mozzarella over the crust until it is more or less covered

Spread the sauce {on top} of the cheese. Yes, you heard me. 

Sprinkle the Parmesan over the sauce.

Drizzle 1-2 Tbsp olive oil over the whole pizza. 

Baking:

Heat your oven to 475 degrees, fahrenheit

(let your pizza rise while the oven is heating)

bake for 12-15 minutes

Let cool, ever so slightly. (because face it, no one likes to burn their tongue on molten cheese) 

Eat it! 

Isn't it {AMAZING}?

<3 AmberLou


p.s. stay tuned next Monday... I have a couple of really fun thingies in the pipeline that I'm super excited about!!!

sharing at some of these parties